AFI|Catalog

Raphaelson's novel first appeared in Saturday Evening Post under the title Streamlined Heart (7 Jan--4 Feb 1939). Gertrude Lawrence played the female lead in the play. A news item in NYT noted that the filmmakers altered the play for its screen adaptation, including "the part about the adopted baby that was sent back to the orphanage...because the fans might not approve of Miss Colbert treating an infant so heartlessly." Actor Hobart Cavanaugh's name was misspelled in the onscreen credits as "Cavanagh." HR production charts list Ray Storm as film editor; however, this is most likely a typographical error for LeRoy Stone. HR news items note that Melvyn Douglas was originally cast in the part of "Tony Kenyon." Loren Ryder, chief sound engineer at Paramount studios, was nominated for an Academy Award for this film; however, he did not receive credit for his work on the film. Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland and Brian Aherne reprised their roles in a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast on 2 Feb 1942. ...

More Less

Raphaelson's novel first appeared in Saturday Evening Post under the title Streamlined Heart (7 Jan--4 Feb 1939). Gertrude Lawrence played the female lead in the play. A news item in NYT noted that the filmmakers altered the play for its screen adaptation, including "the part about the adopted baby that was sent back to the orphanage...because the fans might not approve of Miss Colbert treating an infant so heartlessly." Actor Hobart Cavanaugh's name was misspelled in the onscreen credits as "Cavanagh." HR production charts list Ray Storm as film editor; however, this is most likely a typographical error for LeRoy Stone. HR news items note that Melvyn Douglas was originally cast in the part of "Tony Kenyon." Loren Ryder, chief sound engineer at Paramount studios, was nominated for an Academy Award for this film; however, he did not receive credit for his work on the film. Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland and Brian Aherne reprised their roles in a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast on 2 Feb 1942.

Less

A Mark Sandrich Production

Loren Ryder

Chief sd engineer

Based on the play Skylark by Samson Raphaelson, as produced by John Golden (New York, 11 Oct 1939) and his novel of the same name (New York, 1939).

Release Date:

21 November 1941

Production Date:

29 Jan--2 Apr 1941

Copyright Info

Lydia Kenyon discovers that her husband Tony, an advertising executive, has sent his friend, George Gorell, to select a fifth wedding anniversary gift for her. Lydia handles the situation with humor, but when Tony, who has no thoughts for anything but his work, "gives" their cook to his client's wife, the snooty Mrs. Myrtle Vantine, Lydia becomes furious and leaves her own cocktail party with Jim Blake, a man she has just met. Although Jim tries to seduce Lydia, she resists his flattery, and they return to the party long after everyone has left. Tony believes his advertising account with Vantine has been jeapordized by Lydia and forces her to call Mrs. Vantine and apologize for deserting the party with Jim, with whom Mrs. Vantine has been having an affair. When Lydia finally leaves Tony, she asks Jim, a lawyer, to handle the divorce, but Tony forestalls her actions by lying to her that he will quit his job so that they can be together. Shortly after, Mrs. Vantine surprises Lydia with a visit and threatens to fire Tony if Lydia does not stop seeing Jim. Lydia, who believes she has nothing to lose, insults Mrs. Vantine by calling her a tramp and a "scheming cow." Lydia later discovers that Tony lied about quitting his job, and some time later, she is granted a Reno divorce. Lydia subsequently spends all her time with Jim, who has genuinely fallen in love with her. Tony refuses to accept the divorce and, having lost his job, takes a government job in South America with the hope that Lydia will reunite with him there. ...

More Less

Lydia Kenyon discovers that her husband Tony, an advertising executive, has sent his friend, George Gorell, to select a fifth wedding anniversary gift for her. Lydia handles the situation with humor, but when Tony, who has no thoughts for anything but his work, "gives" their cook to his client's wife, the snooty Mrs. Myrtle Vantine, Lydia becomes furious and leaves her own cocktail party with Jim Blake, a man she has just met. Although Jim tries to seduce Lydia, she resists his flattery, and they return to the party long after everyone has left. Tony believes his advertising account with Vantine has been jeapordized by Lydia and forces her to call Mrs. Vantine and apologize for deserting the party with Jim, with whom Mrs. Vantine has been having an affair. When Lydia finally leaves Tony, she asks Jim, a lawyer, to handle the divorce, but Tony forestalls her actions by lying to her that he will quit his job so that they can be together. Shortly after, Mrs. Vantine surprises Lydia with a visit and threatens to fire Tony if Lydia does not stop seeing Jim. Lydia, who believes she has nothing to lose, insults Mrs. Vantine by calling her a tramp and a "scheming cow." Lydia later discovers that Tony lied about quitting his job, and some time later, she is granted a Reno divorce. Lydia subsequently spends all her time with Jim, who has genuinely fallen in love with her. Tony refuses to accept the divorce and, having lost his job, takes a government job in South America with the hope that Lydia will reunite with him there. At their summer home, Lydia convinces Tony that they are through, and he departs for South America. The next day, Lydia and Jim go sailing on his yacht, and in the throes of a storm, Lydia realizes that she only wants to be with Tony. She ends her relationship with Jim and reunites with Tony as the ship docks in Havana, Cuba.

Less