I Was a Male War Bride is a 1949 screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan. The film is based on the biography of Henri Rochard, a Belgian who married an American nurse. It revolves around French Army Captain Henri Rochard, who, after marrying an American lieutenant, must find a way to accompany her back to the United States under the terms of the War Bride Act. The movie is set in post-World War II Allied-occupied Germany and involves the struggles with Army bureaucracy and the War Brides Act. The film is known for its droll and episodic nature, tracing the progressive humiliations suffered by the Free French army captain.
Plot
I Was a Male War Bride is a 1949 screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks. The plot revolves around French Army Captain Henri Rochard, played by Cary Grant, who marries an American lieutenant, played by Ann Sheridan. After the wedding, Rochard encounters various bureaucratic and logistical obstacles as he tries to accompany his wife back to the United States under the terms of the War Bride Act. The film is known for its humorous take on the challenges and absurdities faced by the characters as they navigate the post-World War II Allied-occupied Germany.
Trailer
Cast
- Cary Grant as Captain Henri Rochard
- Ann Sheridan as Lieutenant Catherine Gates
- Marion Marshall
- Randy Stuart
- Bill Neff as Capt. Jack Ramsey
- King Donovan
- Charles B. Fitzsimons as Lt. Kelly
- Robert Stevenson as Lieutenant
- Otto Waldis
- Robert Adair as Col. Bliven
- Russ Conway as French Minister
- Chris Adcock as Mail Clerk
- Mark Baker as Barracks Private
- Michael Balfour as Male Billet Sergeant
- Buzz Barbee as Soldier
- Estelle Brody as WAC Announcer Officer
- André Charlot
Director: Howard Hawks
Writer: Henri Rochard, Charles Lederer, Leonard Spigelgass, Hagar Wilde
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Comedy
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 11, 1949
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2012
Overview
The film's theme revolves around the challenges faced by the characters in the post-World War II era, the reception was generally positive, and the film was praised for its comedic elements and the performances of Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan.
As for production challenges, the film faced some difficulties during shooting, particularly in capturing the essence of post-World War II Allied-occupied Germany. The settings primarily include various locations in Germany, and the visual style and techniques employed are characteristic of a screwball comedy, focusing on witty dialogue and comedic situations.
