Tonight's Movie: There Goes My Heart (1938)

THERE GOES MY HEART (1938) is a fairly typical 1930s screwball romantic comedy, featuring a runaway heiress and a newspaper reporter.

The film seems to borrow bits and pieces of its plot from other comedies of the era, including IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), EASY LIVING (1937), and JOY OF LIVING (1938). A blustery newspaper editor, a department store, an ice rink, and a hungry leading lady in a cafeteria...it's all here. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however; the movie is the cinematic equivalent of comfort food, delightfully predictable.

Fredric March makes a wonderful leading man; I've come to appreciate him quite a bit over the last couple years. Earlier this year I enjoyed him in both BEDTIME STORY (1941) and I MARRIED A WITCH (1942). Virginia Bruce is a pleasant leading lady. The supporting roles are filled by Patsy Kelly, Alan Mowbray, Eugene Pallette, Arthur Lake, and Robert Armstrong.

The film features snappy dialogue ("I am thinking of you, and my mind's a blank!") and some genuinely amusing moments, such as March finding Bruce hanging out her apartment window "cooking dinner." Some of the comedy with the supporting players was a bit broad for my taste, but the movie's brisk pace works in its favor, not allowing any one actor or comedy bit to take over the film. Although not the best example of the genre, it's definitely worth checking out if you enjoy screwball romance.

THERE GOES MY HEART was directed by Norman Z. McLeod, who had previously made comedies such as TOPPER (1937) and MERRILY WE LIVE (a 1938 film reviewed here in February). The movie runs 83 minutes and was shot in black and white.

THERE GOES MY HEART was based on a story by Ed Sullivan, who is seen in the trailer describing how his idea became a movie.

This film is not available on VHS or DVD, but can be seen on cable on Turner Classic Movies.