When You're in Love

So-so musical romance starring Grace Moore as an Australian opera singer who marries American artist Cary Grant to get back into the United States for an important concert. He tries to win her over with predictable results. Not great stuff but pleasant enough I suppose. Notable for being the only movie directed by screenwriter Robert Riskin (he also wrote this). Also worth mentioning for Moore fans that, in addition to a few opera numbers, she sings "Minnie the Moocher" here. Let's just say it's not likely to be the best rendition of that song you've ever heard. Really, this is one for Grace Moore fans more than Cary Grant ones. He does perfectly fine with his role, don't get me wrong. He's charming and likable as usual. But it's just kind of a dull part for Cary. The supporting cast is nice but greats like Aline MacMahon and Thomas Mitchell are wasted in cardboard cut-out roles. See it for Grace or if you're a Cary completist. Or, heck, see it if you're really into opera (I'm not).

When You're In Love will forever be known as the film where Grace Moore shed her opera image and did a low down version of Minnie the Moocher. For that and for the fact that she got Cary Grant as a leading man who in the end would way eclipse her in movie star power. Grace was on the decline in Hollywood and Grant was rising fast.

The film was produced, written, and directed by Robert Riskin, his only directorial credit. Riskin is primarily known as the screenwriter collaborator of Frank Capra in some of his most memorable films. He also had been romantically involved earlier in the decade with another soprano star Jeanette MacDonald.

In fact the Minnie the Moocher sequence was inspired I'm sure by Jeanette's turn at jazz in Rose Marie the year before where she sang Some of These Days.

Though it didn't appear so When You're In Love was also a milestone film for Cary Grant even though he was distinctly second billed to Miss Grace Moore. This was his first film after leaving his nurturing studio of Paramount. For the next fifteen year or so, Grant alternated primarily with RKO and Columbia as employers of his free lance services.

The plot borders on the silly. Grace Moore is an Australian opera star who overstayed her work visa in America and was deported to Mexico where she's languishing waiting for an immigration quota number. Her shrewd manager Aline McMahon hits on the idea of marrying an American to get back in the country immediately.

Well if you're going to get married you can't do better than Cary Grant for any purpose. He's a penniless artist and also would like to leave Mexico, but he does have some rather interesting ideas on the relationship himself.

Moore's character is no doubt borrowed from real life Australian opera singer Marjorie Lawrence whose life story would be told in the MGM film Interrupted Melody. Lawrence did marry an American, but not for her immigration status.

The subject matter of the film would be done in a far more serious vein by Paramount in 1941 in Hold Back The Dawn with Charles Boyer and Olivia DeHavilland. Those folks's immigration problems were far more real than what we see here.

Grace Moore has her usual mix of opera and concert material to sing in When You're In Love. In addition Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields also contribute two numbers as well.

But it's Minnie the Moocher, that red hot Hoochy Coocher for which this film will always be known. What must Cab Calloway have thought?

Grace Moore was a very odd leading lady in Hollywood. She was only moderately pretty and her biggest asset was her operatic songs...and Columbia Studios tried for several years, unsuccessfully, to make her a star. However, her career in Hollywood only lasted nine films until they gave up. Don't feel sorry for her, however, as Moore was a very accomplished singer and was world famous for her performances...not bad for a girl from Tennessee!

This is one of Moore's last films and it's pretty much the same sort of formula they'd use in the next movie, "I'll Take Romance"...though this later film is a bit better. In this case, she and Cary Grant have an on again off again relationship until ultimately she realizes what a fine catch he is and they live happily ever after. The story is predictable but could have worked if she didn't keep breaking into song. These are NOT the normal plebeian sort of songs most folks enjoy but operatic...and they do NOT age well. In fact, they make the film a real chore to finish. The only reason I did is that I would like to one day say I've seen all of Cary Grant's films...even the bad ones. And, sadly, this one is pretty bad.

The sole directorial effort from Robert Riskin (the talented screenwriter behind many of Frank Carpa's best films), WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE is one of many films that attempted to re-create the success of 1934's surprise hit ONE NIGHT OF LOVE. This film boasts the advantage of featuring opera singer Grace Moore, the star of the previous film, in the lead role, yet it never really seems to amount to much and was not well-received by audiences upon it's original release. The film's basic premise (famous Australian opera singer "hires" an American man to pose as her husband in order to enter the country) is a workable enough set-up, but the picture fails to generate much momentum or interest. Riskin does a respectable job for a first time director, but displays a poor sense of pace and allows the picture to become plodding.

Moore is acceptable as the film's Diva (she never really commands the screen, but she has a odd sort of like-ability) and Cary Grant is in fine form as her "rented" mate, but they are playing stock characters who only seem to behave in the manner that is necessitated by the script. Their relationship suffers numerous ups and downs throughout the course of the film, but I never really cared whether they ended up together and that is a serious determent for this type of picture. The film is also marred by far too many piecing musical numbers that seem to exist only to pad out the film's runtime and serve as a defacto showcase for Moore's shrill voice (even "Minnie the Moocher," which is often referred to as the film's highpoint, is virtually unlistenable). The film's true saving grace is Aline MacMahon in a fresh and intelligent performance as Moore's assistant - MacMahon's good-natured portrayal is a minor comic gem surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.

I really enjoyed this movie because I just sat back and listened. Dissection is no fun in film. This is a breezy romp rather than ART! I laughed and had a good time. I enjoyed Cary Grants early performance and adored Grace Moore's singing. Ailene McMahon was a regular Eve Arden pre the spunky Eve herself. The odd part is that Grace plays an Australian opera singer with her American accent while Cary Grant plays an American with his English accent. Miss Moore needs to find a way into the country since she doesn't have permission to enter the states. The border guards must have been much tougher in the 1930's! If you can get your hands on this film just sit back, relax and enjoy.