Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8998 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-07-19
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Black & White, PAL
• Original language: English, French, German
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 101 minutes

Synopsis
In post-World War II Germany, American Lieutenant Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan) and French army officer Henri Rochard (Cary Grant) fall in love and marry. However, on the day they speak their "I dos," Gates's ship sets sail for the States. Rochard succeeds in getting aboard the boat as a "war bride," but, unhappily, he cannot bunk with his new wife due to military regulations. For the life of these two honeymooners, they can't succeed in consummating their marriage, until, one day, the Army sees that strict rules can actually be broken--especially in the name of love. A funny Forces farce, with the classic scene of Cary Grant in drag!

Customer Reviews

Classic Cary Grant at his best.
I Was A Male War Bride is one of the best Cary Grant comedies.

The format follows the Howard Hawks format: Boy meets girl, boys and girl suffer from miscommunication, they make up and finally fall in love. You know from the being where the film is going, but sit back and enjoy the journey.

The film is a little slow to start, but don't let that put you off, the final third of the film is by far the funniest, particularly when Grant is looking for somewhere to sleep. No one can match Grant for his 'everything that can go wrong, will go wrong scenes'. If in doubt give this film a go - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Government forms are the same every where
The time, just after WWII. The place Occupied Germany. After two people that clearly dislike each other have been forced to work together, French Capt. Henri Rochard (Cary Grant) and U.S. Lt. Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan) they decide the only thing the can do is get married. All this would be fine except for one thing. The U.S. government forms for bringing a spouse back to the U.S. assumes the spouse is female (hence bride.) After several attempts to correct this oversight it is apparent the there is only one way to get on board the ship. A horse is missing a tail and a lanky spouse is having problems with high heals. Will this work or is it just the beginning?

There are many great one-liners. Also misinterpretations and some slapstick moments. Through all of this you get the Grant expressions. The film itself was made in 1949 in several locations in Württemberg, Germany.

Sublime comedy
I have loved this film since I first saw it some 40 years ago. I still do. And this despite my never having seen the appeal of the suave Cary Grant - definitely not a romantic hero to me. But in the right comedy he makes me laugh more than almost anyone else. "The right comedy" is 1930's or 40's with a strong female opponent. The best of all is "Bringing Up Baby", also directed by Howard Hawks and also at one point sticking Cary Grant in women's clothing. This is a strong runner-up.

Ann Sheridan gives as good as she gets and seems to be having terrific fun, especially on the long motor-cycle journey through post-war Germany (lots for the social historian). Cary Grant gives his usual performance in this sort of screwball affair, but what else would you want? In the final third, after the marriage, when they are unable to find anywhere to sleep he is superb. Small parts are wonderfully taken.

Pure joy, and makes recent Hollywood comedies seem vapid and bland (and where are the strong women?)