MovieChat Forums > In Name Only (1939) Discussion > This movie proves my point......... (SPO...

This movie proves my point......... (SPOILERS)

posted 16 years ago by bobsphotography2000
11 replies | jump to latest

I sat down without any preconceived ideas nor knowledge on this movie just to watch something. I only knew what the menu description said on my cable channel.... that it involved a "love triangle."

Well, as with those descriptions on cable, it wasn't exactly a "love" triangle and simply a triangle. The wife wasn't outwardly mean but simply determined to hold onto what she wanted in the way of a household... and that just happened to include the family fortune. But she was a schemer regarding the family fortune (imagine that!) and her sleazy, smart ass 'best friend' should have clued everyone in on what was going to happen because people stick with others like themselves. The wife wouldn't have had a "best friend" like that unless the wife was like that, also.

But the relationships within the plot were all great. The entire story was there but soooooooooo much more subtile than today's junky films. Today's junk just spits everything in your face with foul language and outrageous behavior. There isn't any flow to it. Today's films are harsh. Oh, and of course, today's films would have involved the ever present violence, or guns, or threats of violence. Today's films are mostly junk. The movie industry has lost its ability to produce subtile movies without the harsh edge.

In the ending, Lombard's line "You'd rather kill him than allow me to have him..." was fantastic. Because even though the wife's behavior wouldn't have necessarily caused a death, the potential was actually there. And, the final moment.... when the door closes and the wife realizes the game's up...... what a perfect last few moments of the show.

It was really nice to see an ending where two people who wanted each other so much were able to succeed. And just imagine..... there wasn't even a sex scene as in today's flicks! Today's sex scenes, to me, always pretty much guarantee that the producer / screenwriter were attempting to cover up a shallow plot with poor acting.

Movies of yesteryear were successful because they danced around the central theme rather than throwing it directly in your face. Hollywood today just doesn't have a clue. And the writers actually thought they deserved to strike! lol.

[–] eden_echo 16 years ago

I agree!

Plus classic films had violence and sex and pretty much everything taboo back in the day, you just didn't "see" it.

"I promise you before I die, I'll surely come to your doorstep"

[–] AliciaHuberman59 16 years ago

Very well said, Bobsphoto.

[–] Blondfashionisto 14 years ago

Hear, hear - So aptly stated...

I could watch classic movies all the time. Much better than most of the films out today.

And, it's true - Classic movies tend to get more into the characters using finesse. I really loved this gem - I just saw it on TCM today. Unfortunately, I missed the first part but certainly enjoyed the rest.

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).

[–] Kareneeni 14 years ago

Not to nitpick, but the line is "You'd rather see him dead than with me, wouldn't you?" Very similar, but the meaning is a little different.

I agree with you - what a wonderful, subtle film. Lombard, Grant and Francis were all fantastic. If only contemporary films could have 1/4 of the style or delicacy of films such as this one. I am so happy to have seen this.

[–] beckeis 13 years ago

Watching it right now.
This thread is so true.

[–] diamonddix1999 12 years ago

I agree. A beautifully made film and I so wish we had this sort of class today.

[–] kenny-164 10 years ago

I just saw this for the first time last night, as part of my overall effort to backfill the holes in film history, and regarding Carole Lombard's films in particular. She was a fantastic actress, as most know known for her comedic work, this being one of her dramatic exceptions (although to be clear there is humor in the film).

I watched with my wife, and she did appreciate that it was such a tear jerker, but I myself also loved the acting and the story, the great subtlety of the screenplay and dialogue. This is a fantastic film, and I am thrilled I finally got to see it.

One part that really was handled in tremendous fashion was the way we saw Alec be sort of clueless about what Maida was up to in poisoning his relationship with his parents. I felt a kind of growing exasperation with him. On one hand, was his cluelessness really stupidity? No, we come to realize it was more that he did not want to believe or even consider that his wife would be so selfish, mean and worst of all willing to turn his parents against him for her benefit. In other words, as bad as he thought she was at the beginning of the narrative, he comes, as we do, to realize she was even worse. Yet at the same time Maida somehow is a very plausible character.

Another great part was how the film raised and disposed of the notion that Maida was merely, and admirably, fighting to maintain her marriage. Some might say the way the note turned up, coming from Maida's former boyfriend and suicide, was rather heavy handed. But it really was a plausible backstory for her, lending to her character's plaubility. And as a plot development it did serve to entirely dispell the notion that she might have had a moral basis for seeking to save her marriage. No, we understand she was a mercenary all along who never loved Alec.

This in turn seemed to me for its day a rather strong argument for the validity of divorce. Well, at least for the Walkers, anyway, and Maida was such a villain In Name Only I don't think amounts to a "get divorced at the drop of a hat" argument.

And of course Ms. Lombard was just extraordinary in this film. I loved her every second she was on the screen. Completely plausible and real, yet very compelling in her emotional turmoil. I can't help thinking whenever I consider her work just how much of a terrible shame it was she died so young. She was one of the best ever.

[–] frankey200 9 years ago

I have to say that Alec was really clueless and naïve.

Instead of giving Aida the note, he should have just shown it to her, and then given it to his parents.

Knowing what kind of scheming she was capable of, how could he trust her to tell his parents the truth when they went to Europe?

It seems to me he knew she was rotten, and yet he trusted her with not only his own future happiness, but also the woman he wanted to be with.

It's almost like he just had no will of his own when it came to Aida - he let her control him and his life.

[–] judygmartin 8 years ago

Her name was Maida.

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

bobsphotography2000 says > Today's films are mostly junk. The movie industry has lost its ability to produce subtile movies without the harsh edge.

I totally agree with your entire post but especially the line quoted above. I am so disappointed with most of the movies being made today. Your post was almost exactly eight years ago and, as far as I can tell, nothing has changed. Even when the movie has a good premise, it's presented to us like we have no brain; no ability to think.

Like you said it's all thrown in our faces so basically we sit there and watch passively. Well, I shouldn't saw we because I see very few modern movies. I choose instead to watch older movies. Thankfully there were so many made I doubt I'll ever run out of movies to watch.

This movie was probably pretty risque for its time. Julie, a single girl with a child makes the choice to see a married man. They spend a lot of time together and it can be assumed they're having a physical relationship yet it's not at all obvious or offensive. The movie also gives an unpopular point-of-view about divorce but it's not preachy and doesn't suggest their situation would apply in every case. I was moved emotionally even though I would not ordinarily condone an extramarital relationship.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] CarolT2 8 years ago

One day this year, I had Showtime on waiting for one of the series I like to start. They had movie called Saint Vincent & I watched last half hour of it. It's a feel food film with Bill Murray made in 2014-2015. I found it on demand & watched the entire film a few days later.
I think St. Vincent is the most recent film I've watched. They're mostly junk these days & all are overpaid.

I'm Lombard fan & watch as many as I find on TCM. I loved this movie too, and also Vigil in The Night was on a few months ago, on October 6, Carole's Birthday & TCM had several of her films on starting at 6 am. I know that one sent Carole back to comedies because the audiences wanted Carole to make them laugh. But, I was very impressed with Carole's acting in that movie. It's much better than I had expected.