Double Harness

Double Harness is a 1933 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.

The film was rarely seen for many decades after its initial release due to legal issues because it was the property of executive producer Merian C. Cooper. Turner Classic Movies finally overcame the difficulties and started to show it again.

Plot

When spoiled younger sister Valerie Colby (Lucile Browne) 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.

Cast

• Ann Harding as Joan Colby
• William Powell as John Fletcher
• Lucile Browne as Valerie Colby
• Henry Stephenson as Colonel Sam Colby
• Lilian Bond as Monica Paige
• George Meeker as Dennis Moore
• Reginald Owen as Freeman, John's butler
• Kay Hammond 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 Clark as Postmaster General Oliver Lane

References

External links