In 1941 Charles Laughton appeared in a nice little comedy, IT STARTED WITH EVE, about a multi-millionaire who (on his deathbed) is introduced by his son to the girl the son will marry. But the son (Bob Cummings) can't produce his real fiancé, so he hires Deanna Durbin to appear as a substitute. He figures his father won't survive the night, so why not do him a last favor to make his passing more comfortable. The problem in that comedy was Laughton recovers, and his doctor (Walter Catlett) insists that the substitution continue until Laughton regains his physical strength.
IT STARTED WITH EVE was a good successful comedy. Five years later, Laughton and Durbin (but not Cummings and Catlett) joined together again in BECAUSE OF HIM. Laughton is John Sheridan, a prominent stage star, who meets Durbin. Or rather she intrudes into his life - this film is like an early version of ALL ABOUT EVE, except that Durbin does not have a vicious selfish streak like Anne Baxter had. Laughton and playwright Franchot Tone slowly develop Durbin's talent, so that she ends up starring opposite Laughton in Tone's latest play. But she is also aware that she is increasingly attracted to Tone, and Laughton is increasingly attracted to her.
Oddly enough it is not a bad triangle. Laughton does not force Durbin to become his lover, nor does he play on her guilt feelings. He seeks to win her by his affectionate nature and honest feelings. This leads to at least one funny moment. After a rehearsal, the night before the play is to open, Laughton starts talking about E.H.Southern and Julia Marlowe, one of the finest husband and wife Shakespearean teams of the 19th Century. Durbin realizing what this type of talk may lead to starts talking rapidly about nonentity married couples (with made up names like Hinckley and Schwabs or whatever) who never recovered their acting skills after they got married. Laughton, of course has never heard of these made up stage teams, so he does not know how to respond to this barrage of "facts". Durbin is very happy to get out of the conversation with such relative ease.
It is not as well known as their first film, but BECAUSE OF HIM is a good movie. It was also the last time Laughton and Durbin ever appeared together. It was good that this time they were able to play a more intimate relationship than the father-in-law/daughter-in-law they played in IT STARTED WITH EVE. And the resolution of the story actually showed a sense of maturity that is to be respected as well.
IT STARTED WITH EVE was a good successful comedy. Five years later, Laughton and Durbin (but not Cummings and Catlett) joined together again in BECAUSE OF HIM. Laughton is John Sheridan, a prominent stage star, who meets Durbin. Or rather she intrudes into his life - this film is like an early version of ALL ABOUT EVE, except that Durbin does not have a vicious selfish streak like Anne Baxter had. Laughton and playwright Franchot Tone slowly develop Durbin's talent, so that she ends up starring opposite Laughton in Tone's latest play. But she is also aware that she is increasingly attracted to Tone, and Laughton is increasingly attracted to her.
Oddly enough it is not a bad triangle. Laughton does not force Durbin to become his lover, nor does he play on her guilt feelings. He seeks to win her by his affectionate nature and honest feelings. This leads to at least one funny moment. After a rehearsal, the night before the play is to open, Laughton starts talking about E.H.Southern and Julia Marlowe, one of the finest husband and wife Shakespearean teams of the 19th Century. Durbin realizing what this type of talk may lead to starts talking rapidly about nonentity married couples (with made up names like Hinckley and Schwabs or whatever) who never recovered their acting skills after they got married. Laughton, of course has never heard of these made up stage teams, so he does not know how to respond to this barrage of "facts". Durbin is very happy to get out of the conversation with such relative ease.
It is not as well known as their first film, but BECAUSE OF HIM is a good movie. It was also the last time Laughton and Durbin ever appeared together. It was good that this time they were able to play a more intimate relationship than the father-in-law/daughter-in-law they played in IT STARTED WITH EVE. And the resolution of the story actually showed a sense of maturity that is to be respected as well.