This week’s mystery movie has been the 1931 RKO picture “Consolation Marriage,” with Irene Dunne, Pat O’Brien, John Halliday, Myrna Loy, Lester Vail and Matt Moore. It was produced by William LeBaron, directed by Paul Sloane, with scenery and costumes by Max Ree, photography by J. Roy Hunt, written by Bill Cunningham and screenplay and dialogue by Humphrey Pearson. Musical direction was by Max Steiner,
It’s available on DVD from Warner Archive for $21.99.
“Consolation Marriage” opened Oct. 15, 1931, in a premiere at the Carthay Circle Theater (RIP) with an ad campaign that proclaimed Irene Dunne a new star.
(Notice among the list of guests: Roscoe Arbuckle).
Writing in the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 17, 1931), film critic Philip K. Scheuer said:
“Consolation Marriage,” a talking film of the “program” genre, is the one selected for the solo-launching of Irene Dunne as an actress to be reckoned with. It is an ingratiating little effort, one which deliberately avoids melodramatic cliches, and in spite of a tendency to hold every scene long past the breaking point, will probably keep you in focus. Women, especially, will dote on it…..
Miss Dunne’s starring debut could have been more fortuitously made. She impresses as a nice girl, gracious and reserved, with possibilities still to be tested. Pat O’Brien resumes the role of newspaper man he created for “The Front Page,” but minus the energy and virility he displayed in that picture.
Ricardo Cortez introduced the cast after the performance, which included several selections by the Carthay Circle Orchestra, a travelogue of Death Valley, a Fox Movietone newsreel and a Silly Symphony.
Mordaunt Hall, writing in the New York Times (Oct. 30, 1931), said:
A gentle little romance, with brightly written dialogue for the sympathetic characters and lines that are not so well penned for the unsympathetic ones, reached the Mayfair screen last night. It is known as “Consolation Marriage” and it was directed by Paul Sloane from a story by Bill Cunningham.
There are several chapters that are very effective, but the effort to reach a happy ending is somewhat forced, with the convenient coincident and the somewhat abrupt conclusions of Mary, played by Irene Dunne, and Steve Porter, acted by Pat O’Brien. Nevertheless, it succeeds in coming in the category of good entertainment.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is Robert Homans.
For Tuesday, we have an elegant gent sitting at the piano. He has been serenading our leading lady, who will appear later in the week.
Update: This is Lester Vail, who made one more picture. He was active on Broadway, directing the original production of “Chicken Every Sunday” (1944-1945) and appeared on episodic television shortly before his death in 1959.
For Wednesday, we have a mystery woman. The leading lady has been cropped out, but will appear Friday.
Update: This is Gertrude Howard, who died in 1934.
Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guest).
And for Thursday, a somewhat mysterious gent, also at the piano.
Update: This is John Halliday.
Brain Trust roll call: Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
As promised, for Friday we have our leading lady and leading man, but also….
Update: This is Irene Dunne and Pat O’Brien.
…. oh my. Life is full of complicated choices for our leading man.
Update: This is Pat O’Brien and Myrna Loy.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mystery guests), Benito (Thursday’s mystery guest and his better-known role), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Thursday’s mystery guest) and Sheila (Thursday’s mystery guest).
ladailymirror.com 
Robert Woolsey?
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Interesting guess, but don’t be fooled by the glasses.
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George Zucco?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Alec Guinness
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Jed Prouty and Charles King, ‘The Broadway Melody’.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Conway Tearle.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Lester Vail in CONSOLATION MARRIAGE.
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Tuesday’s guest looks like a young George Sanders. Is the film “Love, Life and Laughter”?
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Interesting guess, but George Sanders would be a Friday or maybe a Thursday guest.
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Gertrude Howard.
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Madame Sul-Te-Wan today?
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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CONSOLATION MARRIAGE. Ronald Rondell Monday, Lester Vail Tuesday, and Gertrude Howard today.
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John Halliday ponders his next move.
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I think Thursday’s guest is John Halliday.
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CONSOLATION MARRIAGE
Monday: Robert Homans
Tuesday: Lester Vail
Wednesday: Gertrude Howard
Thursday: John Halliday
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John Halliday, best known as Kate Hepburn’s cheatin’ daddy in The Philadelphia Story. Those pianos might lead us to Intermezzo…
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John Halliday.
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Adolph Menjou with a slightly less bushy moustache than later in his career?
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Interesting guess. But alas, I’m afraid not.
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Thurday’s pensive looking gentleman at the piano is John Halliday. Great supporting actor.
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John Halliday for Thursday.
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Pat O’Brien with choice 1, Irene Dunne, and choice 2, Myrna Loy. Is that Gladden James on Monday?
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Pat O’Brien and Myrna Loy. Is Irene Dunne is waiting in the wings?
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Consolation Marriage 1931, with a blonde Myrna Loy. The marriage go round plot reminds me of Jimmy Durante’s song: “Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go, and then you had the feeling that you wanted to stay?”
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Consolation Marriage from 1931.
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Yes, everything is clear on Friday: Consolation Marriage with Pat O’Brien, Irene Dunne, and Myrna Loy.
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Irene Dunne, Pat O’Brien and Myrna Loy cavorting.
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Oops! A little late this week, but it’s Consolation Marriage (1931) w/Gertrude Howard, Pat O’Brien, Myrna Loy, Irene Dunne…
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