In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult.

1939 film:
Bridal Suite (1939)

Release date:
May 26, 1939

Cast:
Annabella, Robert Young, Billie Burke, Walter Connolly, Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Arthur Treacher, Virginia Field, Felix Bressart, Sig Arno (uncredited), Robert Blake (uncredited), Mary Beth Hughes (uncredited), Mitchell Lewis (uncredited),

Studio:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Director:
Wilhelm Thiele (billed as William Thiele)

Plot:
Wealthy playboy Neil McGill (Robert Young) has missed his wedding to Abbie Bragdon (Field) twice. While Neil’s father (Lockhart) is furious and feels his son is spoiled, Mrs. McGill (Billie Burke) thinks there has to be an underlying health reason for his behavior. Mrs. McGill takes Neil to the Swiss Alps so he can be treated by Dr. Grauer (Connolly) for amnesia. Dr. Grauer immediately knows nothing is wrong with Neil. Neil also meets the doctor’s ward, Luise Anzengruber (Annabella), who he falls for.

1939 Notes:
• Robert Blake’s first feature film.
• By the numbers:

Other trivia:
• In April 1939, Annabella and actor Tyrone Power were married. The title of this film was retitled from “Maiden Voyage” to “Bridal Suite” to capitalize off of Annabella’s marriage.

My review: Searching for the “1939 feature”:
Sometimes, a film isn’t much to write home about, but the story around it is more interesting.

The title of this week’s Watching 1939 film was changed due to current events with one of the stars.

BRIDAL SUITE (1939) is a rather zany comedy with a rather random ending. In the film, Robert Young plays a wealthy and spoiled playboy. The film begins with him yet again missing his wedding to Abbie Bragdon (Virginia Field). While Neil’s father (Lockhart) is furious and feels his son is spoiled, Mrs. McGill (Billie Burke) thinks there has to be an underlying health reason for his behavior. Mrs. McGill takes Neil to the Swiss Alps so he can be treated by Dr. Grauer (Connolly) for amnesia. Dr. Grauer immediately knows nothing is wrong with Neil. Neil also meets the doctor’s ward, Luise Anzengruber (Annabella), who he falls for.

The original title of this film was MAIDEN VOYAGE. However, it was retitled after the film’s star, French actress Annabella, married actor and screen heartthrob, Tyrone Power.

Annabella and Power met while making the 20th Century Fox film, SUEZ (1938) and married in April 1939. Power’s home studio of 20th Century Fox was not pleased with the marriage, because of how it would affect his heartthrob image. The studio received angry letters from his fan, according to “The Star Machine” by Jeanine Basinger.

While 20th Century Fox was working to do damage control with fan magazine articles, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer leaned into the marriage, transforming the title to BRIDAL SUITE (1939), and even getting publicity photos of Robert Young, Annabella and Tyrone Power together.

Truth be told, neither title really works with the film, and this background story is more interesting than the actual film.

It’s a strange, meandering film that really goes off the rails when Young, Annabella and Walter Connolly are hiking in the snow and there’s an avalanche. All the actors try their best with a script that really is no good, but the only character in the film who appears to have a brain is played by Gene Lockhart.

Other places you can follow Comet Over Hollywood: 

• Facebook
• Letterboxd
• X at @HollywoodComet
• Instagram
• BlueSky 
• Or e-mail us at cometoverhollywood@gmail.com