Movie Monday: The More the Merrier (1943)

There are a few boy meets girl films out there that remain forever a classic. Romance movies are sometimes even the ones that first pop into our minds. Meanwhile, there are other classic romance films that are forgotten by the popular culture which is such a shame. The More the Merrier is one of those forgotten films, and one that I would like to bring back to light in today’s Movie Monday!

Jean Arthur stars alongside Joal McCrea in The More the Merrier to create one of the most underrated classic romantic comedies of all-time. Now, you already know that I am a pretty big fan of the Frank Capra films that Jean Arthur starred in, however, I thinks does a wonderful job striking out on her own without those larger than life leading men.

The way Jean Arthur portrays a leading lady in a romantic comedy reminds me a lot of Meg Ryan in her classic romance films. Arthur is really able to capture a certain amount of iciness with this character that you can slowly see melt. Like I said earlier, The More the Merrier is a sweet boy meets girl story too.

I would like to add that Joel McCrea is quite possibly the perfect match for Jean Arthur in this movie. Because he is not an huge star like some of the other men Arthur has starred along, Jean Arthur is really able to shine. McCrea also balances out being relatable and aspirational.

Another character that really stole the show in The More the Merrier is portrayed by Charles Coburn. There is something very endearing about him and how he plays Benjamin Dingle. I also like how he looks over Jean Arthur’s character like a father or guardian angel.

One unique aspect of The More the Merrier that newer films have yet to be able to replicate is the visual representation of how all of these characters seem to be at odds with on another. The walls separating these characters at certain times are both physically important to the storyline and metaphorically.

The dialogue through this film also makes for a lot of quick jokes and quotes. If you browse the classic films section of Pinterest long enough you are bound to run into a quote from The More the Merrier. With all of these elements in one film, you would think that The More the Merrier would have left a larger impact on our culture but that is not the case. So, hopefully this film review gave The More the Merrier a little extra boost and will spur at least a few people to seek out this classic and give it a watch.

Much Love,

Sarah