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Too Many Husbands (1940) Jean Arthur and Fred MacMurray

Silver Screen Classics・2 minutes read

Two men, Mr. Lounds and Mr. Kajal, were mistakenly believed to be deceased, causing emotional turmoil and confusion among the characters, but they were later found alive. Victoria is declared a widow by the judge, allowing her to move on with her life and parting ways with Mr. Lounds.

Insights

  • Mrs. Lons, formerly Mrs. Cardew, experiences emotional turmoil as her deceased husband's name is removed from the firm and she navigates a complex situation involving his return and her subsequent marriage to Mr. Lounds.
  • The intricate relationships and emotional complexities among the characters lead to a tumultuous decision-making process, including drawing lots to determine who will be with Vicky, ultimately resulting in unexpected outcomes and feelings of betrayal and hurt among the characters.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Mrs. Lons married to?

    Mr. Lounds

  • What caused confusion among the characters?

    Mr. Cardew's return

  • How did the characters decide who would be with Vicky?

    Drawing lots

  • Who did Victoria contact the police about?

    Two missing men

  • What was the outcome of the drawing lots?

    Both pieces were blank

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Summary

00:00

Publisher's Name Change Causes Family Drama

  • The firm's name is changed from "Lons and Cardew Publishers" to "Henry Lounds Publisher."
  • Mr. Cardew passed away a year ago, and his name is being removed from the firm.
  • Mrs. Lons, Mr. Cardew's widow, is upset about his name being removed from the firm.
  • Mrs. Lons reminisces about her honeymoon with Mr. Cardew and how kind he was.
  • Mrs. Lons reveals that she married Mr. Lounds after Mr. Cardew's passing.
  • A phone call reveals that Mr. Cardew is alive and coming back.
  • Mr. Lounds and Mrs. Lons are anxious about how to handle Mr. Cardew's return.
  • Mr. Cardew returns and is surprised to find Mrs. Lons married to Mr. Lounds.
  • Mr. Cardew is taken aback by the news of Mrs. Lons' marriage to Mr. Lounds.
  • The situation becomes tense as Mr. Cardew realizes Mrs. Lons has moved on and married Mr. Lounds.

23:27

Friend's Return Sparks Legal and Emotional Turmoil

  • The speaker is addressing their best friend, who they believed to be dead, expressing anger and questioning why there isn't a law to protect women from individuals like the friend.
  • The speaker mentions waiting five years due to being unable to locate the friend's remains, but evidence was found by Henry indicating the friend is alive.
  • The Coast Guard reported the friend as legally dead, leading to confusion and emotional turmoil among the characters.
  • The friend accuses the speaker and Henry of wronging them unintentionally, highlighting the emotional complexity of the situation.
  • The friend questions the speaker's motives for marrying them, suggesting it was out of pity rather than love.
  • Tensions rise as accusations of taking advantage of a widow are made, revealing the intricate relationships between the characters.
  • The characters discuss the legal implications of the situation, with the friend asserting their rights as a spouse.
  • The characters struggle to come to a decision on how to proceed, leading to a confrontation and a demand for resolution.
  • The friend expresses their love and desire to be with the speaker, appealing for a decision to be made promptly.
  • The characters grapple with the emotional turmoil and uncertainty of the situation, highlighting the complexity of their relationships and the need for a resolution.

47:11

"Drawing Lots for Vicky: Unexpected Outcome"

  • The characters are trying to decide who will be with Vicky, suggesting drawing lots or flipping a coin.
  • They decide to draw lots by making a cross on one piece of paper and leaving the other blank.
  • The loser will vanish from the scene, not needing to go to Siberia.
  • Bill draws first and seems to lose, accepting his fate.
  • However, it is revealed that the piece of paper with the cross was thrown into the fire.
  • A scuffle ensues as the characters try to find the piece of paper with the cross.
  • It is discovered that both pieces were blank, leading to confusion and tension.
  • Vicky decides to stay with both men, causing emotional turmoil and disbelief.
  • The men express feelings of betrayal and hurt, feeling like fools.
  • Vicky reflects on the situation, acknowledging her faults and the consequences of her actions.

01:08:04

Misunderstanding Resolved: Victoria's Missing Husband Declared Dead

  • Victoria contacts the police about two men in red suits, one blonde and one dark-haired, who are missing.
  • The police inform Victoria that her husband, Mr. Lounds, and his friend, Mr. Kajal, were at a stag dinner, which she was unaware of.
  • Lieutenant Sullivan arrives at Victoria's house, where a mix-up about her husband's whereabouts is clarified.
  • Detectives question Victoria and her daughter about her husband, leading to confusion and apologies for the misunderstanding.
  • Victoria is declared legally a widow by the judge due to her husband, Bill, being legally dead for five years, allowing her to move on with her life.
  • Victoria bids farewell to her husband, Henry, as they part ways following the legal proceedings, with Henry expressing his sadness at the situation.
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