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The More the Merrier

Play trailer Poster for The More the Merrier 1943 1h 44m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Due to a housing shortage in Washington, D.C., during World War II, Connie Milligan (Jean Arthur) agrees to rent part of her apartment to wealthy retiree Benjamin Dingle (Charles Coburn) and soldier Joe Carter (Joel McCrea). Although Connie is engaged to the unexciting Charles Pendergast (Richard Gaines), she becomes fond of Joe. When Dingle notices their interests in each other, he attempts to play matchmaker -- but instead causes problems for the entire apartment.
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The More the Merrier

Critics Reviews

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Empire Magazine 02/10/2012
4/5
Hilarious screwball comedy. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
A sparkling and effervescing piece of entertainment. Go to Full Review Time Out 06/24/2006
Despite a belated drift towards sentimentality, this remains a refreshingly intimate movie. Go to Full Review Sean Burns WBUR’s Arts & Culture 02/04/2024
A farce that’s funny and sometimes startlingly hot. (McCrea otherwise only had this kind of chemistry with Randolph Scott.) Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 07/24/2020
7/10
This romantic comedy, the last one directed by George Stevens for Columbia Pictures after 'Penny Serenade' and 'The Talk of the Town', seems to me charming and highly entertaining. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending 09/16/2018
4.5/5
A gossamer-weight, charming film about how very awful it is to have the war fill every minute of your waking world - I don't know how that alchemy works, but it's sublime. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ernie K @ErnieK 02/12/2025 Dated in reference to the DC war-time housing shortage, yet undeniably warm and funny with top-notch performances. The romance between McCrea and Arthur is subtle, real, and timeless, and the comedy relief by Coburn provides the right touch. See more nick s @Nick_S 11/22/2023 The acting is great, but not a lot really happens. If you watch for a short while at any point in the movie it is quite charming. Just not much in the way of a story. I think you have to be in the right mood for it. See more ed m @RT80499164 08/16/2023 Likable comedy. Lightweight. See more Blobbo X @Blobbo 12/07/2022 Enjoyable comedy with Jean Arther looking very 30-ish at 43. Charles Coburn's likable too, as always. See more william d @acsdoug 04/21/2021 Two men living with one woman must have been pretty risque in 1943. While the plot hasn't aged well there is some clever and amusing dialogue here. Jean Arthur is her usual wonderful self, Joel McCrea is his usual dull self, and Charles Coburn does a fine job. See more s r @ScottR 01/09/2021 A fun romance based in DC. I tried rating before and there was an error. Saw it on TCM. See more Read all reviews
The More the Merrier

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Cast & Crew

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George Stevens

Director

Jean Arthur

Connie Milligan

Joel McCrea

Joe Carter

Charles Coburn

Benjamin Dingle

Richard Gaines

Charles J. Pendergast

Bruce Bennett

Evans

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The More the Merrier

The More the Merrier (1943) The More the Merrier (1943) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Due to a housing shortage in Washington, D.C., during World War II, Connie Milligan (Jean Arthur) agrees to rent part of her apartment to wealthy retiree Benjamin Dingle (Charles Coburn) and soldier Joe Carter (Joel McCrea). Although Connie is engaged to the unexciting Charles Pendergast (Richard Gaines), she becomes fond of Joe. When Dingle notices their interests in each other, he attempts to play matchmaker -- but instead causes problems for the entire apartment.
Director
George Stevens
Producer
Fred Guiol, George Stevens
Screenwriter
Richard Flournoy, Lewis R. Foster, Garson Kanin, Frank Ross, Robert Russell
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 26, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2014
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Mono