By Frank Miller
This Marriage Business
Brief Synopsis
A reporter turns a small-town clerk into a hero then falls for his daughter.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Christy Cabanne
Director
Victor Moore
Jud Parker
Allan Lane
Bill Bennett
Vicki Lester
Nancy Parker
Cecil Kellaway
Chief Hardy
Jack Carson
"Candid" Perry
Film Details
Also Known As
It Couldn't Happen Again
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Apr
8,
1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 10m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Synopsis
While pursuing an eloping heiress, big city reporter Bill Bennett and photographer "Candid" Perry are stopped by a pretty woman, whose car has run out of gas on the highway. After Bill and Candid promise to return with fuel, they track the heiress to the small town of Middleton and witness her secret marriage. Later, Bill becomes interested in Jud Parker, the marriage license clerk, who boasts to him that none of the couples whom he has served has ever filed for divorce. Sure that Jud's perfect record will make for a good human interest story, Bill interviews the clerk at his home and is introduced to his daughter Nancy, who turns out to be the stranded motorist. Although Nancy angrily snubs him for forgetting to deliver the promised gas, Bill determines to win her heart and remains in town with Candid. Curious about one of Middleton's citizens, Joe Selby, a known racketeer, Bill and Candid visit his roadhouse, where Nancy and her boyfriend, lawyer Lloyd Wilson, are also dining. Unknown to Bill, Selby and Middleton's corrupt police chief have planned a phony raid on the gambling club in order to satisfy the town's demand for a crack-down on local vice. During the raid, Bill saves Nancy from arrest, while Candid unwittingly knocks out Lloyd. The next day, Bill's story about Jud appears in his newspaper, and Jud, dubbed "Cupid" in the article, becomes the laughingstock of Middleton. Furious, Nancy again rejects Bill, but two weeks later, eloping couples, eager to have their marriage license prepared by the lucky clerk, pour into Middleton, making Jud a respected celebrity and Middleton, a boom town. Buoyed by his success, Bill proposes marriage to a forgiving Nancy and promises to make Jud the mayor of Middleton. As Jud's campaign manager, Bill pushes a reform platform and causes Frisbee, the crooked incumbent mayor, to worry. To keep Jud from winning, Frisbee plots with Selby and Lloyd to have Jud seen talking to Bella Lawson, Selby's moll, by the town gossip. Wise to Frisbee's scheming, Bill confidently advises Jud to play along with his foe until he is able to expose him. When Jud shows up at the roadhouse, supposedly to issue a marriage license to Bella and Selby, he is surprised by the arrival of gangster Frankie Spencer, whom Bella had betrayed with Selby. After Selby shoots and kills Frankie, Jud, who was knocked out during the struggle, is framed for the killing. Spurned by Nancy, Bill vows to clear Jud's name and, after hearing that two shots were fired, goes with Candid to the roadhouse to search for the second gun. Although Candid is ambushed while escaping with photographs of Selby holding Frankie's gun, he uses Jud's dog to deliver the life-saving negatives, and both Jud and Bill are vindicated.
Director
Christy Cabanne
Director
Cast
Victor Moore
Jud Parker
Allan Lane
Bill Bennett
Vicki Lester
Nancy Parker
Cecil Kellaway
Chief Hardy
Jack Carson
"Candid" Perry
Richard Lane
Joe Selby
Kay Sutton
Bella Lawson
Paul Guilfoyle
Frankie Spencer
Jack Arnold
Lloyd Wilson
Frank M. Thomas
Mayor Frisbee
Leona Roberts
Mrs. Platt
George Irving
Madden
Ida Vollmar
Babs Delaney
Richard Bond
Robert Riordan
Crew
Gladys Atwater
Screenwriter
Joseph H. August
Photography
J. Robert Bren
Screenwriter
Eddie Donahue
Assistant Director
Al Herman
Art Director Associate
Harry Marker
Editing
Van Nest Polglase
Art Director
Cliff Reid
Producer
Mel Riddle
Story
Alex Rubin
Story
Edward Stevenson
Costumes
Richard Van Hessen
Recording
Film Details
Also Known As
It Couldn't Happen Again
Genre
Comedy
Release Date
Apr
8,
1938
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 10m
Sound
Mono (RCA Victor System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Articles
This Marriage Business
After providing memorable comic support to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936), Broadway comedian Victor Moore stayed on at the studio for two years of amiable vehicles like this one. Here he stars as a small town marriage license clerk who's never had a marriage end in divorce. When big city reporter Allan Lane does a story on his record, Moore becomes a minor celebrity, eventually taking on small-town crooks to run for mayor. Lane not only manages his campaign, but puts his own hat in the ring by courting Moore's daughter (Vickie Lester). Audiences loved Moore's bumbling persona, but he only visited Hollywood sporadically between Broadway hits like Of Thee I Sing and Louisiana Purchase. Leading man Allan Lane would eventually make his mark as a cowboy hero at Republic, while his comic sidekick, Jack Carson, had to move to Warner Bros. to find his niche. Lester took her screen name from Janet Gaynor's character in A Star Is Born (1937), though she never rose to the same heights. Sixteen years later, Carson would play opposite another Vicki Lester when he co-starred with Judy Garland in the 1954 A Star Is Born.
By Frank Miller
By Frank Miller
This Marriage Business
After providing memorable comic support to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936), Broadway comedian Victor Moore stayed on at the studio for two years of amiable vehicles like this one. Here he stars as a small town marriage license clerk who's never had a marriage end in divorce. When big city reporter Allan Lane does a story on his record, Moore becomes a minor celebrity, eventually taking on small-town crooks to run for mayor. Lane not only manages his campaign, but puts his own hat in the ring by courting Moore's daughter (Vickie Lester). Audiences loved Moore's bumbling persona, but he only visited Hollywood sporadically between Broadway hits like Of Thee I Sing and Louisiana Purchase. Leading man Allan Lane would eventually make his mark as a cowboy hero at Republic, while his comic sidekick, Jack Carson, had to move to Warner Bros. to find his niche. Lester took her screen name from Janet Gaynor's character in A Star Is Born (1937), though she never rose to the same heights. Sixteen years later, Carson would play opposite another Vicki Lester when he co-starred with Judy Garland in the 1954 A Star Is Born.
By Frank Miller
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was It Couldn't Happen Again. Hollywood Reporter casting announcements add Bryant Washburn and Tom Chatterton to the cast list, but their participation in the final film has not been confirmed. RKO borrowed Vicki Lester from Mervyn LeRoy's company for this film.
