We're Not Married (1952)

58% of users liked it
(1,728 ratings)

Having supped full of success with the multi-storied O. Henry's Full House, 20th Century-Fox assembled another all-star "omnibus" film, We're Not Married. The unifying factor of this enjoyable seriocomedy is provided by justice-of-the-peace Melvin Bush (Victor Moore), who learns to his horror that… More Having supped full of success with the multi-storied O. Henry's Full House, 20th Century-Fox assembled another all-star "omnibus" film, We're Not Married. The unifying factor of this enjoyable seriocomedy is provided by justice-of-the-peace Melvin Bush (Victor Moore), who learns to his horror that his license is invalid. Bush and his wife (Jane Darwell) feverishly track down the five couples whom he has married "illegally" to inform them of the fact and invite them to renew their vows. Couple #1 is Fred Allen and Ginger Rogers, a husband-and-wife radio team whose huggy-kissy behavior on the air conceals the fact that they'd dearly love to cut each other's throats. Couple #2 consists of David Wayne and his contest-happy spouse Marilyn Monroe, who's just won the "Mrs. Mississippi" pageant. Couple #3, Paul Douglas and Eve Arden, ran out of things to say to each other long ago. Couple #4 is millionaire Louis Calhern and his avaricious young bride Eva Gabor, who intends to jilt the old coot and make off with his millions. And Couple #5 is young GI Eddie Bracken and his pregnant wife Mitzi Gaynor. When Bush delivers the news that these unions aren't legal in the eyes of the state, the results range from poignant to hilarious: particularly satisfying is Calhern's puckish revenge on his gold-digging wife. And yes, that is Lee Marvin as Eddie Bracken's army buddy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Edmund Goulding
Written By: Nunnally Johnson, Dwight Taylor
Genres: Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 11, 1952 Wide
On DVD: Apr 20, 2004
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Uneven but entertaining multi-star comedy.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jennifer D

Boring and disjointed.
AJ V

Sometimes this movie was funny, and at other times it was just an average not so funny comedy. There is a good cast, though, I'll give it that. Still, it's just an okay movie.

Cast

            Ginger Rogers as Ramona Gladwyn

            Fred Allen as Steve Gladwyn

            Victor Moore as Melvin Bush Justice of the Peace

            Marilyn Monroe as Annabel Norris

            David Wayne as Jeff Norris

            Eve Arden as Katie Woodruff

            Paul Douglas as Hector Woodruff

            Eddie Bracken as Willie Fisher

            Mitzi Gaynor as Patsy Fisher

            Louis Calhern as Freddie Melrose

            Zsa Zsa Gabor as Eve Melrose

            James Gleason as Duffy

            Paul Stewart as Attorney Stone

            Jane Darwell as Mrs. Bush

            Al Bridge as Detective Magnus

            Victor Sutherland as Governor Bush

            Tom Powers as Attorney General

            Maurice Cass as Organist

            Maude Wallace as Autograph Hound

            Margie Liszt as Irene

            Ralph Dumke as Twitchell

            Lee Marvin as Pinkie

            Marjorie Weaver as Ruthie

            O.Z. Whitehead as Postman

            Selmar Jackson as Chaplain Hall

            Harry Antrim as Justice of the Peace

            James Burke as Master Sgt. Nuckols

            Harry Carter as Chaplain Hall

            Eddie Firestone as Men in Radio Station

            Robert Forrest
            
            Byron Foulger as License Bureau Clerk

            Alvin Greenman
            
            Dabbs Greer as Man at Miss Mississippi Contest

            Bill Hale as MP

            Harry Harvey as Ned

            Edwin Max as Counterman

            Emile G. Meyer as Beauty Contest Announcer

            Forbes Murray as Mississippi Governor

            Richard Reeves as Brigadier General

            Robert Dane as MPs at Railroad Station

            Kay English as Wife

            Marjorie Liszt as Daughter on Radio
See full cast