User reviews

James Stewart and Carole Lombard meet and marry on impulse while Stewart is in Boston on a case.

When they get back to New York the two of them go through a lot of the trials that newlyweds do, a seemingly unfeeling and uncomprehending boss, a bitter mother-in-law for Lombard, a new baby and then a sick toddler. I guess the fact that they get through it all is proof that they were indeed Made for Each Other.

Other reviewers have noted some similarities between It's A Wonderful Life and Penny Serenade. They are certainly there. What's not there is the screwball comedy that we remember Carole Lombard for. No laughs in this one, she plays this quite seriously and shows her versatility.

Stewart however is pure Stewart. It's as if Jefferson Smith had gone to law school instead of becoming a Boy Ranger. He's so idealistic and full of hope as he starts married life with Lombard. As he appeals to Charles Coburn for financial help to save his kid, the whole audience in the theaters must have felt along with him.

The two have some problems keeping household staff and when they find one they really like, their budget crunch forces them to let Louise Beavers go. Though it sure has some racial clichés in it, my favorite moment comes from Louise Beavers in that scene with Carole Lombard as Lombard tells her they will have to discharge her. Beavers is a woman with real heart and soul and her words of comfort to Lombard never fail to move me.

For fans of melodramatic soap opera and the two stars. Some may find Made for Each Other too saccharine, but I like it.

Jimmy Stewart and Carole Lombard make an incredibly appealing couple, one whose everyday middle-class joys and sorrows you like sharing. That's all there is to the movie, pretty much, Jimmy and Carole get married, have a baby, deal with in-laws, money troubles, changes in their relationship, all the things everyone does. It's the opposite of an Action Flick, here domestic sorrows like pay cuts and not having a baby sitter on New Year's Eve are treated as seriously as real people treat them, and the movie is well made enough that you care. Who couldn't care about such nice, funny, sensitive people? For much of its length, it's a better "Penny Serenade".

The place where it falls apart is the ending, which is a ludicrously inappropriate melodrama about flying medicine in from thousands of miles away in a storm, it just doesn't belong in the same movie. But, I like the story behind it: Like a character in the movie, producer David Selznick's brother Myron (a power agent) was taken seriously ill, and was basically given up for dead. A doctor said that the only thing that could save him was a rare/experimental drug that wasn't available in LA, it had to be flown in from the east coast in terrible weather. The Selznick family sweated for hours, trying to keep in touch with a heroic pilot who was risking his life to save a stranger. When the pilot landed safely and Myron was saved, David Selznick the workaholic producer said "This it too good to waste on Myron. Let's put it in a picture!" I just wish he'd waited for a better place to use it.

Made for Each Other (1939)

"Last year there were half a million divorces in this country. Congratulations."

And that is the beginning of a sometimes-screwball comedy that turns very serious by the end, with James Stewart leading the charge. It could be screwier, and Jimmy Stewart is more lovable than hilarious, so the humor revolves around him as the foil. Carole Lombard, his partner in crime, can be more zany, for sure, but even there, she is more restrained than other films (like "Twentieth Century"). It's the situation, and the rest of the cast, who make this funny...and eventually tragic.

How exactly it drags at times is hard to say. Oddly, even Stewart is a little off base, exaggerating too much. The plot, overall, lacks drive. You might think this doesn't matter in a silly comedy, but it does very much. In fact, because this comedy is laced with a fair amount of normal drama, it needs a basic conflict that dramas need. There are some terrific scenes--the New Year's moment is really moving, and the scenes after that--and these are the reason to watch.

On some level, this is a type of drama/comedy that is aimed at new parents, or newlyweds. The couple's focus on the baby reminded me of "Christmas in Connecticut," and "Penny Serenade." I wish it just worked better, but too often it bumbles along, one little moment after another, the result of imperfect direction (John Cromwell) and a weak script. So it does the best it can, and the last half hour is its best, with high drama kicking in. This is a David O. Selznick production in the same year as his slightly more famous movie, "Gone with the Wind."

I can't understand the harsh reviews that this film has received from other IMDb users! I really enjoyed this film, despite the disappointing ending. I don't know if this is because I am a very big fan of both James Stewart and Carole Lombard, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. I especially recommend it to you if you enjoyed 'Penny Serenade (1941)' with Irene Dunn and Cary Grant as they are very similar in plot.

Without the charm and ability Lombard and Stewart, I believe Made for Each Other could have been extremely ill-fated and boring. However, they manage to bring life, charm and make their characters very genuine. Made for Each Other is about a couple (played extremely well by Carole Lombard and James Stewart as always) who meet, fall in love and get married quickly, seem simply made for each other... but when certain problems arise - disapproving in-laws, job stress, financial challenges and illness, their love really takes the test.

It is only the ending that lets the film down. Not only is it bizarre but it is extremely unrealistic too. I can understand why it was written - to give an added sense of drama for the finale, to keep the reader glued to the screen, but it seemed very unnecessary.

Other than that, I found it an absolute pleasure watching Carole Lombard and James Stewart fit so perfectly into a melodrama which many of us can relate to. Perhaps it is for 'die-hard fans' only, but I do recommend it to those who are not familiar with their work. I found it very interesting, charming and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny - a great balance of comedy and drama. I can't understand the dismal reviews for this film - I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Wonderful melodrama.

As a whole, this movie doesn't work at all. Different parts of the story jump around here and there and fail to form a cohesive piece -- the result of a poorly written script. For instance, halfway into the movie and you still get no idea of where it is all going. You get a vague sense that Johnny's (Jimmy Stewart) inability to support his family and the consequent strain on his relationship with his wife is part of the main plot, only to be completely thrown off by a new development in the story, which doesn't fit into the first portion of the film at all. It's almost like watching two different stories at the same time.

