Lucky Partners (1940)

102 mins | Comedy-drama | 2 August 1940

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Producer:

George Haight

Cinematographer:

Robert de Grasse

Editor:

Henry Berman

Production Designer:

Van Nest Polglase

Production Company:

RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
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HISTORY

This title of Sacha Guitry's original story was Bonne Chance. According to news items in HR, the production schedule of this film was delayed because of script problems. Production was stopped in mid-Jun 1940 when writers John Van Druten, Edwin Justus Mayer and Franz Schulz were brought in to rewrite the screenplay. Only van Druten was given credit for his work, and the participation of the others in the final film has not been confirmed. Producer George Haight and director Lewis Milestone also worked on the script, according to the HR. ...

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This title of Sacha Guitry's original story was Bonne Chance. According to news items in HR, the production schedule of this film was delayed because of script problems. Production was stopped in mid-Jun 1940 when writers John Van Druten, Edwin Justus Mayer and Franz Schulz were brought in to rewrite the screenplay. Only van Druten was given credit for his work, and the participation of the others in the final film has not been confirmed. Producer George Haight and director Lewis Milestone also worked on the script, according to the HR.

Less

SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
13 Aug 1940
p. 3
Film Daily
19 Aug 1940
p. 7
Hollywood Reporter
6 Apr 1940
pp. 6-7
Hollywood Reporter
18 Jun 1940
p. 8
Hollywood Reporter
8 Jul 1940
p. 23
Hollywood Reporter
14 Aug 1940
p. 3
Motion Picture Daily
20 Aug 1940
p. 1, 6
Motion Picture Herald
17 Aug 1940
p. 32
New York Times
6 Sep 1940
p. 25
Variety
21 Aug 1940
p. 18
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Asst dir
PRODUCERS
Exec prod
WRITERS
John Van Druten
Scr
Orig story
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
Robert De Grasse
Photog
ART DIRECTORS
Art dir assoc
FILM EDITOR
SET DECORATOR
Set dec
COSTUMES
Gowns
MUSIC
Mus score
SOUND
VISUAL EFFECTS
Spec eff
MAKEUP
Makeup
PRODUCTION MISC
Props
Still photog
DETAILS
Release Date:
2 August 1940
Production Date:
6 Apr--6 Jul 1940
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
23 August 1940
LP9883
Physical Properties:
Sound
RCA Victor System
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
102
Length(in reels):
10
Country:
United States
PCA No:
6240
SYNOPSIS

David Grant, an artist who draws caricatures in his shabby Greenwich Village studio, wishes book store owner Jean Newton good luck while passing her on the sidewalk. Soon after, Jean is given an expensive dress and decides that David has brought her good luck. She then urges him to buy a sweepstake ticket with her, and he agrees on the condition that if they win, she will take a trip with him before she marries her sweetheart, Freddie Harder. When David stipulates that the trip will be an artistic experiment and kept on a strictly impersonal basis, Freddie agrees to his terms, and Jean accepts to spite Freddie. The lucky partners' ticket is picked in the sweepstakes, and with their winnings they journey to Niagara Falls, followed by a suspicious Freddie. Expecting to catch the couple sleeping together, Freddie breaks down their bedroom door, only to find that David has checked out of the hotel and is driving back to Manhattan. Complications arise when David is stopped on the road and arrested for stealing Jean's car. Summoned to court, Jean and Freddie attempt to explain the situation, but their farfetched story fails to placate the judge. When in the course of their testimony, David admits that he is the famous painter Paul Knight Somerset, who had been jailed for drawing pornography, the trial takes on an air of notoriety. After David and Jean cross-examine each other, the judge fines Freddie for breaking down the door and apologizes to David for his unjust pornography sentence. With justice finally served, David renounces his Bohemian beliefs, and Jean and David declare their love for ...

More Less

David Grant, an artist who draws caricatures in his shabby Greenwich Village studio, wishes book store owner Jean Newton good luck while passing her on the sidewalk. Soon after, Jean is given an expensive dress and decides that David has brought her good luck. She then urges him to buy a sweepstake ticket with her, and he agrees on the condition that if they win, she will take a trip with him before she marries her sweetheart, Freddie Harder. When David stipulates that the trip will be an artistic experiment and kept on a strictly impersonal basis, Freddie agrees to his terms, and Jean accepts to spite Freddie. The lucky partners' ticket is picked in the sweepstakes, and with their winnings they journey to Niagara Falls, followed by a suspicious Freddie. Expecting to catch the couple sleeping together, Freddie breaks down their bedroom door, only to find that David has checked out of the hotel and is driving back to Manhattan. Complications arise when David is stopped on the road and arrested for stealing Jean's car. Summoned to court, Jean and Freddie attempt to explain the situation, but their farfetched story fails to placate the judge. When in the course of their testimony, David admits that he is the famous painter Paul Knight Somerset, who had been jailed for drawing pornography, the trial takes on an air of notoriety. After David and Jean cross-examine each other, the judge fines Freddie for breaking down the door and apologizes to David for his unjust pornography sentence. With justice finally served, David renounces his Bohemian beliefs, and Jean and David declare their love for each other.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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