the leading man is my tpye

That was an excellent one.

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

In post-World War II Germany, French officer Cary Grant (as Henri Rochard) returns underwear belonging to attractive American soldier Ann Sheridan (as Catherine Gates). The implication Mr. Grant and Ms. Sheridan are having a sexual affair is false, although they flirt as Allied wartime partners. On their last mission, the couple continues to bicker and flirt, then decide to try kissing. This works out all right and they are married. Grant and Sheridan want to go to the US, but he isn't allowed. They discover a law – The War Bride Act – providing transport for US military spouses. Although Grant is not female, he decides to enter the country as predicted in the titular, "I Was a Male War Bride". The main attraction is seeing Grant decked out as a woman. This occurs only near the story's end and isn't even the funniest part of the film. The co-stars and director Howard Hawks keep you interested, but the story does eventually drag.****** I Was a Male War Bride (8/19/49) Howard Hawks ~ Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan, Marion Marshall, William Neff

I doubt that any movie has gotten more amusement from sheer frustrations than this one. Poor Capt. Rochard (Grant). If he's not getting dumped by a sidecar, or trying to get the better of the resourceful Lt. Catherine, or having to fill out one more bureaucratic form (Sheridan), he's having to dress up as a woman and call himself a "war bride". It's just one frustrating embarrassment after another, all done in exquisitely humorous fashion as only Grant can bring off. But don't count out Sheridan. Together, they play off one another splendidly.So is it love or hate between them. She's always got a better idea than he, as together they try to locate a German scientist in post-war Europe. But, he's the captain—shouldn't he be the master of situations, not she. No wonder he wants to wring her lovely, domineering neck. But then he decides kissing it would be more agreeable, and thankfully she agrees. After all, he is Cary Grant. Now all they have to do to get a wedding night and get to America, is get past a blizzard of red tape. That means getting married three times to please post-war authorities; then fill out a ton of forms to please the same authorities; and then get a quick sex change for the poor French captain since only war brides are allowed to immigrate to the US. Talk about frustrations!It's a delightful service-based comedy filmed in post-war Europe, so we get a taste of conditions there, circa 1948. It's not really madcap, though director Hawks keeps things moving in his usual knowing style. Then too the three screenwriters have come up with a great script that needs little embellishment. I do have to say that maybe Hollywood's handsomest man makes one homely woman. Plus, you have to get past Grant's playing a Frenchman yet speaking perfect English, not much of a chore as it turns out. Anyway, I gather this is Grant's favorite comedy among the many of his brilliant career. And I can see why.

I think the things that made me decide to try this film that I had never heard of were it being directed by Howard Hawks (Only Angels Have Wings, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Rio Bravo), the leading actor, and of course the critics giving it five out five stars. Basically French army officer Capt. Henri Rochard (Cary Grant) and American army officer Lt. Catherine Gates (Ann Sheridan) are assigned to a mission together. At first they are sure that they hate each other, especially with so many things going wrong. But through the mission process, and after it succeeds, they end up falling in love, and wanting to get married as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this becomes complicated when Catherine is assigned back to America, and the only way that Henri can go with her is to register as a female war bride, and at one point even dress like one. This obviously confuses many of the other army officers and staff, but don't worry, they get their eventually. Also starring William 'Bill' Neff as Capt. Jack Ramsey, Marion Marshall as Lt. Kitty Lawrence and Randy Stuart as Lt. Eloise Billings. It has some amusing moments, including Lionel Murton repeating the phrase "you cant sleep here" (the film's British release title), and some of the screwball moments are good, but I can't see giving giving it five stars myself, but it is certainly worth watching. Very good!

Though I didn't see it until today I think I'm fairly safe in saying that this entry hasn't worn well. Without researching the reviews at the time I'm prepared to believe it was well received and the fact that it relied solely on the two stars to sell it - there is not one single 'name' in the supporting cast - speaks volumes for the box office clout of Grant and Sheridan. Apparently based on real events in the life of a French soldier in World War II Cary Grant, despite bearing a French name, Henri Rochard, and clearly a member of the French armed forces, makes no attempt at a French accent and Hawks wastes half the running time on the Beatrice and Benedek aspect of the relationship before getting to the meat, the fact that Grant, in order to enter the United States, has to be classified as a 'war bride' and when one of the biggest jokes is this 'bride' forced to sleep in a bath, we lose hope of much better. I found it just about watchable.