Double Harness
Encyclopedia
Double Harness is a film starring Ann Harding
and William Powell
. It was based on the play of the same name by Edward Poor Montgomery. A young woman maneuvers a lazy playboy into marrying her.
On 4 April and 11 April 2007, Turner Classic Movies
premiered six films produced by Merian C. Cooper
at RKO but out of distribution for more than 50 years. According to TCM host Robert Osborne
, Cooper agreed to a legal settlement with RKO in 1946, after accusing RKO of not giving him all the money due him from his RKO producer's contract in the 1930s. The settlement gave Cooper complete ownership of six RKO titles. Among the six titles are Rafter Romance
(1933) with Ginger Rogers
, Double Harness, The Right to Romance (1933), One Man's Journey
(1933) with Lionel Barrymore
, Living on Love (1937), and A Man to Remember
(1938). According to an interview with a retired RKO executive, used as a promo on TCM for the premiere, Cooper allowed the films to be shown in 1955-1956 in a limited re-release and only in New York City
.
) becomes engaged to be married to Dennis Moore (George Meeker
), a more level-headed Joan (Ann Harding
) decides to do the same, not because she is in love, but in order to make something of herself. She chooses unambitious, wealthy playboy John Fletcher (William Powell
), who owns a troubled shipping line.
She eventually spends the night in his apartment. To Joan's annoyance, over the following months, she finds herself falling in love. When John shows no interest in marrying her, Joan forces the issue. She arranges for her father, Colonel Sam Colby (Henry Stephenson
), to find them in a compromising position. John graciously agrees to do the honorable thing and marry Joan. However, on their honeymoon cruise, he lets her know that he expects her to grant him a divorce after a decent interval. They settle on six months.
Joan prods her husband into taking an interest in his family business. To his surprise, he finds that he enjoys it. As the new Postmaster General
(Wallis Clark
) is a good friend of her father's, Joan invites him to dinner, hoping to land a government contract.
Meanwhile, Valerie goes into debt due to her extravagant spending habits and borrows from her big sister over and over again. Joan gives Valerie all she can afford without touching John's money. Finally, she pawns a ring for half the latest sum Valerie needs, but tells her that it is the last time.
That same day, John finally realizes that he loves his wife. However, when he goes home, Valerie goes to John behind Joan's back and cons him into give her a check. Joan finds out and tears up the check. In her anger, Valerie blurts out how Joan trapped John into marriage.
Disillusioned, he turns to his former paramour, Mrs. Monica Paige (Lilian Bond
). Joan follows them to Monica's apartment and confesses all, including the fact that she has fallen in love with him, to no avail. She then tries to salvage her dinner party. To her delight, John shows up and makes it clear that he believes and forgives her.
Ann Harding
Ann Harding was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress.-Early years:Born Dorothy Walton Gatley at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to George G. Gatley and Elizabeth "Bessie" Crabb. The daughter of a career army officer, she traveled often during her early life...
and William Powell
William Powell
William Horatio Powell was an American actor.A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles...
. It was based on the play of the same name by Edward Poor Montgomery. A young woman maneuvers a lazy playboy into marrying her.
On 4 April and 11 April 2007, Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
premiered six films produced by Merian C. Cooper
Merian C. Cooper
Merian Caldwell Cooper was an American aviator, United States Air Force and Polish Air Force officer, adventurer, screenwriter, and film director and producer. His most famous film was the 1933 movie King Kong.-Early life:...
at RKO but out of distribution for more than 50 years. According to TCM host Robert Osborne
Robert Osborne
Robert Jolin Osborne is an American actor and film historian best known as the primary host for Turner Classic Movies, and previously a host of The Movie Channel.-Life and career:...
, Cooper agreed to a legal settlement with RKO in 1946, after accusing RKO of not giving him all the money due him from his RKO producer's contract in the 1930s. The settlement gave Cooper complete ownership of six RKO titles. Among the six titles are Rafter Romance
Rafter Romance
Rafter Romance is a 1933 RKO romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter. The film, which was based on the novel of the same name by John Wells, stars Ginger Rogers and Norman Foster and features George Sidney, Laura Hope Crews, Guinn Williams and Robert Benchley.-Plot:Mary Carroll is a...
(1933) with Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
, Double Harness, The Right to Romance (1933), One Man's Journey
One Man's Journey
One Man's Journey was a 2005 documentary series on PBS, featuring the canoe travels of naturalist and filmmaker Robert Perkins.-References:-External links:...
(1933) with Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
, Living on Love (1937), and A Man to Remember
A Man to Remember
A Man to Remember is a American drama film directed by Garson Kanin, his first film credit as a director. The picture was based on the novel The Failure, written by Katharine Haviland-Taylor, and the screenplay was penned by Dalton Trumbo. The story tells of a saintly small town doctor working...
