To me, this movie is perfection.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The first must-see film of the year.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Charming, college-educated Ross Alexander (as Bill McAllister) has everything going for him except a job. His wealthy uncle Joseph Cawthorn (as Fred Schultz) likes his only heir, but is tired of paying Mr. Alexander's bills. When Alexander charges an expensive engagement ring to his account, tongue-tied Uncle Cawthorn cuts him off. The ring is for pretty blonde Anita Louise (as Hazel Robinson), but she has an offer from another suitor; responsible Richard "Dick" Purcell (as Randolph "Doc" Jenkins) is also preferred by Ms. Louise's parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart (as John "Jackie Boy" and Ella Robinson)...Alexander decides to use flattery to his advantage...What makes this fine adaptation of Barry Conners' Broadway success "Applesauce" (1925) work so well is the use of flattery for something not as sinister as the clever trickster in Aesop's fables; with an especially engaging performance, a smooth-talking Alexander keeps you on his side. The empathetic moment when Alexander seems to accept his loss, and pauses outside her home, is a highlight. Louise is irresistible, with her eavesdropping and next scene with Alexander very well-played. Support from others is excellent, and you get a chance to see future favorite June Lockhart's parents acting together (as Mr. and Mrs. John Robinson).******** Brides Are Like That (3/22/36) William McGann ~ Ross Alexander, Anita Louise, Joseph Cawthorn, Gene Lockhart

Badly dated romantic comedy, based on play, about a shiftless, fast-talking young man who can;t seem to hold a job. Nor does he really want to. He lives off a well-do-do uncle. Ross Alexander, a sort of precursor to Bob Hope, plays the golf-loving lad. Most of the movie is taken up with a love triangle: Alexander, Anita Louise as the fetching daughter of a banker played by Gene Lockhart and a young doctor played by Dick Purcell. The movie is very stage-bound, and nothing much really happens. The best that can be said of it is that Alexander delivers his lines like a machine gunner on speed, and Lockhart and the fellow playing Alexander's uncle make good foils. Louise is amazingly pretty under all that '30s makeup and hairdo. The ending is abrupt and unsatisfying. I hate to think the play ended the same way.

The title of Brides Are Like That is a misleading one since the plot of the film turns on the behavior of the potential groom Ross Alexander. Potential bride Anita Louise is expecting certain behaviors out of Ross that he seems incapable of fulfilling.Louise's parents are Gene and Kathleen Lockhart and Gene is acting in the typical Eugene Palette way with concern about his daughter getting hooked up with a bum. It bothers Joseph Cawthorn who is Alexander's uncle and only relative that the young man won't just go out and work and give up his Bohemian ways. Remember this is the Great Depression and attitudes like that are understandable. In these Thirties comedies there is always a Ralph Bellamy part and in this case it's played by Dick Purcell. Someone halfway decent definitely could have taken Louise away from Alexander, but Purcell is such a sanctimonious drip that no wonder she prefers Alexander to him.The main fault with Brides Are Like That is Alexander's character is just a little too Bohemian. And I can't believe there wasn't another alternative out there than Purcell.Still the film has its amusing moments, mostly provided by Dick Purcell.

I have a number of problems with this picture. There is a certain weary sameness in the way everyone speaks their lines; it's not just the high-speed Warner-B style of declamation. Almost every line is spoken with anger or dislike. Even Gene and Kathleen Lockhart are annoyingly strident. Only Joseph Cawthorn, doing his usual double talk is at all amusing.The real obstacle is Ross Alexander in the lead, who only seems to have one register: simultaneously bluff and arrogant, always on in big and small scenes.That said, there is some good writing here, some amusing lines and some well-constructed speeches, but director William McGann doesn't seem to do much with them. The camera-work and editing are, as usual, topnotch. The net effect is passable, but in the hands of better players -- or perhaps simply a better director -- it could have been so much more.