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In Name Only

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In Name Only

Released Aug 4, 1939

1h 42m

Drama

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100%

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7 Reviews

73%

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500+ Ratings

Wealthy Alec Walker (Cary Grant) finds himself in a depressing and passionless marriage to Maida (Kay Francis), and is shocked to discover that she has heartlessly married him only for the prestige of his money and position. While horseback riding one day, Alec happens upon Julie Eden (Carole Lombard), a widowed fashion artist and mother of a 5-year-old daughter, and soon the two fall in love. Maida learns of his feelings for Julie, but instead of asking for a divorce, she negotiates.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...comfortably familiar subject matter that’s employed to somewhat erratic yet mostly entertaining effect by Cromwell...

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 6, 2025

Full Review

Vincent Johnson

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In its lighter moments and in a few of its more sombre ones, the film is good, solid entertainment.

May 28, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Cary Grant is consistently amusing in playing his typical Cary Grant role.

Rated: 8/10

Jul 27, 2020

Full Review

Leslie Combemale

Cinema Siren

In Name Only is a turgid melodrama, but rises above itself with Lombard and Grant's lead acting.

Jul 25, 2019

Full Review

Alberto Abuín

Espinof

A very good film, characteristic of a whole era. [Full Review in Spanish]

Jun 28, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

... a well-made refined tearjerker melodrama that would have profited more as a screwball comedy.

Rated: B-

Aug 22, 2006

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acsdoug D

Weepy chick flick tearjerker. Those aren't so bad sometimes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

Marie-Angélique H

Le personnage masculin est tellement inconsistant qu'il éteint toute la fantaisie de Carole Lombard (et celle de Cary Grant) et le film se traîne, jusqu'à un retournement final parfaitement improbable. Au moins a-t-on des prises de vue inattendues sur Cary Grant couché, attendrissant et presque méconnaissable. Mais quel pensum !

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

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Steve D

The 3 stars make it a solid outing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

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s r

Melodramatic soap opera.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

My kind of film. I love old melodrama and this one delivers in a big way. Cary Grant and Carole Lombard are fantastic and have a chemistry to them. As with all these films, you know it will all big ok, but it's certainly worth going through all the trials and tribulations to get there.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

The story is heavily outdated and frankly not interesting enough for a full movie; it makes a relatively short movie feel much longer. Just the whole matter of getting a divorce is such a commonplace problem nowadays it feels a little tedious to go on so long about it. I understand the times were of course different, but I couldn't fully get into it like many other movies which had the main theme being divorce that were made in the 30's. Grant is solid as usual in a lessor role, as is Lombard. Very unmemorable.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

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John Cromwell

Director

Carole Lombard

Julie Eden

Cary Grant

Alec Walker

Kay Francis

Maida Walker

Charles Coburn

Richard Walker

Helen Vinson

Mrs. Suzanne Duross

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Synopsis

Wealthy Alec Walker (Cary Grant) finds himself in a depressing and passionless marriage to Maida (Kay Francis), and is shocked to discover that she has heartlessly married him only for the prestige of his money and position. While horseback riding one day, Alec happens upon Julie Eden (Carole Lombard), a widowed fashion artist and mother of a 5-year-old daughter, and soon the two fall in love. Maida learns of his feelings for Julie, but instead of asking for a divorce, she negotiates.

Director: John Cromwell
Producer: George Haight
Screenwriter: Richard Sherman
Production Co: RKO Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 1939, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2017
Runtime: 1h 42m

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