''Skylark'' is a 1941 American

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Mark Sandrich Mark Sandrich (born Mark Rex Goldstein; October 26, 1900 – March 4, 1945) was an American film director, writer, and producer. Early life Sandrich was born in New York City on October 26, 1900 into a Jewish family. His sister was Ruth Har ...

and starring

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert (koʊlˈbɛər/ kohl-BAIR, born Émilie "Lily" Claudette Chauchoin (ʃoʃwɛ̃/ show-shwan); September 13, 1903 – July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway theater, Broadway productions dur ...

Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. He is often remembered for his portrayal of an alcoholic writer in Billy Wilder's ''The Lost Weekend'' (1945), which wo ...

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 ...

. It was produced and distributed by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

. Film historian James H. Farmer described ''Skylark'' as "light-hearted fluff" with the story of a woman on her fifth

wedding anniversary A wedding anniversary is the anniversary of the date that a wedding took place. Couples often mark the occasion by celebrating their relationship, either privately or with a larger party. Special celebrations and gifts are often given for partic ...

, realizing that she is fed up with always coming in second to her husband's

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a Product (business), product or Service (economics), service. Advertising aims to present a product or service in terms of utility, advantages, and qualities of int ...

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 (

). 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 stage, film, and radio actor whose career spanned nearly seven decades. Life Abel was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Christine (née Becker) and Richard Michael Abel. Abel ...

), 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. She was known for as a leading lady in films such as ''The Private Life of He ...

), 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 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 *

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 1905 – 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 theatre, Broadway and all around the country. In the ...

as Theodore * James Rennie as Ned Franklyn *

Leonard Mudie Leonard Mudie (born Leonard Mudie Cheetham; April 11, 1883April 14, 1965) was an English character actor whose career lasted for nearly fifty years. After a successful start as a stage actor in England, he appeared regularly in the US, and made ...

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 Cavanaugh was born in Virginia City, Nevada, on September 22, 1886. He attended the University of California, then worked ...

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 famou ...

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 career in film and television that spanned from the 1920s to the 1980s, appearing in more than 100 films. ...

as Long-haired man in subway car *

Irving Bacon Irving Ernest Bacon (September 6, 1893 – February 5, 1965) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 500 films. Early years Bacon was the son of entertainers Millar West Bacon (who was a teenager) and Myrtle Vane. He was born ...

as Ferryman *

Patricia Farr Patricia Farr (born Arleine Rutledge Farr; January 15, 1913 – February 23, 1948) was an American actress who appeared in films of the 1930s and 1940s. Despite being billed as leading lady in at least one ('' Lady Luck'') of the films in which ...

as Lil, Waitress at Hamburger Stand *

Fritz Feld Fritz Feld (October 15, 1900 – November 18, 1993) was a German-American film character actor who appeared in over 140 films in 72 years, both silent and sound. His trademark was to slap his mouth with the palm of his hand to create a "pop" s ...

as Maitre d'Hotel *

James Flavin James William Flavin Jr. (May 14, 1906 – April 23, 1976) was an American character actor whose stage, film, and television career lasted some forty years. Early life Flavin was born in Portland, Maine, and attended the West Point, where he pl ...

as Subway Guard *

Henry Roquemore Henry Roquemore (March 18, 1886 – June 30, 1943) was an American character actor who primarily played bit parts. He appeared in 229 silent and sound films from 1927 until 1943. Many of his roles were uncredited parts in Western movies, ...

as Bartender *

Margaret Hayes Margaret Hayes (born Florette Regina Ottenheimer; December 5, 1913 – January 26, 1977) was an American film, stage, and television actress. Early years A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Hayes was one of four children born to Clara Bussey a ...

as Blake's Receptionist

Production

The film was based on

Samson Raphaelson Samson Raphaelson (March 30, 1894 – July 16, 1983) was an American playwright, screenwriter and fiction writer. While working as an advertising executive in New York, he wrote a short story based on the early life of Al Jolson, called ''The Da ...

'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 Stre ...

, New York, October 11, 1939 and was turned into a screenplay by Zion Myers and Allan Scott. Paramount paid $85,000 for the film rights.

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 in 1 ...

), 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 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...

{{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 Films based on works by Samson Raphaelson English-language romantic comedy films