Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944)
Marriage Is a Private Affair (1944), directed by Robert Z. Leonard, starring Lana Turner and James Craig.
score
WEDLOCK OR PADLOCK??
Synopsis
Theo has had many boyfriends who wanted to marry her. Since her mother, Mrs. Selworth, has been married many times, Theo is unsure of commitment. Without much thought, she finally accepts the proposal of Air Corps Lieutenant Tom West. After the honeymoon, Tom's father dies and Tom goes into the defense industry. When Theo has a baby, she hates the idea of being matronly and wants to be the old party girl. The problem is that her husband is working constantly. She looks to her friends, who are having their own problems, and to her old flame Captain Lancing. To decide on what she wants to do with her baby and her life, Theo must grow up.
- Ray JuneCinematography
- Robert Z. LeonardDirector
- Bronislau KaperOriginal music
- David HertzScreenplay
About the film
Marriage is a Private Affair is a 1944 war-comedy film, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, based on the novel Marriage Is a Private Affair (1941) by Judith Kelly. It stars Lana Turner, Frances Gifford and James Craig.
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Marriage is a Private Affair is a 1944 war-comedy film, directed by Robert Z. Leonard, based on the novel Marriage Is a Private Affair (1941) by Judith Kelly. It stars Lana Turner, Frances Gifford and James Craig.
Plot
During World War II Theo has many boyfriends from the officers' club in New York City, who want to marry her. Her mother, Mrs. Selworth, has been married many times. Without much thought, Theo accepts a proposal of marriage from Tom West, an Air Corps lieutenant, about to ship out, not knowing if he'll come back. After the honeymoon, Tom's father dies, a defense contractor making lenses for bomber sights, and the War Industries Board furloughs Tom from shipping out with the United States Army Air Corps (predecessor to the United States Air Force), and orders him to take over the lens production operation. Theo has a baby, hates the idea of being matronly, and considers a return to being one of the party girls at the O club. One of Tom's business partners, Joe Murdock, is an alcoholic, constantly disappearing, which requires Tom to work to fill in for him with defense contracts, making bomber lenses for the war effort. Theo turns to her dashing old flame, Major Lancing. To decide what she wants to do with her baby and her life, Theo must learn to grow up, and deal with the failings of those around her, and resist following their bad example.
Cast
Reception
According to Hollywood Reporter news items, Marriage Is a Private Affair was the first Hollywood film to have a world premiere specifically for U.S. combat forces overseas. Lana Turner made a personal appearance at the premiere, which modern sources note took place on September 23, 1944 at a theater in Naples, Italy. In October 1944, According to MGM records the film earned $1,934,000 in the US and Canada and $715,000 elsewhere, making a $237,000 profit.
The film is thought to be the source for the title of Chinua Achebe's short story of the same name.
Radio adaptation
Marriage Is a Private Affair was presented on Screen Guild Theatre on June 17, 1946. Turner and Hodiak reprised their roles from the film.
References
External links
Marriage Is a Private Affair at IMDb
Marriage Is a Private Affair at the TCM Movie Database (archived)
Marriage Is a Private Affair at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Text from Marriage Is a Private Affair on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_Is_a_Private_Affair
Trivia
- It premiered on August 23, 1944, a Wednesday.
- It runs 1h56 — a typical feature length.
- This film's quiz has 13 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- StudiosMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- CountriesUnited States
- LanguagesEnglish
- StatusReleased
Cast
-
Lana Turner
Theodora "Theo" Scoffield West -
James Craig
Captain Miles Lancing -
John Hodiak
Lt. Thomas "Tom" Cochrane West -
Frances Gifford
Sissy Mortimer -
Hugh Marlowe
Joesph I. Murdock -
Natalie Schafer
Irene Selworth -
Keenan Wynn
Maj. Bob Wilton -
Herbert Rudley
Theodore "Ted" Mortimer -
Paul Cavanagh
Mr. Selworth -
Morris Ankrum
Ed Scofield -
Jane Green
Martha -
Tom Drake
Bill Rice -
Shirley Patterson
Mary Saunders - Neal Dodd Minister
-
Nana Bryant
Nurse -
Cecilia Callejo
Señora Guizman -
Virginia Brissac
Mrs. Courtland West -
Byron Foulger
Ned Bolton -
Addison Richards
Col. H.W. Ryder -
Ann Codee
Madame Cushine (uncredited)
Quiz about this movie
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Tags
Crew
- Ray June Cinematography
- Robert Z. Leonard Director
- Bronislau Kaper Original music
- David Hertz Screenplay
- Lenore J. Coffee Screenplay
Questions about this film
What is Marriage Is a Private Affair about?
Marriage Is a Private Affair: Theo has had many boyfriends who wanted to marry her. Since her mother, Mrs. Selworth, has been married many times, Theo is unsure of commitment. Without much thought, she finally accepts the proposal of Air Corps Lieutenant Tom West. After the honeymoon, Tom's father dies and Tom goes into the defense industry. When …
Who directed Marriage Is a Private Affair?
Marriage Is a Private Affair was directed by Robert Z. Leonard in 1944.
Who stars in Marriage Is a Private Affair?
The cast of Marriage Is a Private Affair includes Lana Turner, James Craig, John Hodiak, Frances Gifford and Hugh Marlowe.
How long is Marriage Is a Private Affair?
Marriage Is a Private Affair runs for 116 minutes, or 1h56.
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Page updated on 09/13/2026.
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