It’s Love Again **** (1936, Jessie Matthews, Robert Young, Sonnie Hale) – Classic Movie Review 10,498

The 1936 British musical film It’s Love Again is a splendid vehicle for the effervescent Jessie Matthews as an ambitious chorus girl masquerading as a rich big-game hunter to boost her showbiz career.

Director Victor Saville’s 1936 British musical film It’s Love Again is a splendid vehicle for the effervescent Jessie Matthews as an ambitious young chorine, singer and dancer Elaine Bradford, masquerading as a rich big-game hunter, Mrs Smythe-Smythe, who has been invented by over-inventive gossip columnist Peter Carlton (Robert Young), in the hope of publicity for her big break. Naturally, Carlton is much surprised when his imaginary person turns up.

Never mind the wisp of a plot: the ingratiating star’s singing and dancing are both at their most beguiling and the support player roster is strong enough to see the musical through the weaker comedy sections.

It’s Love Again contains three of Matthews’s evergreen all-time great hits: ‘It’s Love Again’ (written by Sam Coslow), ‘I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Through My Fingers’ (written by Harry M Woods) and ‘Got To Dance My Way To Heaven’ (written by Sam Coslow).

It’s a smashing show that comes near to rivalling the best American musicals of the day.

Terry-Thomas has an early bit part as a dancer (extra, uncredited).

Also in the cast are Ernest Milton, Robb Wilton, Sara Allgood, Athene Seyler, Cyril Wells, Warren Jenkins, David Horne, Glennis Lorimer, Robert Hale, Cyril Raymond, Terry-Thomas, Anthony Holles, Graham Moffatt, and Jack Vyvyan.

It’s Love Again is directed by Victor Saville, runs 83 minutes, is made by Gaumont British Picture Corporation, is released by Gaumont British Distributors (1936) (UK) and Gaumont British Picture Corporation of America (1936) (US), is written by Lesser Samuels (original screenplay), Marion Dix (scenario and original screenplay) and Austin Melford (additional dialogue), is shot in black and white by Glen MacWilliams, is produced by Michael Balcon, is scored by Louis Levy and Bretton Byrd, and is designed by Alfred Junge, with music and lyrics by Harry M Woods and Sam Colsow.

It is shot at Lime Grove Studios/ Gainsborough Studios, Shepherd’s Bush, London.

It was released on 6 May 1936 (London, UK) and 30 May 1936 (US).

The cast are Jessie Matthews as Elaine Bradford/ Mrs Smythe-Smythe, Robert Young as Peter Carlton, Sonnie Hale as Freddie Rathbone, Ernest Milton as Raymond, Robb Wilton as Boys the Butler, Sara Allgood as Mrs Hopkins, Anthony Holles as Headwaiter, Cyril Wells as Gigolo, Warren Jenkins as Woolf, David Horne as Durland, Athene Seyler as Mrs Durland, Glennis Lorimer as Montague’s typist, Robert Hale as Colonel Edgerton, Cyril Raymond as Montague, Graham Moffatt as Callboy, Olive Sloane as Francine Grenoble, Terry-Thomas, Anthony Holles, and Jack Vyvyan, with Louis Levy as Orchestra Conductor.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,498

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