**”We’re Not Married!”** (1952) is a romantic comedy film featuring an ensemble cast, including Marilyn Monroe, in one of her many standout roles during her rise to stardom. The film presents a series of comedic vignettes, each centered around couples who find themselves unexpectedly unmarried due to a legal mishap.
### Film Details:
– **Title**: We’re Not Married!
– **Release Year**: 1952
– **Genre**: Romantic Comedy
– **Director**: Edmund Goulding
– **Screenwriters**: Nunnally Johnson, based on a story by Gina Kaus
– **Cinematography**: Leo Tover
– **Production Company**: 20th Century Fox
– **Runtime**: 85 minutes
– **Main Cast**:
– **Ginger Rogers** as Ramona Gladwyn
– **Fred Allen** as Steven Gladwyn
– **Marilyn Monroe** as Annabel Norris
– **David Wayne** as Jeff Norris
– **Eve Arden** as Katie Woodruff
– **Paul Douglas** as Hector Woodruff
– **Louis Calhern** as Frederick S. Merlin
### Plot Summary:
**”We’re Not Married!”** is structured as a series of comedic stories revolving around five couples who discover that their marriages are invalid. The cause of the mix-up is that a judge, **Frederick S. Merlin** (Louis Calhern), who performed their wedding ceremonies, wasn’t legally authorized to officiate at the time, making the marriages unofficial. Each couple reacts to the news in different, often hilarious ways as they try to navigate their suddenly changed relationship status.
Here’s a brief look at the couples:
1. **Ramona and Steven Gladwyn** (Ginger Rogers and Fred Allen): A radio show couple who present themselves as a happy, ideal family, but off the air, their marriage is crumbling. The news that they’re not married provides an opportunity for them to re-evaluate their relationship.
2. **Annabel and Jeff Norris** (Marilyn Monroe and David Wayne): Annabel is a beauty queen married to Jeff, a military man. The couple is living a glamorous life, and the news of their unmarried status adds chaos to their already unconventional lifestyle. Monroe’s character, Annabel, is a lighthearted, vain beauty queen obsessed with winning pageants.
3. **Hector and Katie Woodruff** (Paul Douglas and Eve Arden): This couple has been married for several years, with Hector being a grumpy husband. Upon learning about their marital status, they find themselves reconsidering their relationship, with Katie taking advantage of the situation to teach Hector a lesson.
4. **Della and Wilson Fisher** (Mitzi Gaynor and Eddie Bracken): This young couple is about to have a baby, and the sudden discovery that they’re not legally married creates tension and humor as they scramble to fix the situation before the baby arrives.
5. **Clem and Nancy Benson** (Zachary Scott and Jane Darwell): An older couple who have lived through many ups and downs, they react to the news in a more resigned and humorous manner, reflecting on their long life together.
### Marilyn Monroe’s Role:
Marilyn Monroe plays **Annabel Norris**, a young, glamorous beauty queen married to **Jeff Norris** (David Wayne), a radio operator in the military. Annabel is portrayed as self-absorbed and fixated on her appearance and career, with her participation in beauty pageants being a focal point of her life. Monroe’s comedic timing and charm shine in this role, as Annabel is caught up in the superficialities of fame and beauty, making her oblivious to more serious concerns in her marriage.
Monroe’s portrayal of Annabel is filled with humor and light-heartedness, and her character’s obsession with her public image adds to the comedic chaos when she learns that her marriage is technically invalid. Monroe’s performance in this film is another example of her ability to balance comedy and glamour, making her a standout in the ensemble cast.
### Themes:
– **Marriage and Commitment**: The film humorously explores the institution of marriage, showing how different couples react when they find out they’re no longer legally married. It raises questions about the meaning of commitment and whether or not the legality of marriage truly defines a relationship.
– **Love and Humor**: Each vignette uses comedy to highlight the ups and downs of love and relationships, showing that misunderstandings and mistakes are often part of the journey.
– **Role Reversal and Empowerment**: In several of the stories, the women take the opportunity to challenge their husbands or use the situation to rethink their roles in the marriage, adding a comedic edge to the theme of gender dynamics.
### Reception:
**”We’re Not Married!”** was generally well-received as a light and enjoyable romantic comedy. Audiences appreciated the variety of stories and the film’s ability to combine humor with a touch of social commentary about marriage and relationships. The ensemble cast, featuring well-known stars like Ginger Rogers, Fred Allen, and Paul Douglas, was praised for their performances, with Marilyn Monroe standing out in particular for her comedic role.
### Marilyn Monroe’s Impact:
Monroe’s performance in **”We’re Not Married!”** was another stepping stone in her rise to stardom. Though she was part of an ensemble cast, Monroe’s charm and beauty continued to captivate audiences, and her comedic talent added depth to her character. The film helped further establish Monroe as a versatile actress capable of more than just glamorous roles.
Her role as Annabel Norris allowed her to explore the lighter side of comedy while maintaining the sultry, glamorous image that was becoming her trademark. This film, along with others released in 1952, played a significant role in propelling Monroe toward the major leading roles that would define her career.
### Fun Fact:
The script for **”We’re Not Married!”** was written by **Nunnally Johnson**, who would later collaborate with Monroe on another iconic film, **”How to Marry a Millionaire”** (1953).
**”We’re Not Married!”** remains a classic example of 1950s Hollywood romantic comedies, remembered today for its humor, ensemble cast, and for being part of Marilyn Monroe’s journey to becoming one of the most beloved stars of the era.
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