(1938). According to an interview with a retired RKO executive, used as a promo on TCM for the premiere, Cooper allowed the films to be shown in 1955-1956 in a limited re-release and only in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Plot
When spoiled younger sister Valerie Colby (Lucile BrowneLucile Browne
Lucile Browne was an American film actress. She starred opposite John Wayne in the 1935 films Texas Terror and Rainbow Valley....
) becomes engaged to be married to Dennis Moore (George Meeker
George Meeker
George Meeker was an American character movie and Broadway actor who became more of a legend off-camera than on. Meeker made several movies such as Crime Inc. , and Thief in the Dark and played an uncredited part in All Through the Night .Meeker has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-External...
), a more level-headed Joan (Ann Harding
Ann Harding
Ann Harding was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress.-Early years:Born Dorothy Walton Gatley at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to George G. Gatley and Elizabeth "Bessie" Crabb. The daughter of a career army officer, she traveled often during her early life...
) decides to do the same, not because she is in love, but in order to make something of herself. She chooses unambitious, wealthy playboy John Fletcher (William Powell
William Powell
William Horatio Powell was an American actor.A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles...
), who owns a troubled shipping line.
She eventually spends the night in his apartment. To Joan's annoyance, over the following months, she finds herself falling in love. When John shows no interest in marrying her, Joan forces the issue. She arranges for her father, Colonel Sam Colby (Henry Stephenson
Henry Stephenson
Henry Stephenson , sometimes credited as Harry Stephenson, was a British character actor....
), to find them in a compromising position. John graciously agrees to do the honorable thing and marry Joan. However, on their honeymoon cruise, he lets her know that he expects her to grant him a divorce after a decent interval. They settle on six months.
Joan prods her husband into taking an interest in his family business. To his surprise, he finds that he enjoys it. As the new Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
(Wallis Clark
Wallis Clark
Wallis H. Clark was a stage and film actor, born in Essex, England. He died in North Hollywood, California.Clark was formerly an engineer. He began his stage career in Margate in 1908...
) is a good friend of her father's, Joan invites him to dinner, hoping to land a government contract.
Meanwhile, Valerie goes into debt due to her extravagant spending habits and borrows from her big sister over and over again. Joan gives Valerie all she can afford without touching John's money. Finally, she pawns a ring for half the latest sum Valerie needs, but tells her that it is the last time.
That same day, John finally realizes that he loves his wife. However, when he goes home, Valerie goes to John behind Joan's back and cons him into give her a check. Joan finds out and tears up the check. In her anger, Valerie blurts out how Joan trapped John into marriage.
Disillusioned, he turns to his former paramour, Mrs. Monica Paige (Lilian Bond
Lilian Bond
Lilian Bond was a British film actress of the late 1920s through the 1940s, with most of her films being B-movies.-Life and career:...
). Joan follows them to Monica's apartment and confesses all, including the fact that she has fallen in love with him, to no avail. She then tries to salvage her dinner party. To her delight, John shows up and makes it clear that he believes and forgives her.
Cast
- Ann HardingAnn HardingAnn Harding was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress.-Early years:Born Dorothy Walton Gatley at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to George G. Gatley and Elizabeth "Bessie" Crabb. The daughter of a career army officer, she traveled often during her early life...
as Joan Colby - William PowellWilliam PowellWilliam Horatio Powell was an American actor.A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles...
as John Fletcher - Lucile BrowneLucile BrowneLucile Browne was an American film actress. She starred opposite John Wayne in the 1935 films Texas Terror and Rainbow Valley....
as Valerie Colby - Henry StephensonHenry StephensonHenry Stephenson , sometimes credited as Harry Stephenson, was a British character actor....
as Colonel Sam Colby - Lilian BondLilian BondLilian Bond was a British film actress of the late 1920s through the 1940s, with most of her films being B-movies.-Life and career:...
as Monica Paige - George MeekerGeorge MeekerGeorge Meeker was an American character movie and Broadway actor who became more of a legend off-camera than on. Meeker made several movies such as Crime Inc. , and Thief in the Dark and played an uncredited part in All Through the Night .Meeker has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-External...
as Dennis Moore - Reginald OwenReginald OwenJohn Reginald Owen was a British character actor. He was known for his many roles in British and American movies and later in television programs.-Personal:...
as Freeman, John's butler - Kay HammondKay Hammond (American actress)Kay Hammond was an American actress. She was born in Kansas City on 14 December 1901. She acted only in Hollywood productions. There has been some confusion to which of the two actresses was in the film "Abraham Lincoln" as some reference books designate the English one. It is, however, accepted...
as Eleanor Weston, Joan's friend - Leigh Allen as Leonard Weston
- Hugh Huntley as Farley Drake, an acquaintance who offers to give Valerie money, but expects something in return
- Wallis ClarkWallis ClarkWallis H. Clark was a stage and film actor, born in Essex, England. He died in North Hollywood, California.Clark was formerly an engineer. He began his stage career in Margate in 1908...
as Postmaster General Oliver Lane