Screwball comedy is a film subgenre of the romantic comedy genre that became popular during the Great Depression, beginning in the early 1930s and thriving until the early 1950s, that satirizes the traditional love story. It has secondary characteristics similar to film noir, distinguished by a female character who dominates the relationship with the male central character, whose masculinity is challenged, and the two engage in a humorous battle of the sexes.
Merle Oberon was a British actress who began her film career in British films as Anne Boleyn in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933). After her success in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), she travelled to the United States to make films for Samuel Goldwyn. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Dark Angel (1935). Oberon hid her mixed heritage out of fear of discrimination and the impact it would have had on her career.
The Divorce of Lady X is a 1938 British Technicolor romantic comedy film produced by London Films; it stars Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Binnie Barnes. It was directed by Tim Whelan and produced by Alexander Korda from a screenplay by Ian Dalrymple and Arthur Wimperis, adapted by Lajos Bíró from the play Counsel's Opinion by Gilbert Wakefield. The music score was by Miklós Rózsa and Lionel Salter and the cinematography by Harry Stradling.
Mark John Hellinger was an American journalist, theatre columnist and film producer.
Francis Curry McHugh was an American stage, radio, film and television actor.
When Ladies Meet is a 1941 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Joan Crawford, Robert Taylor, Greer Garson, Herbert Marshall and Spring Byington. The screenplay by S.K. Lauren and Anita Loos was based upon a 1932 play by Rachel Crothers. Made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, director Leonard also coproduced along with Orville O. Dull. The film was a remake of the 1933 pre-Code film of the same name, which had starred Ann Harding, Myrna Loy, Robert Montgomery and Frank Morgan in the roles played by Garson, Crawford, Taylor and Marshall.
My Dream Is Yours is a 1949 American Technicolor musical romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Jack Carson, Doris Day, and Lee Bowman. This was a loose remake of the 1934 Twenty Million Sweethearts, starring Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers.
Footsteps in the Dark is a 1941 American comedy mystery film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall and Ralph Bellamy. It was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. Flynn plays a novelist and amateur detective investigating a murder. It takes its title from the 1935 play Footsteps in the Dark by Ladislas Fodor and also used material from the 1937 play Blondie White by Jeffrey Dell.
Million Dollar Baby is a 1941 American romantic comedy film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Priscilla Lane, Jeffrey Lynn, Ronald Reagan, May Robson and Lee Patrick. The film was based on a short story by Leonard Spigelgass. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.
Nine Lives Are Not Enough is a 1941 American comedy mystery film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Ronald Reagan, Joan Perry and James Gleason. The film was produced and released by Warner Bros. It is based on the 1940 novel Nine Lives Are Not Enough by Jerome Odlum.
Let's Get Married is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Ida Lupino, who plays the daughter of a political consultant, Joe Quinn. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Lupino was loaned out from Paramount to make the film.
As Good as Married is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell and starring John Boles, Doris Nolan and Walter Pidgeon. The film was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Filming started in December 1936.
Ready for Love is a 1934 American romantic comedy film directed by Marion Gering and presented by Adolph Zukor for Paramount Pictures. It stars Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino, and Marjorie Rambeau. It is inspired by the play The Whipping by Eulalie Spence, based on the 1930 novel The Whipping by Roy Flanagan. The film is about school runaway Marigold Tate who "journeys to her retired aunt's home where she soon faces small-town bigotry", and falls in love with handsome newspaper editor Julian Barrow.
Scattergood Meets Broadway is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne and written by Michael L. Simmons and Ethel B. Stone. It is the sequel to the 1941 film Scattergood Pulls the Strings. The film stars Guy Kibbee, Mildred Coles, William "Bill" Henry, Emma Dunn, Frank Jenks, Joyce Compton and Bradley Page. The film was released on August 22, 1941, by RKO Pictures.
Blonde Inspiration is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Marion Parsonnet. The film stars John Shelton, Virginia Grey, Albert Dekker, Charles Butterworth, and Donald Meek. The film was released on February 7, 1941, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Rookies on Parade is a 1941 musical comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and starring Bob Crosby, Ruth Terry, Eddie Foy Jr. and Marie Wilson It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. The film marked the studio's entry into the pre-World War II military comedy genre. The Army technical advisor was Captain Jack Voglin who performed the same duty for the 1941 films You're in the Army Now, You'll Never Get Rich and Buck Privates.
Mr. District Attorney is a 1941 American comedy crime film directed by William Morgan and written by Karl Brown and Malcolm Stuart Boylan. The film was based on the long running and popular radio series Mr. District Attorney. It stars Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, Peter Lorre, Stanley Ridges, Minor Watson and Charles Arnt. The film was released on March 27, 1941, by Republic Pictures. It was followed by a sequel Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case later in the year, with different actors in the leading roles.
Grand Slam is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by William Dieterle and Alfred E. Green and starring Paul Lukas, Loretta Young and Frank McHugh. The film was released by Warner Bros. on March 18, 1933.
There Goes Kelly is a 1945 American comedy mystery film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Jackie Moran, Wanda McKay and Sidney Miller. It was produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures. It is a remake of the 1940 film Up in the Air, and also acts as a sequel to the 1943 film Here Comes Kelly.
Sing for Your Supper is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Charles Barton and starring Jinx Falkenburg, Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Eve Arden. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
