My Life with Caroline (1941)
Directed by Lewis Milestone

Comedy

Film Review

Abstract picture representing My Life with Caroline (1941)

One of the grimmest comedies to which Ronald Colman put his name, My Life with Caroline also marked a low point for director Lewis Milestone, the man who we all remember for his dazzling anti-war film All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). The film is a sloppy and unimaginative remake of André Berthomieu's French film Le Train pour Venise (1938), which was itself based on Louis Verneuil's popular stage play of the same name. Unlike Verneuil's play, which is reputed to be a lively farce, Milestone's film is an anaemic talk-a-thon which offers not a single decent laugh but plenty of minutes of mind-numbing tedium. Anna Lee singularly fails to shine in her first lead Hollywood role, and you wonder what induced an actor of Ronald Colman's standing to lend his name to such an inept, life-sapping enterprise as this. Plodding and repetitive to the point of nausea, My Life with Caroline has not improved with age and now feels hopelessly dated.

The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.

Next Lewis Milestone film:
Edge of Darkness (1943)

Film Synopsis

Anthony Mason is a successful publisher who, far from being concerned about his wife Caroline's dalliances with other men, positively relishes the challenge of winning her back to him. Caroline's latest beau is Paco Del Valle, with whom she plans to elope whilst attending a charity ball in Idaho. Before the lovers can flee, Anthony turns up and recalls an almost identical situation a few years ago, when Caroline had made up her mind to run off with a sculptor, Paul Martindale...

The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.

Similar Films

Here are some other films you may enjoy watching:

Film Credits

Director: Lewis Milestone
Script: Louis Verneuil (play), Georges Berr (play), John Van Druten, Arnold Belgard
Cinematographer: Victor Milner
Music: Werner R. Heymann
Cast: Ronald Colman (Anthony Mason), Anna Lee (Caroline Mason), Charles Winninger (Mr. Bliss), Reginald Gardiner (Paul Martindale), Gilbert Roland (Paco Del Valle), Kay Leslie (Helen), Hugh O'Connell (Muirhead - Butler), Murray Alper (Jenkins - Chauffeur), Matt Moore (Walters, Mason's Butler), Brooks Benedict (Croupier), Richard Carle (Reverend Dr. Curtis), Feodor Chaliapin Jr. (Sky Man), Monte Collins (Counterman-Chef), James Conaty (Alpine Charity Bazaar Guest), Janine Crispin (Delta), Dudley Dickerson (Bathroom Attendant), Jay Eaton (Beach Club Waiter), Jim Farley (Railroad Conductor), Robert Greig (Albert), Buck Mack (Waiter)
Country: USA
Language: English / French
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 81 min

The history of French cinema

From its birth in 1895, cinema has been an essential part of French culture. Now it is one of the most dynamic, versatile and important of the arts in France.

The very best fantasy films in French cinema

Whilst the horror genre is under-represented in French cinema, there are still a fair number of weird and wonderful forays into the realms of fantasy.

The best French war films ever made

For a nation that was badly scarred by both World Wars, is it so surprising that some of the most profound and poignant war films were made in France?

The best of American cinema

Since the 1920s, Hollywood has dominated the film industry, but that doesn't mean American cinema is all bad - America has produced so many great films that you could never watch them all in one lifetime.

The very best of German cinema