Let’s take a journey back to 1941—a pivotal moment just months before my maternal grandmother would come into this world and mere months before the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into the chaos of World War II. In this particular time capsule, a film emerged that embodies the essence of screwball comedy: Love Crazy, directed by Jack Conway, known for the films like Viva Villa! and A Tale of Two Cities. This film stars the effortlessly charming duo of William Powell and Myrna Loy, who together graced the screen in 13 films—14 if you count Loy's brief appearance in the 1947 flick The Senator Was Indiscreet. Their dynamic, always portraying a couple, showcased a rare and intoxicating on-screen chemistry, most notably in the delightful Thin Man series. Crazy Love [*] marked their tenth collaboration, offering a whimsical misunderstanding plot that far surpasses much of today’s Hollywood output in terms of writing, acting, and direction.
Powell and Loy bring to life Steve and Susan Ireland, a married couple joyfully celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary. Their plan? A personal reenactment of an Inuit ritual from Baffin Island—though this year, they’ve decided to perform it backward, culminating with dinner at midnight. However, the evening takes an unexpected detour when Susan’s mother, Mrs. Cooper (Florence Bates), barges in uninvited. An innocent trip to mail an insurance premium nearly ends catastrophically for Steve, as a lift attendant—played by the always quirky Elisha Cook Jr.—reminiscent of his role in Don’t Bother to Knock.
As the plot thickens, Susan has her own errands to run, which leaves Steve scrambling to avoid the mundanity of entertaining his mother-in-law. In a moment he assumes is clever, he enlists the help of Isobel Grayson (Gail Patrick), a married neighbor and former flame, to feign a call from a client. Unfortunately, Mrs. Cooper overhears this phone conversation and leaps to alarming conclusions. Suspecting her husband of infidelity, Susan devises her own scheme, igniting a series of misunderstandings that propel the plot into chaos. Her attempts to rendezvous with Isobel’s husband, Pinky (Donald MacBride), lead her to the wrong apartment, where she inadvertently finds herself entangled with world champion archer Ward Willoughby (Jack Carson).
The ensuing confusion provides a fertile ground for humor, as Steve and Isobel witness the aftermath. After a series of revelations, Susan, believing Steve has indeed betrayed her, decides to file for divorce and retreats to Arizona. Meanwhile, Steve concocts a harebrained scheme to delay the divorce by feigning insanity, which lands him in a sanitarium, where he devises a ludicrous escape plan involving disguise and exaggerated theatrics. The comedic mayhem escalates, ultimately revealing the truth: Steve never had an affair with Isobel. This tangled web of misunderstandings culminates in a heartfelt reunion between Steve and Susan.
Revisiting Love Crazy as an adult was an unexpected thrill. Midway through, when Steve dramatically escapes the sanitarium, memories flooded back from my childhood. I remembered distinctly William Powell's endearing portrayal—his costume as a woman was both hilarious and shockingly convincing. I can’t help but think I first saw this film on AMC back in the day when they aired classic films without commercial interruptions—a luxury of a bygone era. Powell’s suave humor combined with Loy’s sophisticated allure created a believable on-screen partnership. As their tenth outing together, they knew exactly how to play off one another, weaving dialogue with a finesse rarely seen in modern cinema.
While the plot feels reminiscent of the Blondie film series, its silliness and overarching absurdity captured my heart, leading me to watch it twice in a row before penning this review. I won't mislead you—Love Crazy is not a flawless masterpiece, and it certainly could benefit from a remaster. Yet for me, it stands as an enjoyable, mindless romp, replete with laughter and charm. If you're in the mood for pure entertainment, I wholeheartedly recommend it. While I can't say for certain if it’s available for free streaming anywhere, I did discover it available for digital purchase on platforms like Fandango at Home (formerly VUDU) and Prime Video [*]. It’s definitely worth the time—maybe even a second viewing. ╌★★★★★
⁓B.J. Burgess
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“The plot thickens… especially when you comment.” 〜B.J. Burgess