THE DOUGHGIRLS (1944)

During World War II, there is a major housing shortage in Washington D.C. because of an influx of bureaucrats engaging in war work. Newlyweds Jack Carson and Jane Wyman arrive at a packed hotel as Carson has a job working for the Administration of Inter-Bureau Coordination. But their bridal suite is still occupied by the previous couple, John Ridgely and Ann Sheridan, who can't find any housing. As it happens, Wyman and Sheridan are old friends from their chorus girl days and they work out an arrangement. Alexis Smith, another old pal, shows up with Craig Stevens, so all three women agree to share the suite; their men aren't so happy but there seems to be no other solution. Soon, however, bigger problems raise their heads. Ridgely's former wife has decided not to finalize their divorce, leaving him and Sheridan in marital limbo; the justice of the priest that performed Wyman's marriage turns out to have been a burglar who posed as the justice; Stevens has a marriage license but couldn't actually get married to Smith because he was quarantined with measles. So now the three couples are not legally married, and as they continue to occupy the room for weeks, the bill becomes too big for them to afford. Add to the mix a Russian lady sniper (Eve Arden), a well-meaning society matron who wants the three women to volunteer to take care of some newborn babies, Carson's boss (Charlie Ruggles) who develops a crush on Wyman, an egocentric radio host and a few more folks who keep bursting into the bridal suite when not expected. After many farcical incidents and misunderstandings, a triple wedding climaxes the proceedings.

If you've ever wondered what it means when critics call a movie stagebound, this is a perfect example. With the exception of a handful of short scenes, the entire action of the movie takes place in the bridal suite, presented as though on a stage. In fact, the movie is based on a hit Broadway comedy and very little opening up is attempted here. This is a wacky farce, and though the pace rarely flags, it does become tiring watching everyone jump through their hoops, with most of the dialogue spoken like it consists entirely of punch lines. Luckily the cast is mostly up to the demands of farce, especially Ann Sheridan, Alexis Smith and Eve Arden. Arden has the showiest role, speaking in an exaggerated Russian accent and meddling in everyone's affairs, ultimately being fairly useful; she even gets a song! Wyman's role is the most laid-back of the three leads so she tends to get upstaged, as do John Ridgely and Craig Stevens, but virtually everyone is fine. John Alexander and Alan Mowbray are good in small roles, as is Joe DeRita (who became one of the Three Stooges in the 1950s) who does a cute recurring vaudeville bit as a man desperate for a nap. Smith and Stevens got married not long after the film wrapped. The director, James V. Kern, directs blandly though the action remains easy to follow. I actually felt physically tired after about an hour of this, and the movie goes on for another forty minutes, but if you like full-out farce, this is fairly well done. Pictured from left: Sheridan, Smith and Wyman. [TCM]