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It's Love I'm After

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It's Love I'm After

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1h 30m

Comedy

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3 Reviews

83%

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250+ Ratings

Despite constant bickering on and off stage, Shakespearean actors Basil Underwood (Leslie Howard) and Joyce Arden (Bette Davis) intend to marry after their closing performance in "Romeo and Juliet." But following the show, debutante Marcia West (Olivia de Havilland), smitten by Basil's interpretation of Romeo, visits backstage to declare him the perfect man for her. Basil is initially flattered by her attentions, which enrages Joyce -- until they both find Marcia more than they can handle.

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Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

A different Leslie Howard and a quite different Bette Davis in a larking farce about an actor's loves.

Apr 17, 2020

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

The earlier sequences of It's Love I'm After are funny and bright, but the story material, never very substantial, is spun out a trifle thin before the end.

Jul 19, 2019

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Raquel Stecher

Out of the Past

A zany film with lots of great witty one-liners and insults. Come for Leslie Howard, Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland and stay for Eric Blore.

Aug 24, 2018

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Horror fan 4

I absolutely loved this movie. Digges was my favorite character and the chemistry between all the characters was top notch. Tim Treakle

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/06/25

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Kalissa H

It’s so funny, but not in a cheesy way. I quite enjoyed it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

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Stuart G

I was most happy that TCM aired this seldom shown gem. I must say that I'm not a fan of Betty Davis, although in her early work, as this is, she can be bright and witty. She definitely keeps up with this clever and fast-moving story. Leslie Howard has a blast, romping through this hammy role, and all seem to appreciate being in this sophisticated farce. (Not to overlook a delicious very early De Haveland.) Catch it if you can, because it will be a long while before it reappears.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

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Steve D

Fun thanks to a great cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

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Audience Member

Davis and Howard's last pairing and de Havilland's first partnership with Howard. Of course, it's not Best Picture winner Gone With the Wind (1939) or the career-kickstarting Of Human Bondage (1934), but It's Love I'm After holds its own and does its job well. Howard is the star of the show as an arrogant actor quick to dismiss his conscience with a disdainful "Digges" (Eric Blore steals the show, by the way). I found Davis and de Havilland surprisingly forgettable, but they didn't detract from the picture. A wonderful comedy that was unfairly brushed under the rug.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

The Warner contract players are becoming famous because the same actors are used in almost every WB movie. That's one way to elicit name recognition. Leslie Howard, at this stage, is still the star, steals the show and exudes professionalism throughout. Davis is getting better in dramatic roles, and De Havilland seems capable doing both comedy or drama. The script is above average and makes this film worth watching.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Archie Mayo

Director

Leslie Howard

Basil Underwood

Bette Davis

Joyce Arden

Olivia de Havilland

Marcia West

Patric Knowles

Henry Grant

Eric Blore

Digges

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Synopsis

Despite constant bickering on and off stage, Shakespearean actors Basil Underwood (Leslie Howard) and Joyce Arden (Bette Davis) intend to marry after their closing performance in "Romeo and Juliet." But following the show, debutante Marcia West (Olivia de Havilland), smitten by Basil's interpretation of Romeo, visits backstage to declare him the perfect man for her. Basil is initially flattered by her attentions, which enrages Joyce -- until they both find Marcia more than they can handle.

Director: Archie Mayo
Producer: Harry Joe Brown, Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter: Casey Robinson
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): May 5, 2009
Runtime: 1h 30m

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