When You're in Love (1937)

Best movie of this year hands down!

Excellent but underrated film

As Good As It Gets

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

So-so musical romance starring Grace Moore as an Australian opera singer who marries American artist Cary Grant to get back into the United States for an important concert. He tries to win her over with predictable results. Not great stuff but pleasant enough I suppose. Notable for being the only movie directed by screenwriter Robert Riskin (he also wrote this). Also worth mentioning for Moore fans that, in addition to a few opera numbers, she sings "Minnie the Moocher" here. Let's just say it's not likely to be the best rendition of that song you've ever heard. Really, this is one for Grace Moore fans more than Cary Grant ones. He does perfectly fine with his role, don't get me wrong. He's charming and likable as usual. But it's just kind of a dull part for Cary. The supporting cast is nice but greats like Aline MacMahon and Thomas Mitchell are wasted in cardboard cut-out roles. See it for Grace or if you're a Cary completist. Or, heck, see it if you're really into opera (I'm not).

Darn! Sad to see that as of November 2016 this title is still not out on DVD. It's a shame because I really enjoyed this film.It stars Cary Grant...my personal favorite actor (along with Spencer Tracy), although he gets second billing to Grace Moore.I was not familiar with Grace Moore, and to be honest -- her kind of singing (operatic soprano) is not my thing at all. But I was truly impressed with her singing and her acting. And, it was hoot seeing her sing "Minnie The Moocher" (which at one time was cut from the film, but has since been restored in this fresh, new print as broadcast on TCM).Cary Grant is excellent here, too. It's that kind of "torn" Cary Grant -- sullen at times, magnetic at other times. And if you want to see the best Cary Grant smile on film...wait for the ending.The story is not particularly unusual -- in fact part of the plot reminds me greatly of another film I saw...but can't remember the title for the life of me, now which came first. The operatic singer is in Mexico trying to get into the States to help an old friend with a musical gala...but can't because she is not an American citizen. Meanwhile, Cary Grant can't leave Mexico due to unpaid bills. So why not marry temporarily and solve both problems? Of course, they do actually fall in love, but her success and his failure to understand why that success is important sinks the relationship. Or does it? In addition to Moore and Grant, another major supporting actor is Aline MacMahon, who (as she often did in film) managed to steal a few scenes as Moore's aide de camp. Another wonderful character actor -- Henry Stephenson -- plays the conductor, and while it's always a pleasure seeing him in a film, he doesn't have a lot to do here, although he is important to the story line. Thomas Mitchell is around as (again) a newspaper reporter, although he doesn't have much to do here.It seems to me that Grant and Moore fit together nicely in this film, which helps it rise above a somewhat standard plot line (although the opera angle is a bit different). And, some of the sets for musical numbers were quite impressive.Very nicely done. I'm hoping I can add it to my DVD collection before long.

The sole directorial effort from Robert Riskin (the talented screenwriter behind many of Frank Carpa's best films), WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE is one of many films that attempted to re-create the success of 1934's surprise hit ONE NIGHT OF LOVE. This film boasts the advantage of featuring opera singer Grace Moore, the star of the previous film, in the lead role, yet it never really seems to amount to much and was not well-received by audiences upon it's original release. The film's basic premise (famous Australian opera singer "hires" an American man to pose as her husband in order to enter the country) is a workable enough set-up, but the picture fails to generate much momentum or interest. Riskin does a respectable job for a first time director, but displays a poor sense of pace and allows the picture to become plodding.Moore is acceptable as the film's Diva (she never really commands the screen, but she has a odd sort of like-ability) and Cary Grant is in fine form as her "rented" mate, but they are playing stock characters who only seem to behave in the manner that is necessitated by the script. Their relationship suffers numerous ups and downs throughout the course of the film, but I never really cared whether they ended up together and that is a serious determent for this type of picture. The film is also marred by far too many piecing musical numbers that seem to exist only to pad out the film's runtime and serve as a defacto showcase for Moore's shrill voice (even "Minnie the Moocher," which is often referred to as the film's highpoint, is virtually unlistenable). The film's true saving grace is Aline MacMahon in a fresh and intelligent performance as Moore's assistant - MacMahon's good-natured portrayal is a minor comic gem surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.

I quite enjoyed this as something to watch in the afternoon with a cup of tea and a biscuit. This makes me sound about 110 but I'm only just over 40 LOL Nice story - I've got Skyplus so I could fast forward over the horrible singing. The Opera Star's side kick was definitely the best part of the film, she was smart and the screen lit up whenever she was in a scene.But in the scene where all the kids come down from the Music School upstairs to listen at the feet of the 'Queen' - was that Shirley Temple or not? It looked like her to me, did they have look alikes in those days? Not something to watch if there's anything good on instead.