Nur dem Namen nach (1939)

Nur dem Namen nach: Directed by John Cromwell. With Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, Kay Francis, Charles Coburn. After a wealthy man finds out his wife is a gold digger, he meets and falls for a widowed mother, and complications ensue.

“Have been seeing quite a few films with Carole Lombard – what a talented actress, she is. Prompted by Hitchcocku0026#39;s only (screwball) comedy u0026quot;Mr. u0026amp; Mrs. Smithu0026quot; (1941) where Lombard was paired with Robert Montgomery – itu0026#39;s a lively repartee incessant – I jumped at the chance of seeing another film of hers. Thanks to cable Turner Classic Movies (TCM) programming, I was able to catch u0026quot;In Name Onlyu0026quot; (1939) where she played opposite Cary Grant and Kay Francis. Grant hardly get to be humorous or cheerful for that matter due to the character heu0026#39;s portraying. In fact, he had to play a man deprived of marital love, striving for a true love that kept being stumped by a vixen of a loveless wife, and he sure is convincing as a wearied man – seldom see him in such a sad-faced role. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a tearjerker, alright. But you canu0026#39;t help wanting to hang in there with the loving pair of Julie and Alec (Lombard and Grant), while Francisu0026#39;s Maida unrelentingly scheming to u0026#39;destroyu0026#39; their hope of being together. Soap, quite so. I canu0026#39;t turn away but glued to the screen watching the pairu0026#39;s delightful encounters, wishing and hoping with them, worried with the two and Julieu0026#39;s daughter welfare, Julieu0026#39;s sister to understand and support her, just hoping Maida would u0026#39;disappearu0026#39;. Alec is such a nice guy, so kind and trusting – how we wish he can see through Maidau0026#39;s deviousness! Julie is so patient – how long can one wait? So easy to fall into the pressures of society – what other people may think or say of you. Such entanglements. Why canu0026#39;t Alecu0026#39;s parents see through the guiles of Maida? Kay Francisu0026#39; portrayal of callous Maida is insidious personified. How will this all end? Will Julie and Alec ever get to be together, ever? u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCatch this brilliant soap drama directed by John Cromwell (u0026quot;Made for Each Otheru0026quot; 1939, Lombard with James Stewart), scripted by Richard Sherman based on Bessie Breueru0026#39;s novel. Music by Roy Webb complemented the mood. I fell in love with the performances of Lombard and Grant in u0026quot;In Name Only.u0026quot; 95 minutes in B/W is quite a love story challenged, indeed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCharles Coburn has a bit part as Grantu0026#39;s father in this film. To enjoy more of him, check out his performances along with the vivaciously demure Jean Arthur in director Sam Woodu0026#39;s u0026quot;The Devil u0026amp; Miss Jonesu0026quot; 1941, and director George Stevensu0026#39; u0026quot;The More the Merrieru0026quot; 1943 (with Joel McCrea, too.)”