Mama Loves Papa (1933 film)

Mama Loves Papa is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod, with a story by Nunnally Johnson and Douglas MacLean, and a screenplay by MacLean, Keene Thompson and Arthur Kober. The film was produced by Paramount Pictures and stars Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland.[1][2][3]

Mama Loves Papa
1933 theatrical poster
Directed byNorman Z. McLeod
Screenplay byArthur Kober
Douglas MacLean
Keene Thompson
Story byNunnally Johnson
Douglas MacLean
StarringCharlie Ruggles
Mary Boland
Lilyan Tashman
George Barbier
CinematographyGilbert Warrenton
Edited byRichard C. Currier
Production
company
Release date
  • July 14, 1933 (1933-07-14) (United States)
Running time
68 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

While Wilbur Todd (Charlie Ruggles) is content with his middle class life, his wife Jessie (Mary Boland) aspires to a higher social standing. She insists he wear fine clothes because she believes that clothes make the man. When his strange new clothes bring derision rather than admiration, and tired of his wife's constant nagging, Wilbur goes off on a drunken spree and innocently becomes involved with the village vamp, Mrs. McIntosh (Lilyan Tashman).

Cast

Reception

The New York Times wrote that Ruggles' "routine comedy method is so uproarious that it is in danger of obscuring his other talents" and that as Wilbur Todd he "produces an authentic and believable character in the principal role, playing down his scenes with admirable restraint." They wrote that as Wilbur's well-meaning wife Jessie, Mary Boland "is a comedienne who successfully resists the temptation to manufacture broad farce and easy laughs."[1]

In the Toledo News-Bee journalist Allen Saunders made note that actor Charles Ruggles had been so long identified with sight and sound humor, that audiences had nearly forgotten that he could speak, and that in Mama Loves Papa he "has a chance to do a good job and he does it." In describing the supporting cast and action, he wrote that with the team of Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland, the film was in "capable hands". He concluded by writing that "Mama Loves Papa is one of the best little comedies of the season".[3] San Jose News wrote that the film was "an effervescent farce", that is "a perfect satire on the family next door."[2]

Hal Erickson of Rovi wrote that the team of Mary Boland and Charles Ruggles collaborating with Norman Z. McLeod made for a delightful film. Noting that the film was "very basic material", he wrote that because of its stars, director, and screenwriter Nunnally Johnson, the film "emerges as something truly special." He also made note that the National Board of Review selected the film as one of the best of its year.[4]

Recognition
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gollark: But it uses a Haskell-style continuation-passing quicksort.

See also

References
  1. A.D.S. (July 24, 1933). "review: Mama Loves Papa (1933)". The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  2. "Vaudeville Opens at Fox Cailifornia Today". San Jose News. Google News Archive. August 1, 1933. p. 31. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  3. Allen Saunders (August 2, 1933). "Mr. Rugles Comes Into His Own in New Comedy About Domestic Life". Toledo News-Bee. Google News Archive. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  4. Hal Erickson. "Mama Loves Papa (1933)". Rovi. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
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