threemendous Review of Love, Life & Laughter

Love, Life & Laughter (1934)

Working gal tells king where his duty lies

[6/10 · 7 October 2008]

This turned out to be pretty timely, considering Edward VIII was at the same time having to choose between love and duty. Real life isn't like the movies: Edward chose love; Charles Adolphus IX, with some heavy prodding from Nell, chooses duty. It's probably a class thing: aristocrats are heedless of duty while the working class like Fields are much more aware of their responsibilities (she twice rebukes him for 'breaking his contract') and generally plus royaliste que le roi. But the film insists (the same as Sing as We Go) that although disappointed she'll just shed a quiet tear and get on with life. She sings two sad songs, one - Out in the Cold Cold Snow - as a comic number; the other is done straight but then reprised more humorously. It's as if she has to deflect any real emotion with a wisecrack and a song. What a decent chap she is! And so the hero, still rather spoilt, is won by Norah Howard, an appealingly sweet sad sack, and Gracie gets the money to set up a home for sick girls, all with the same haircut, as a consolation prize. This isn't a great film but it was a hit; its values clearly matched those of its audience.