Three Loves Has Nancy

THREE LOVES HAS NANCY is a delicious overlooked romantic comedy from 1938, closer to slapstick than screwball. Janet Gaynor was one of the absolute top female movie stars for almost a dozen years when this was made but little did the public know she was making her swansong as a star, soon to retire to marry and start a family. Well known for her heart-touching dramatic performances, this movie proves she was also an excellent comedienne and perhaps should have done more work in the genre.

Robert Montgomery is a popular novelist living in Manhattan, a spoiled, confirmed bachelor (the old style, the kind that likes women but not marriage) who finds his current girlfriend actress Claire Dodd and her ambitious Cora Witherspoon a little tougher to wrangle away from in his attempts to keep his unmarried state than he's used to. His longtime best friend (and now editor) Franchot Tone tells him to accept a publicity tour for his books to get away from the gals attempts to brand him. While out in the sticks he meets sweet little chatterbox hillbilly Nancy (Janet Gaynor) who attends his department store lecture and buys his book due to her mother's prompting (she's quite appalled to learn book will cost her a whopping two dollars and regrets having him sign it before learning this, now that it's "ruined" she is stuck with buying it.) It's the eve of her wedding to local boy George who is away in New York making good but is due in any minute for the wedding. Montgomery gets a telegram learning Claire is away on tour and Gaynor gets one that George is calling off the marriage for mysterious reasons so they both get on the train to New York at the same time, Janet to find out what is up with George.

Janet doesn't find George but she does track down Robert and through a series of complications ends up working as the cook for his best friend Franchot. Franchot quickly falls in love with her (who knew the way to a New York playboy's heart was homemade butter and pancakes?) but it's clear Janet, while trying to track down George, is becoming drawn to the shallow storyteller Robert.

This movie seems blatantly inspired by Noel Coward's DESIGN FOR LIVING with two best friends in Manhattan becoming rivals for the affections of a sassy little minx though cleverly camouflaged by Janet's rural South background and the slapstick comedy. Of the three stars I feel Janet comes out best although Robert Montgomery is in his element in his stock semi-cad heartthrob. Franchot Tone is fine but as has been mentioned is almost an unnecessary third wheel given the unusual brevity of the film for an "A" movie from MGM (scarcely 70 minutes)and the fast-paced story. Of the supporting cast, Cora Witherspoon stands out, for once remarkably chic and dolled up in mink through still the brash dame she always is. Guy Kibbee's role as Janet's father is surprisingly small, scarcely more than a line or two despite his playing the lead in scores of B's and major featured parts in films during this period. Watch for early talkie star Grant Withers in a bit as the restaurant patron Janet is unknowingly flirting with as well as handsome Kane Richmond, a C movie favorite, as his buddy and dining companion.

The movie boasts elegant art deco sets for the neighboring penthouse apartments of Montgomery and Tone (they share a terrace that allows them to walk in and out of each other's apartments and in one of the more blatant lifts from DESIGN FOR LIVING have an almost suspiciously close relationship but one as in the Coward play watered down by their rivalry.) This movie moves so fast and at just 70 minutes it's over almost before you know it, ending with a good running gag which tops even the surprise last reel appearance of George but fans of 1930's romantic comedies will eat this up like Nancy's tasty vittles.

"Three Loves Has Nancy" is a frustrating film to watch. This is because it has many wonderful moments...but also some bad ones where the characters struggle very hard to make it work...and it doesn't. It's because the film sometimes tries just too hard to be goofy. I really think the film would have been better had they just allowed the film to have some quiet moments and trust the film to work. But, it's all loud and forced.

The film finds Robert Montgomery playing a novelist. In a funny scene, he meets the rather oblivious lady played by Janet Gaynor. And, from her on, Montgomery and Gaynor's paths keep crossing--and in each case, Montgomery comes off on the losing end! It's quite cute--and reminiscent of another 1938 comedy, "Bringing Up Baby". However, once Montgomery brings Gaynor home, the film really loses direction. Having the love triangle of Montgomery, Franchot Tone and the unseen George just doesn't work--I would have just concentrated on Montgomery and Gaynor. In fact, Tone really wasn't necessary at all--and from here on the film is a bit of a disappointment. Worth seeing? Probably....but understand the film is highly uneven.

Janet Gaynor is charming and funny as Nancy, a southern girl who gets left at the altar and decides to go to New York City to find her intended. En route she runs in snooty author Robert Montgomery, who shares a swanky apartment in NYC with his publisher, Franchot Tone. Montgomery is on a book-signing tour to elude predatory Claire Dodd. Nancy is of course a walking disaster area and ends up moved in with the guys, where she cooks and looks after them. They both fall in lover with her and the fun begins. Great cast in top form. Gaynor is very funny, and Montgomery and Tone are a great team. The art deco apartment is fabulous, too. Also in the cast are Charley Grapewin, Guy Kibbee, Mary Forbes, Cora Witherspoon, Emma Dunn, Reginald Owen, Grant Withers, Marie Blake, Carol Tevis, Elise Cavanna, Charles Lane, Grady Sutton, Sarah Edwards, and Grace Hayle. Great line by Claire Dodd to Robert Montgomery: "I've had a lovely evening, but this wasn't it!"

Janet Gaynor plays a Thirties version of Tammy in Three Loves Has Nancy and her three guys are Robert Montgomery, Franchot Tone, and Grady Sutton. Want to take odds on who she winds up with?

Montgomery plays a popular author who Gaynor meets at a book signing and later on a train to New York. She's going because her fiancé Grady Sutton left her at the church and she's off to New York to find him. With a country innocence that belies a certain amount of country common sense she involves herself in the lives of Montgomery and his next door neighbor and publisher Franchot Tone in her search for the jilting Sutton.

Somebody had to have seen this film before creating the Tammy character that Debbie Reynolds made popular in the Fifties. Gaynor has the whole thing, accent and all, uncannily down. Montgomery and Tone play the same roles that they both did in so many films for MGM, the debonair man about town. I leave it to you as to who looks better in a tuxedo.

I wish there had been more of Gaynor's family, especially Guy Kibbee as her father and Charley Grapewin as her grandfather. The film would have been better for it.

Three Loves Has Nancy is all right entertainment, but nothing new here. Nothing that hadn't been done before or definitely would be done again later.

Delightful comedy. I found myself laughing out loud. Robert Montgomery, as usual, has comic timing down to a fine art. Franchont Tone plays his usually sophisticated drunk to near perfection. Funny characters and a funny plot with just enough sexual tension to hold your interest.