Love and marriage are two of the most prevalent topics in our society today. It seems every novel, movie, and song has something to say about it. When marriage is discussed, it is usually followed by the most recent divorce statistic. Virginia Van Upp and Patterson McNutt have written one of the best theories on this subject.
Bill Smith (James Stewart) is an unsuccessful writer who is literally down to his last dime. Johnny Jones, played by the gorgeous Hedy Lamarr, has just found out some devastating news. She is an illegal immigrant from "what used to be Austria." Immigration has finally tracked her down and is giving her a week to find a husband or she will be deported and face certain death. But their lives change for the better one night when Bill and Johnny both enter a little restaurant to get out of the rain. One thing leads to another and Bill gets into a fight. Johnny, having witnessed the whole thing comes to his defense and they are both thrown out. She is delighted to hear that he has no money and decides to propose a marriage of convenience. Johnny asks Bill to marry her in exchange for the cost of living. Bill is very much opposed to the idea but in the end she talks him into it with the understanding that when he sells his novel, he will pay back everything.
Johnny visits Bill once a week to give him the check and Bill begins to write about their situation. Bill falls for Johnny, and soon finds out that there is another man in her life. When Bill learns he's sold his manuscript he visits Johnny to sign the divorce papers but under one condition. "In my opinion it's perfectly alright for two strangers to get married but you've got to know each other before you get a divorce," he says.
The title of the movie comes from the first line in Christopher Marlowe's The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. James Stewart is marvelous as the country boy who is willing to fight for what he wants. Hedy Lamarr is excellent as the Viennese refugee trying to make the best life she can for herself. Come Live With Me is more than just another typical romantic comedy. It is intelligent and heart-warming, and discusses things like modern marriage, reality being stranger than fiction, and a happy ending versus a realistic ending.
Bill Smith (James Stewart) is an unsuccessful writer who is literally down to his last dime. Johnny Jones, played by the gorgeous Hedy Lamarr, has just found out some devastating news. She is an illegal immigrant from "what used to be Austria." Immigration has finally tracked her down and is giving her a week to find a husband or she will be deported and face certain death. But their lives change for the better one night when Bill and Johnny both enter a little restaurant to get out of the rain. One thing leads to another and Bill gets into a fight. Johnny, having witnessed the whole thing comes to his defense and they are both thrown out. She is delighted to hear that he has no money and decides to propose a marriage of convenience. Johnny asks Bill to marry her in exchange for the cost of living. Bill is very much opposed to the idea but in the end she talks him into it with the understanding that when he sells his novel, he will pay back everything.
Johnny visits Bill once a week to give him the check and Bill begins to write about their situation. Bill falls for Johnny, and soon finds out that there is another man in her life. When Bill learns he's sold his manuscript he visits Johnny to sign the divorce papers but under one condition. "In my opinion it's perfectly alright for two strangers to get married but you've got to know each other before you get a divorce," he says.
The title of the movie comes from the first line in Christopher Marlowe's The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. James Stewart is marvelous as the country boy who is willing to fight for what he wants. Hedy Lamarr is excellent as the Viennese refugee trying to make the best life she can for herself. Come Live With Me is more than just another typical romantic comedy. It is intelligent and heart-warming, and discusses things like modern marriage, reality being stranger than fiction, and a happy ending versus a realistic ending.