This Thing Called Love (1940 film)

This Thing Called Love is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Rosalind Russell and Melvyn Douglas as newlyweds with an odd arrangement: the wife insists on not sleeping together for a trial period. It is the second film adaptation of the play of the same name by Edwin Burke. The 1929 version, which shares the same title, is believed to be lost.

This Thing Called Love
Directed by	Alexander Hall
Written by	Ken Englund George Seaton P. J. Wolfson
Based on	This Thing Called Love (play) by Edwin Burke
Produced by	William Perlberg
Starring	Rosalind Russell Melvyn Douglas
Cinematography	Joseph Walker
Edited by	Viola Lawrence
Music by	Werner R. Heymann
Production company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release dates	December 20, 1940 (1940-12-20) (Hollywood, California) January 2, 1941 (1941-01-02)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The film was condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency as "contrary to the Christian concept of marriage".^[1][2]

Plot

Ann Winters, an insurance company statistician made wary by her data, her sister's impending divorce and the messy divorce of their parents, tells her fiancé, Tice Collins, that after their marriage, there will be a three-month trial period before they consummate it so they can make sure that they are compatible. He thinks the idea is crazy, but she points out that they have known each other for a very short time. Harry Bertrand, his lawyer and friend, convinces him to pretend to go along, then use his charm to get her to change her mind.

Cast

• Rosalind Russell as Ann Winters
• Melvyn Douglas as Tice Collins
• Binnie Barnes as Charlotte Campbell
• Allyn Joslyn as Harry Bertrand
• Gloria Dickson as Florence Bertrand
• Lee J. Cobb as Julio Diestro
• Gloria Holden as Genevieve Hooper
• Paul McGrath as Gordon Daniels
• Leona Maricle as Ruth Howland (as Leona Maride)
• Don Beddoe as Tom Howland
• Rosina Galli as Mrs. Diestro
• Sig Arno as Arno

See also

• List of films condemned by the Legion of Decency