Made for Each Other (1939)

60% of users liked it
(908 ratings)

James Stewart and Carole Lombard star in this comedy-drama about the struggles of a young married couple directed by John Cromwell. Stewart and Lombard play a recently married couple, Jane and John Mason. John works as an attorney for the law firm of skinflint Judge Doolittle (Charles Coburn).… More James Stewart and Carole Lombard star in this comedy-drama about the struggles of a young married couple directed by John Cromwell. Stewart and Lombard play a recently married couple, Jane and John Mason. John works as an attorney for the law firm of skinflint Judge Doolittle (Charles Coburn). Doolittle calls John back to work immediately after the wedding ceremony, forcing the couple to abandon their honeymoon. But John is ready to do Doolittle's bidding, since he hopes to become a partner in the firm. Doolittle is openly disappointed at the marriage, hoping John would have instead married his daughter Eunice (Ruth Weston). Eunice eventually marries another lawyer in the firm, Carter (Donald Briggs). John and Jane try to make ends meet and invite Doolittle, Eunice, and Carter to dinner. The dinner turns into a disaster, climaxing with Doolittle informing John he has decided to make Carter a partner in the firm. Crushed, John and Jane work hard but to no avail, sinking deeper and deeper into debt. Jane has a baby, but when the child becomes seriously ill, the only way to save the baby is to have a special serum flown in through a blizzard from Salt Lake City. John needs $5000 to hire a pilot and get the medicine, and his only hope is to beg Judge Doolittle for the money. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: John Cromwell
Written By: Rose Franken, Jo Swerling, Frank Ryan
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 10, 1939 Wide
On DVD: Oct 19, 2004
Studio: Nostalgia Family Video

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Stewart is touching as a man who feels completely powerless to provide for his wife or to improve his standing.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

It's realistic and the actors are good, but the story isn't exciting, it's a boring drama, more like watching real life than a movie, at least the ending was okay, but overall it's pretty boring.
Cindy I

If you see this for the 1st time now, you'd probably think "How derivative is THIS!?!?" And it seems to be...a man and woman get married, they have problems with money and whatnot, she gets preggers, the baby gets sick and there's a rush against the clock to get… More
If you see this for the 1st time now, you'd probably think "How derivative is THIS!?!?" And it seems to be...a man and woman get married, they have problems with money and whatnot, she gets preggers, the baby gets sick and there's a rush against the clock to get the meds before said baby cashes in. Only you'd be dead wrong. It's the OTHER million films you've seen this in since this one was released that are derivative. And this one is just about the best of the lot, made during that magical year of 1939 like it was. What movie WASN'T good that was released in 1939? I'll expect the answers to that question typed, double-spaced and turned in on my desk first thing in the morning. ;)
jay n

the soap is rather heavy but the performances are beautiful
George M

It's sad seeing good actors wasted in such a mediocre film. Not to mention the ludicrous american family, middle-class ideological core that lies behind the bad script.

Cast

            Carole Lombard as Jane Mason

            James Stewart as Johnny Mason

            Charles Coburn as Judge Joseph Doolittle

            Lucile Watson as Mrs. Mason

            Eddie Quillan as Conway

            Alma Kruger as Sister Madeline

            Ruth Weston as Eunice Doolittle

            Donald Briggs as Carter

            Harry Davenport as Dr. Healy

            Esther Dale as First Cook

            Russell Hopton as Collins

            Ward Bond as Jim Hatton

            Olin Howland as Farmer

            Fern Emmett as Farmer's Wife

            Louise Beavers as Third Cook

            Jackie Taylor as John Jr. at Age 1

            Raymond Bailey as Salt Lake Hospital Chemist

            Harlan Briggs as Judge

            Lane Chandler as Ranger

            Harry Depp as Hutch

            Fred Fuller as Doolittle's brother

            Ruth Gillette as Blonde in Cafe

            Arthur Hoyt as Jury Foreman

            Perry Ivins as Doctor

            Gladden James as Doctor

            Tom London as Ranger

            Edwin Maxwell as Messerschmidt

            Carlyle Moore Jr.
            
            Jack Mulhall as Radio operator

            Robert E. O'Connor as Harry - Elevator Starter

            Renee Orsell as Hilda

            Garry Owen
            
            Mickey Rentschler as Office Boy

            Ivan Simpson as Simon

            Milburn Stone as Sam

            Robert Strange as Doctor

            John Maurice Sullivan as John Hopkin's Chemist

            Nella Walker
            
            Marjorie Wood
            
            Harry Worth as New York Hospital Chemist

            Mary Field as Indianapolis Lab Assistant

            Arthur Gardner as Radio Operator

            Betty Farrington as Hospital cashier

            Mike Kilian
            
            Russ Clark
            
            Lucille Watson
            
See full cast