Man-Proof

Man-Proof is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe. The film is based on the 1937 novel The Four Marys written by Fannie Heaslip Lea.^[2]

The daughter of wealthy and famous novelist Meg Swift, Mimi is a young woman who seems to have a perfect life. The opposite appears to be the case, as her deep love for playboy Alan Wythe remains unanswered. Despite her mother's newspaper artist friend Jimmy Kilmartin warnings of Alan's scandalous past revolving around women, Mimi is determined to one day become Mrs. Wythe. However, another woman beats her to the title. Mimi is crushed when she finds out that Alan is marrying heiress Elizabeth Kent, but swallows her pride to serve as the bridesmaid.

At the wedding, Mimi overhears snobbish women gossiping about her love life. As a result, she gets drunk and admits to Alan she is in love with him. Later that night, Jimmy attempts to console her, as does Meg. Encouraged by her mother, Mimi agrees to move out of the house and build a career to forget Alan. After moving into an apartment, Jimmy arranges her a job as an illustrator at his newspaper. Months go by and Mimi has become a happy woman, although she has not forgotten about Alan. When she receives notice of Alan and Elizabeth's return from their honeymoon, she pretends she no longer has feelings for Alan.

Encouraged by those thoughts, she even agrees to meet Alan and offers him to be friends. Alan is interested in befriending a woman and they decide to go out. Meg and Jimmy spot them attending a boxing match and are immediately worried. Following a joyful night with Alan the next day, Mimi admits to Jimmy that she is still in love with Alan. Jimmy tries to prevent her from breaking up a marriage, but Mimi is determined to convince Alan to divorce Elizabeth so they can marry. She calls Elizabeth and informs her of her true feelings.

Later that day, Alan, despite being discouraged by Jimmy, meets Mimi with plans to continue their affair. He is worried when he finds out he is to divorce Elizabeth. They are interrupted by a visit from Elizabeth, who blames her husband for being too selfish. Alan agrees with his wife, and accompanies Elizabeth to save their marriage, leaving Mimi behind crushed. Yet again, Jimmy consoles Mimi and they agree to end their quarrel over their different views on morality. After arriving at Meg's, they realize they have been in love with each other the entire time and kiss.

• Myrna Loy as Mimi Swift
• Franchot Tone as Jimmy Kilmartin
• Rosalind Russell as Elizabeth Kent
• Walter Pidgeon as Alan Wythe
• Nana Bryant as Meg Swift
• John Miljan as Tommy Gaunt
• Gwen Lee as Binnie Bell
• ريتا جونسون بدور فلورنس (مشاهد محذوفة)
• روث هاسي بدور جين (مشاهد محذوفة)
• جورج تشاندلر بدور موظف غرفة الصحف (غير مذكور في قائمة الممثلين)

بدأ إنتاج فيلم "مان-بروف" عام 1937 تحت عنوان العمل "ذا فور ماريز" . ^{[ 3 ]} في يوليو من العام نفسه، أُعلن أن ريتشارد ثورب سيُخرج الفيلم، وأن ميرنا لوي ، وروزاليند راسل ، وميلفين دوغلاس ، وفرانشوت تون سيؤدون الأدوار الرئيسية. وقد حلّ والتر بيدجون محل دوغلاس . ^{[ 3 ]}

مع بدء التصوير، كانت ميرنا لوي في حداد على وفاة صديقتها وزميلتها جين هارلو . ^{[ 4 ]} ومع ذلك، تذكرت أن تجربة إنتاج فيلم " مان-بروف" كانت ممتعة بفضل علاقتها الإيجابية مع زميلتيها في التمثيل بيدجون وروزاليند راسل . ^{[ 4 ]} توطدت صداقة لوي وراسل خلال التصوير، ^{[ 4 ]} وكانتا قد تقدمتا مرارًا وتكرارًا للحصول على نفس الأدوار السينمائية في السابق. ^{[ 5 ]}

تلقى الفيلم مراجعات سلبية بشكل عام، واشتكى النقاد من أنه "تافه" و"سطحي" و"مبتذل". ^{[ 4 ]} علاوة على ذلك، فشل فيلم "مان-بروف" في شباك التذاكر. ^{[ 4 ]}

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