Idiot's Delight (1939)

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Robert E. Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Idiot's Delight starred Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne on Broadway. Set in a lavish alpine hotel bordering an Italian air base, the story throws together several disparate people, each in his or her own way affected by the World War that threatens to… More Robert E. Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Idiot's Delight starred Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne on Broadway. Set in a lavish alpine hotel bordering an Italian air base, the story throws together several disparate people, each in his or her own way affected by the World War that threatens to erupt at a moment's notice. The only person who doesn't seem to have a political or economic stake in world affairs is Harry Van, a two-bit American entertainer who is stranded in the hotel with his travelling all-girl troupe, "Les Blondes." Harry is convinced that the alluring Irene, the foreign-accented "travelling companion" of munitions tycoon Achille Weber, is actually an American girl with whom he'd had a one-night stand years earlier, but Irene laughs off his insinuations. Eventually, Irene turns to Harry for comfort when Weber proves too disgustingly warmongering for her tastes. When war breaks out and the hotel is targeted for bombing, Harry makes sure that everyone gets to safety; he himself stays behind with Irene, with whom he has fallen in love. The two sing a hymn as the hotel is blown to oblivion. When Idiot's Delight was filmed in 1939, Norma Shearer did her best Lynn Fontanne imitation as Irene, while Clark Gable remained Clark Gable in his interpretation of Harry Van (his song-and-dance rendition of "Puttin' on the Ritz" is a classic of sneering insouciance). The film underwent an extensive "MGM-izing": while the pre-European affair between Harry and Irene is never dramatized in the play, the film shows Harry and Irene commiserating in a long prologue set in a seedy vaudeville house--and, in keeping with censorship restrictions, it is made abundantly clear that, while Harry befriends Irene, he does not sleep with her. The munitions manufacturer, here played by Edward Arnold, is depicted as an aberration, and not representative of "honest" business moguls (many of whom were close personal chums of MGM head Louis B. Mayer). And, while the ending of the play does not tell us whether or not Harry and Irene survive the bombing, the film permits the lovers a sun-streamed happy ending. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Clarence Brown
Written By: Robert E. Sherwood
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 27, 1939 Wide
Studio: Unknown

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
WWII + Gable+ Gable singing! Add Norma Shearer for more MGM star power.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An unfulfilling adaptation of Robert E. Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Enjoyable if dated comedy/drama with Norma giving an amusing Garboesque take on her character. Gable's famous performance of Puttin' on the Ritz is memorable because he is so easygoing and game. Good supporting cast and assured direction also contribute to making this a… More
Enjoyable if dated comedy/drama with Norma giving an amusing Garboesque take on her character. Gable's famous performance of Puttin' on the Ritz is memorable because he is so easygoing and game. Good supporting cast and assured direction also contribute to making this a pleasant diversion. Try and see the version with the international and far better ending.

Cast

            Norma Shearer as Irene Fellara

            Clark Gable as Harry Van

            Edward Arnold as Achille Weber

            Charles Coburn as Dr. Waldersee

            Joseph Schildkraut as Capt. Kirvline

            Burgess Meredith as Quillery

            Laura Hope Crewes as Mme. Zuleika

            Peter Willes as Mr. Cherry

            William Edmunds as Dumptey

            Fritz Feld as Pittatek

            Virginia Grey as Shirley Laughlin

            Lorraine Krueger as Bebe

            Paula Stone as Beulah Tremeyne

            Virginia Dale as Francine

            Joan Marsh as Elaine Messiger

            Bernadene Hayes as Edna Creesh

            Clem Bevans as Jimmy Barzek

            Hobart Cavanaugh as Frueheim the Theater Manager

            Jimmy Conlin as Stagehand

            Frank Faylen as Ed

            Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher as Donald Navadel

            Bud Geary as Ambulance Driver

            Eddie Gribbon as Cop

            William Irving as Sandro

            Charles Judels as Greek Restaurant Owner

            Evelyn Knapp as Nurse

            Mitchell Lewis as Indian

            Francis McDonald as Flight Captain

            Claire McDowell as Mother

            Buddy Messinger as Usher

            Robert Middlemass as Hospital Commandant

            Adolph Milar as Fellara

            Frank Orth as Benny Zinssar

            Garry Owen as Newsstand Man

            Paul Panzer as Greek Chef

            Emory Parnell as Fifth Avenue Cop

            Lee Phelps as Train Announcer

            Edward Raquello as Chiari

            George Sorel as Major

            Harry Strang as Sergeant

            Bernard Suss as Auguste

            Frank M. Thomas as Bert

            E. Alyn Warren as Clerk Grand Hotel

            Joe Yule as Comic

            Gertrude Bennett as Woman with Powders

            Rudolph Myzet as Czech Announcer

            Bonita Weber as Woman with Catsup

            Pat Paterson as Mrs. Cherry
See full cast