Watch The More the Merrier For Free

just watch it!

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Another great screwball comedy starring the incomparable Jean Arthur. Charles Coburn is at his annoying best, too, and won a Supporting Actor Oscar for his trouble. If you like 1930s-1940s comedies, you'll LOVE this film!

I guess "Gone With the Wind" set the precedent for scare tactics to lure audiences using evil guttural utterances. Pish posh, in your dreams friends. This film was a dreg.I've had many male roommates and of course this led to many romantic opportunities but as a business arrangement, I NEVER went there, and at times this was eXtremely difficult, but rules are rules. And let me tell you these gents were not of the wooden unemotional daft Joel McCrea types.I had a hard enough time with "Walk Don't Run" but I soldiered through this first installment with grit. The "Schedule" routine was tedious but gave it some slack thinking the payoff would be forthcoming. Not the case here folks. This farce is dreadful at every turn. The split screen tactic in the bedroom may have it's foundation here but guess that's where the creativity ends.Perhaps if there were more sightseeing tours of DC in the 40's it could save the day? I guess I could recommend to round out your collection of Arthur, Coburn and McCrea. But not likely.... Big Sigh!

I only came across this movie recently as it was shown on TMC. What a treat! I had not seen any Jean Arthur pictures before - I have to say, she was one lovely lady. I won't repeat the plot details, but just comment that the sidewalk and kiss scene was fabulous. You know that Joe (McRae) and Connie (Arthur)are destined to kiss, but the buildup goes on and on.All the while, Connie is warding off the octopus treatment from Joe, without really wanting to, and pretending to be nonchalant and detached. And when the kisses come, they take her breath away. Certainly among the great screen kisses.One point I don't think anyone else commented on: When Connie first mentions her then-fiancé Charles J. Pendergast, she says offhandedly that he has no hair, is bald. But when we see Pendergast a little later on, and for the rest of the movie, he is wearing a blatantly ill-fitting and mis-tinted toupee. In the restaurant scene, Pendergast makes a point of ducking under some ventilation fans; no doubt to keep his hair on straight. No one says anything, but you know why he did it.

"The More the Merrier" is co-written by four screenwriters, Richard Flournoy, Lewis R. Foster, Frank Ross, Robert Russell, and a surprisingly well-integrated screenplay effort, indeed. Jean Arthur is Connie Milligan, the centrifuge of attention; Joel McCrea is Joe Carter the unexpected distraction; and Charles Coburn is Benjamin Dingle, the ultimate Mr. Cupid connection. Miss A is comedienne Goddess alright: Connie is rigidly constrained but not exactly, wants everything according to her plan as expected, demanding adoration & affection at the same time, and capable of delivering very long sentences or speech unfalteringly without a grimace. She's one ball of spitfire, Miss Arthur - Hallelujah and Amen. Perfect casting to match Miss A's quick wit and skillful acting are tall, down-to-earth handsome Joel McCrea and cool, calm, but casual Charles Coburn. My fondness of this movie gem grew with each repeat viewing - appreciating all the nuanced moments evolved, sparked by the irresistible chemistry between Miss A and McCrea, and the endless humor and fun Coburn generates with his twinkling eye. Who would think the mundane subject of 'rent a room' can turn into such combustible drama! What a threesome to watch.The comedic tempo is at its prime impeccable timing as the circumstance on how Arthur's Connie discovers a third party when she came home unaware of McCrea's Joe being in the apartment, as he was simultaneously unaware that the place belongs to a woman landlord, as Coburn's Mr. Dingle did not mention such 'inconsequential' detail when he sublet his rented room to Joe. Adding to the amusing situation is the rhythmic music that anyone (yes, viewers included) would want to swing to anywhere: in the room waiting to use the bathroom, in the hallway just coming out of the bathroom, in the doorway 'hair-raisingly' watching the consequential moment to occur. Imagine the three in that scene - of course you have to see it to thoroughly marvel such flawless pacing at the superb ensemble performance of the trio and the ingenious direction of Stevens, with the deft artistry of editor and sound, cinematography, set decoration, costume and prop design, all inclusive. Joel McCrea swaying in his robe, bare-footed, is simply endearing to watch. Jean Arthur's face as she came out looking so surprised is precious to behold. She is a Goddess who can take any comedic riff and be comfortable with making fun of herself. Bravo! (Can't resist mentioning about the bit with Dingle's pants - truly a quiet hilarious 'Chaplin-est' sequence, indisputably so.) "The More the Merrier" (1943) is actually romantic to the core - the back and forth interplay between Arthur and McCrea is romance in poetry, and the bantering dialog is at once buoyantly merry and witty. Charles Coburn's nonchalant front while playing cupid on the sly is so easy to swallow whole, taking in along with his impish whims and humor. You can see Coburn in another film with Arthur, director Sam Wood's savory "The Devil and Miss Jones" (1941) where Coburn is in a front and center substantial role as an executive incognito - boss to Arthur without her awareness (again) - chaotic fun involving mistaken identity assumptions entangled. In a different subdued role in director Irving Cummings' returning soldier adjusting to family life 'dramady' "The Impatient Years" (1944), Coburn plays the discerning father to Arthur, providing sensible solution to her marriage woes.Yet another absolutely must see is director George Steven's "Talk of the Town" (1942) with the stellar ensemble of Cary Grant, Jean Arthur and Ronald Colman. (My user comments posted on IMDb on 20 April 1999 at "imdb.com/title/tt0035417/usercomments-1").