Every Girl Should Be Married (1948)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Disturbing yet enthralling

How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Betsy Drake's character here is just a little too weird for me to take this film seriously. As I watched the film -- both times -- I found myself thinking about which actresses could have carried this off and not seemed too unreal. I immediately thought of Katerine Hepburn. I have to admit, the other key players here -- Cary Grant and Franchot Tone -- managed to play opposite Drake well here. But, in fact, Diana Lynn -- a supporting actress here -- might have played the part better than Drake. But, ah well, I rest my case with the rather short list of films that Drake appeared in.Cary Grant is one of my two favorite actors. Grant, here, is as good as he always was, although I can't say that the material is top notch...not that it is bad, either.Franchot Tone, as the other man...dragged into a non-existent relationship. He was always good at playing the other man...with humor...and is here.And, near the end of the film, "Old Joe" is played by Eddie Albert/ The story? We would look at this film very differently today. It's about stalking, although this time it's the woman stalking the man. Seriously, what man would want a woman who would undoubtedly be so extremely as clinging as Betsy Drake's character. And that's what makes this film -- at least for me -- not work. Any man would run for their lives. Perhaps the best scene of the film is not between Cary Grant and Betsy Drake, but rather between Cary Grant and Franchot Tone.Cary Grant = 8. Betsy Drake = 5. Franchot Tone = 7. Diana Lynn = 7. Story line = 7. Result, a weak 7.I have quite a few Cary Grant films in my collection. This is not one of them...and will not be in the future. Watch it on TCM.

Like fingernails scratching down a blackboard, Betsy Drake's annoying voice dominates this dreary offering from RKO. While nominally a Cary Grant film, Grant transparently takes second place behind the true star of the film, Betsy Drake. And what a painfully miserable choice she was. She is unable to open her mouth without engaging in a sanctimonious lecture about marriage and her plans to trap Grant, and barely two minutes ever go by in the film without her doing so. She is as unappealing an actress as has ever been my misfortune to waste time watching. Her endless speeches are unbearable, and I, who am able to suspend disbelief at the most outrageous plots, will go to my grave not accepting for a second that Cary Grant could ever have an interest at all in the most self-righteous and unattractive Betsy Drake.If only Grant had been given more to do in this film.But if you do choose to watch "Every Girl Should Be Married", there are a few interesting moments worth looking out for. The best comes when Cary Grant, going off on one of his diatribes against marriage in general and Betsy Drake in particular, actually does a very funny impersonation of Drake, complete with high pitched voice and female mannerisms. A quite enjoyable moment in what otherwise must have been a most boring assignment for Grant.One other interesting moment occurs when Grant is sitting beside Drake in her home, and the telephone rings for a second time. The receiver is apparently placed backwards on the telephone base, so that when Drake reaches for it, she ends up picking up the receiver sort of inside-out, and it is rather awkward; however, her improvisation goes smoothly enough, and was obviously kept in the film.Now you all remember the great telephone scene in "It's a Wonderful Life"; Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed are sharing the receiver as they speak to their old friend Sam. Because they have yet to openly declare their love for each other, the tension inherent in their being in such close proximity to each other is spectacular. Well, here in "Every Girl Should Be Married", there is a similar moment in the same scene as described above; as Drake and Grant are sitting next to each other, they pass the telephone receiver back and forth as it rings, and casually brush and touch each other's arms as they share a look at a baby magazine; here was some potential for some interesting tension. Unfortunately, like the entire rest of the movie, the potential is not even remotely realized. Just another small failure, though this is just a cog on a giant wheel of failure.Even the endless appearance of the great old song "Sailing" (recorded most memorably by Bobby Darin) becomes grating after a while.On the other hand, quite pleasing is the surprising un-credited appearance of genial Eddie Albert in the long closing scene. A great job by Albert, but sadly too little too late.Is this film awful? Maybe not awful, but at best, unbearable.

Light comical farce with Betsy Drake desperate to wed and finds Cary Grant, a pediatrician, her perfect mate.The picture has become faded with the passage of time since Women's Lib would never go for this today in 2008, 60 years after this film was made.Grant shows what a wonderful actor he was by moving freely from drama to comedy.Franchot Tone appears as a possible love interest and rival to Grant.This is definitely Drake's film as she really gets into a woman desperate for marriage. Diana Lynn appears as her comic foil and is only moderately successful here.The film tends to falter as it goes on and suddenly at the end, long time beau played Eddie Albert suddenly appears only to find that the Drake character has come a long way. Problem is that the film does not.

What a wonderfully flexible this thing is, cinema. Within it, one can structure all sorts of things that can reach us.Probably the two that are the most profound are how movies define fate and sometimes in the same breath, love.This is one that deals with both. And the love part has nothing to do with relationships but with the simple charm of a type of woman. This was a big success when new, but today isn't even worth putting on DVD.Odd, because for what it is, it is perfect. The goal is to parade an enticing woman, a real natural charmer.The girl in this case is Betsy Drake, playing against Cary Grant who does his usual thing. She is something between an Audrey Hepburn and Debbie Reynolds, both of whom did this sort of movie frequently. Her chin is narrow which gives the effect of an overly large and expressive mouth, used very theatrically. She also has a slight lisp. Combined with her exuberant manner and honest presentation, she is absolutely captivating. And so Grant thought as well because he moved in with her during this and married her shortly thereafter.How odd it is that someone could peak so in one film (this her first) and fade so quickly from importance.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.