The More the Merrier

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The More the Merrier

1943

1h 44m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

100%

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18 Reviews

81%

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1,000+ Ratings

Due to a housing shortage in Washington, D.C., during World War II, Connie Milligan (Jean Arthur) agrees to rent part of her apartment to wealthy retiree Benjamin Dingle (Charles Coburn) and soldier Joe Carter (Joel McCrea). Although Connie is engaged to the unexciting Charles Pendergast (Richard Gaines), she becomes fond of Joe. When Dingle notices their interests in each other, he attempts to play matchmaker -- but instead causes problems for the entire apartment.

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Empire Magazine

Feb 10, 2012

4/5

Hilarious screwball comedy.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

A sparkling and effervescing piece of entertainment.

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Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Despite a belated drift towards sentimentality, this remains a refreshingly intimate movie.

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Sean Burns

WBUR’s Arts & Culture

Feb 4, 2024

A farce that’s funny and sometimes startlingly hot. (McCrea otherwise only had this kind of chemistry with Randolph Scott.)

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jul 24, 2020

7/10

This romantic comedy, the last one directed by George Stevens for Columbia Pictures after 'Penny Serenade' and 'The Talk of the Town', seems to me charming and highly entertaining. [Full review in Spanish]

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Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

Sep 16, 2018

4.5/5

A gossamer-weight, charming film about how very awful it is to have the war fill every minute of your waking world - I don't know how that alchemy works, but it's sublime.

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Ernie K

@ErnieK Feb 12, 2025

Dated in reference to the DC war-time housing shortage, yet undeniably warm and funny with top-notch performances. The romance between McCrea and Arthur is subtle, real, and timeless, and the comedy relief by Coburn provides the right touch.

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nick s

@Nick_S Nov 22, 2023

The acting is great, but not a lot really happens. If you watch for a short while at any point in the movie it is quite charming. Just not much in the way of a story. I think you have to be in the right mood for it.

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ed m

@RT80499164 Aug 16, 2023

Likable comedy. Lightweight.

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Blobbo X

@Blobbo Dec 7, 2022

Enjoyable comedy with Jean Arther looking very 30-ish at 43. Charles Coburn's likable too, as always.

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william d

@acsdoug Apr 21, 2021

Two men living with one woman must have been pretty risque in 1943. While the plot hasn't aged well there is some clever and amusing dialogue here. Jean Arthur is her usual wonderful self, Joel McCrea is his usual dull self, and Charles Coburn does a fine job.

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s r

@ScottR Jan 9, 2021

A fun romance based in DC. I tried rating before and there was an error. Saw it on TCM.

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George Stevens

Director

Jean Arthur

Connie Milligan

Joel McCrea

Joe Carter

Charles Coburn

Benjamin Dingle

Richard Gaines

Charles J. Pendergast

Bruce Bennett

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Synopsis

Due to a housing shortage in Washington, D.C., during World War II, Connie Milligan (Jean Arthur) agrees to rent part of her apartment to wealthy retiree Benjamin Dingle (Charles Coburn) and soldier Joe Carter (Joel McCrea). Although Connie is engaged to the unexciting Charles Pendergast (Richard Gaines), she becomes fond of Joe. When Dingle notices their interests in each other, he attempts to play matchmaker -- but instead causes problems for the entire apartment.

Director: George Stevens
Producer: Fred Guiol, George Stevens
Screenwriter: Richard Flournoy, Lewis R. Foster, Garson Kanin, Frank Ross, Robert Russell
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 26, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2014
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Mono

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