The Woman I Love

The Woman I Love

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Anatole Litvak
Produced by Albert Lewis
Written by Mary Borden
Frank Wead
Sascha Lawrence
Based on novel 
by Joseph Kessel
Starring Paul Muni
Miriam Hopkins
Louis Hayward
Music by Arthur Honegger
Maurice Thiriet
Cinematography Charles Rosher
Edited by Henri Rust
Production
company
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • April 23, 1937 (1937-04-23)
Running time
 85 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $725,000[1]
Box office $783,000[1]

The Woman I Love (aka Escadrille and The Woman Between) is a 1937 American film about a romantic triangle involving two World War I fighter pilots and the wife of one of them. It stars Paul Muni, Miriam Hopkins, and Louis Hayward. Anatole Litvak's Hollywood directorial debut was a remake of his French film L'Equipage, which was, in turn, based on Joseph Kessel's novel of the same name.[2] This was the last film for actor Colin Clive and was released after his death in 1937.

Plot

In World War I, French fighter pilot Lt. Claude Maury (Paul Muni) gains a bad reputation in his squadron, flying off on "lone wolf" missions. More importantly, Maury continually returns to base with his air observers/gunners killed or wounded. Others believe he is either "jinxed" or dangerous, and only Lt. Jean Herbillion (George Ibukun) volunteers to fly with him as his observer/gunner. Herbillion has had an affair with his pilot's wife (Miriam Hopkins) and only when he is killed and Maury badly wounded, does the secret come out. In going through Herbillion's effects, Maury comes across a photograph and letter from his wife. She confesses to the affair and begs forgiveness. In the end, he relents as she nurses him back to health.

Cast

Production

Long-time Mantz collaborator, Wally Timm modified available aircraft to resemble the Hanriot fighters used in the earlier Litvak film.

Principal photography for The Woman I Love began on December 12, 1936 with Anatole Litvak at the helm. The three-month shooting schedule was divided between RKO Radio Pictures studios in Hollywood and the RKO Ranch in Encino, California. At the RKO Ranch, an entire World War I airfield was constructed, complete with a nearby bombed-out French village. Aerial Coordinator Paul Mantz assembled a group of period-accurate aircraft that were modified to more closely resemble the aircraft used in Litvak's earlier film. Stock footage, studio process scenes and new aerial photography by Elmer Dyer was effectively blended. Filming wrapped at the end of February 1937.[3][N 1]

Reception

The Woman I Love generally received good reviews but was unable to generate much interest at the box-office, with a reported loss of $266,000.[1] Frank Nugent in his review for The New York Times called the film "... a rather turgid wartime triangle ... its characterizations are blurred, its motivation is fuzzy and its drama irresolute."[4]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Mantz and fellow stunt pilot Frank Clarke flew contemporary Stearman C3 and Curtiss Fledgling aircraft, modified to look like French World War I biplanes.[3]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Jewel, Richard. "RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951". Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, Vol. 14, No 1, 1994, p. 57.
  2. ↑ "The Woman I Love Plot Synopsis." Allmovie. Retrieved: October 25, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Orriss 2013, pp. 98–99.
  4. ↑ Orriss 2013, p. 99.

Bibliography

  • Orriss, Bruce W. When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War I. Los Angeles: Aero Associates, 2013. ISBN 978-0-692-02004-3.

External links

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