''Skylark'' is a 1941 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

starring

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert ( ; born Émilie Claudette Chauchoin; September 13, 1903July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the late 1920s and progressed to films with the advent of talking pictures ...

, Ray Milland and

Brian Aherne William Brian de Lacy Aherne (2 May 190210 February 1986) was an English actor of stage, screen, radio and television, who enjoyed a long and varied career in Britain and the United States. His first Broadway appearance in '' The Barretts of ...

and directed by Mark Sandrich. Film historian James H. Farmer described ''Skylark'' as "light-hearted fluff" with the story of a woman on her fifth wedding anniversary, realizing that she is fed up with always coming in second to her husband's advertising business. Just at that moment, she meets a handsome attorney, and their innocent flirtation begins to turn into something more serious.

Plot

On their fifth wedding anniversary, Lydia Kenyon (

) feels she is neglected and treated insensitively by her husband, Tony ( Ray Milland). He is very committed to his job as an advertising executive, and not only does it take up his time, but it requires a lot of less than desirable socializing with his clients. When Lydia finds out that Tony has sent his friend, George Gorell (

Walter Abel Walter Abel (June 6, 1898 – March 26, 1987) was an American film, stage and radio actor. Life Abel was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Christine (née Becker) and Richard Michael Abel. Abel graduated from the American Academy of ...

), to select a fifth wedding anniversary gift for her, Lydia treats Tony's lack of sensitivity with humor, but when Tony, at one of their parties, "gives" their cook to his client's wife, the snooty Mrs. Myrtle Vantine (

Binnie Barnes Gertrude Maud Barnes (25 March 1903 – 27 July 1998), known professionally as Binnie Barnes, was an English actress whose career in films spanned from 1923 to 1973. Early life Barnes was born in Islington, London, the daughter of Rosa Enoy ...

), Lydia becomes furious. Storming out of the party in the company of Jim Blake (

), a lawyer, who takes a frustrated Lydia off on a moonlight drive. Lydia and Jim enjoy a pleasant outing, but nothing romantically happens as Lydia is driven back home. With the party now over, Tony is worried that Lydia has upset his client. He forces her to make an apology to Mrs. Vantine for causing a scene. Unbeknownst to Lydia, Jim has been carrying on an affair with Mrs. Vantine. Embarrassed and angry, Lydia asks Jim to start divorce proceedings. Tony reacts, by claiming he will quit his job so that they can be together. Shortly after, however, Mrs. Vantine surprises Lydia with a visit and threatens to fire Tony if Lydia does not stop seeing Jim. Lydia explodes, insulting Mrs. Vantine, calling her a tramp and a "scheming cow." When Lydia discovers that Tony lied about quitting his job, she is granted a "Reno divorce", and begins seeing Jim seriously. Jim, in turn, has fallen in love with Lydia. Tony refuses to accept the divorce and, since having lost his job, he takes a government job in South America hoping Lydia will come to him there. At their summer home, Lydia tells Tony she is now with Jim. The next day Lydia and Jim while go sailing on his yacht, ending up in a fierce storm. Lydia realizes she cannot live Jim's "peripatetic" lifestyle and still loves her husband. She ends her relationship with Jim and reunites with Tony as the ship docks in Havana, Cuba.

Cast

as Lydia Kenyon * Ray Milland as Tony Kenyon *

as Jim Blake *

as Myrtle Vantine *

as George Gorell * Grant Mitchell as Frederick Vantine *

Mona Barrie Mona Barrie (born Mona Barlee Smith; 18 December 1909 – 27 June 1964) was an English-born actress, active on stage in Australia before establishing a career in the US, and in Hollywood films. Career Born Mona Barlee Smith in London to comedi ...

as Charlette Gorell *

Ernest Cossart Ernest Cossart (born Emil Gottfried von Holst, 24 September 1876 – 21 January 1951) was an English-American actor. After a stage career in England, he moved to the US, appearing on Broadway and all around the country. In the 1930s and 1940s, ...

as Theodore * James Rennie as Ned Franklyn * Leonard Mudie as Jewelry clerk *

Warren Hymer Edgar Warren Hymer (February 25, 1906 – March 25, 1948) was an American theatre and film actor. Early life He was born in New York City. His father, John Bard Hymer (1875/1876 – 1953) was a playwright (with nine Broadway plays to ...

as Big man in subway car *

Hobart Cavanaugh Hobart Cavanaugh (September 22, 1886 – April 26, 1950 ) was an American character actor in films and on stage. Biography He was born in Virginia City, Nevada on September 22, 1886. Cavanaugh attended the University of California. He worked in ...

as Small man in subway car *

Edward Fielding Edward Fielding (March 19, 1875 – January 10, 1945) was an American stage and film actor. Career Edward Fielding appeared in nearly 40 Broadway productions between 1905 and 1939, often in leading roles. He played as a leading man with famous ...

as Scholarly man in subway car *

Leon Belasco Leon Belasco (born Leonid Simeonovich Berladsky; 11 October 1902 – 1 June 1988) was a Russian-American actor and musician who had a 60-year career in film and television from the 1920s to the 1980s, appearing in more than 100 films. Musi ...

as Long-haired man in subway car * Irving Bacon as Ferryman

Production

The film was based on Samson Raphaelson's novel that first appeared in the January 7–February 4, 1939 edition of ''Saturday Evening Post'' under the title ''Streamlined Heart''. Raphaelson subsequently turned the novel into the stage play ''Skylark'', as produced by John Golden (with its opening night on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

, New York, October 11, 1939 and was turned into a screenplay by Zion Myers and Allan Scott.

Reception

In a contemporary review, ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' magazine opined, "Picture carries several basic changes in story structure from Samson Raphaelson’s original tale which appeared as a 'Saturday Evening Post' serial, a book, and play. But revisions are decidedly advantageous in the transposition to the screen. “Under skillful guidance of Mark Sandrich as producer-director, (the) story unfolds at a zestful pace, accentuating the comedic episodes to the utmost. Claudette Colbert’s performance of the wife (stage role created by

Gertrude Lawrence Gertrude Lawrence (4 July 1898 – 6 September 1952) was an English actress, singer, dancer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York. Early life Lawrence was born Gertr ...

), around whom the motivation revolves, is of high merit, and player takes advantage of every line and situation for delightful exposition. Ray Milland is topnotch as the business-absorbed advertising executive; Brian Aherne catches attention as the suave ‘other man’." Film reviewer Hal Erickson, noted in 2019 "(that) 'Skylark's comic highlight is a slapstick sequence in which Colbert tries to prepare lunch in a yacht during a storm. The scene was shot in a single take, an accomplishment in which the actress took justifiable pride."Erickson, Hal
"Review: 'Skylark' (1941)."
''Allmovie.com'',, 2019. Retrieved: July 25, 2109.

Awards

Loren L. Ryder was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound Recording, for work on ''Skylark''."The 14th Academy Awards (1942): Nominees and Winners."
''oscars.org'', 2019. Retrieved: July 25, 2019.

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* Farmer, James H. ''Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation''. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. .

External links

* * *
1952 ''Best Plays'' radio adaptation of original play
at

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Skylark (1941 film) 1941 films 1941 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films 1940s English-language films American black-and-white films Paramount Pictures films Films scored by Victor Young Films directed by Mark Sandrich American films based on plays Films based on American novels Films based on adaptations 1940s American films