Despite this serious flaw, the film is "saved," so to speak, by its superb cast. Both Charles Coburn and Lucille Watson give their typical character portrayals. Jimmy Stewart gives his usual touching performance that is so well-known to film-goers. Meanwhile, Carole Lombard tries a hand at a dramatic role -- and succeeds. As a wife, she is charmingly believable, and as a mother, simply shines. Thus the unfortunate film is held together -- albeit weakly -- by the performance of the cast. Otherwise there isn't much that would convince one to keep watching. However, it may be worth your time if your main object is to enjoy the performance of either Jimmy Stewart or Carole Lombard, or both.

This film doesn't have a very clear picture of what it is or wants to be. There are some good bits when Stewart is on screen and they give him some lines to work with. It works best early on as romantic comedy, but the story keeps heading for more dramatic territory and gets itself lost in the process. By the last fifteen minutes or so, the plot twists are just a series dramatic clichés.

The part with the airplane feels like some leftover footage from another film spliced in.

The main reason I can think of to watch it is if you want be able to say you've seen all of Jimmy Stewart's films.

While other users will disagree with the accolades I give this movie, I was throughly impressed with Carole Lombard. While her legacy is her indisputable talent as a screen comedian, she was very touching and cogent in this serious role. What I like about the golden age of Hollywood was how they could take such simple plots and parlay them into unforgettable classics.

What newlywed couple today couldn't relate to the problems Stewart and Lombard contended with in this movie? Their tenacity and devotion to one another under duress was very simple and poignant. I have a funny feeling if I ever get married, I would want my future wife to watch this movie with me!

Stewart's role in this movie is not as heralded as his characters in Mr. Smith goes to Washington or in Its a wonderful life. That is certainly understandable. However, I will watch any movie which pairs up Hollywood legends. Any movie featuring James Stewart and Carole Lombard definitely warrants a look. If this movie came out any year other than 1939, it would be highly esteemed.

When I bought 4 DVDs for £5.oo in a local shop it should have been warning enough that this movie was not up to the usual standard of David Selznick Productions. With a cast containing such names as James Stewart and Carole Lombard I was looking forward to a real treat. As many other commentators have said it is an odd mixture of plot and scenes that doesn't quite convince. HOWEVER, I am so glad that I did view this film as I now have the memorable saying 'Never let the seeds stop you from enjoying the watermelon.' to live by. This should sum up everyone's life. Pick out those seeds or spit them out or swallow them - and then enjoy the watermelon - life itself.

"Made for Each Other" is a drama about newlyweds roughing it out with some tough times. Even with stars James Stewart and Carole Lombard and a top supporting cast, this one bombed at the box office. It was a risk that David Selznick took that didn't work. Making serious family and love films about people having serious problems wasn't a wise thing to do during the Great Depression. Even though the country was pulling out of it with help from some of the New Deal programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the world economy was still shaky and threats of war in Europe bode of more tough times ahead.

Perhaps a better screenplay and/or some changes in the story would have helped this film. It had the cast, but the characters, roles and script just didn't seem to settle right with the audiences of the day. And, one can say the same thing viewing it decades later and well into the 21st century. This wouldn't be considered a plus in either repertoire of Lombard or Stewart.

Louise Beavers stands out in her fine supporting role as the Mason's cook, Lily. Her couple of wise remarks about life are little touches of humor and warmth.

'Made for each other' maintains a brisk pace in its storytelling and dialogue. That may be for the best, because any given scene seems to oscillate unpredictably between too much, too little, or just right. Sometimes the sense of humor feels sardonic and deadpan, while at others it's robust and exaggerated; occasionally it feels exactly on point. Sometimes the acting feels dulled and restrained, while at others it's over the top and excessive - though to the credit of all involved, mostly the performances are so level and intelligent that they become an anchoring point for the feature. The picture in some instances feels hopelessly ham-handed, while in others the entertainment is meager and wanting, and it struggles to hit exactly the right notes. As much as an air of awkwardness is built into so much of the course of events (especially early on), the production becomes more so owing to a lack of balance in its craft. This is enjoyable, but it's distinctly imperfect.

A frankly tragic and depressing concatenation of circumstances, one after the other, hounds newlyweds John and Jane after they impulsively wed one day after first meeting. There's levity in their wild and excitable comportment and initial optimism, and their reactions to this or that. Or I should say, some levity, in some of their reactions. Because with each little turn of antiquated values, professional difficulties, personal disapproval, missed opportunities, faltered expectations, or otherwise hardship, there's a great sadness that becomes increasingly prevalent not just in the telling of the story, but in the sharpest divisions, dour expressions, and most biting responses of the couple to the saga. This miasma of comedy and drama is theoretically enjoyable, but the screenplay dances along a fine line in the first place - and moreover, hits so close to home with sorrowful themes and story beats that are as appropriate to 2022 as 1939 that it's not unreasonable to ask "how is this supposed to be fun?"

One possible answer, of course, is that it's not. I think it would take very little, scarcely any fine-tuning at all, for the screenplay to become suitable material for one of Charlie Kaufman's artistic masterpieces that are equally, reliably brilliant and bleak, with light humor a thin veil over astoundingly dire and dark substance. One also detects hints of endlessly disheartening, inevitably grim dramas like (to name recognizable examples) 'Leaving Las Vegas,' or 'Requiem for a dream' - titles where we can see the awful train wreck coming well before it actually happens, but that doesn't make it any less difficult to watch unfold. Why, there are aspects that would be absolutely fitting for a psychological drama as one calamity after another plagues the beleaguered Mason household, and their fundamental emotional constitution crumbles bit by bit. All this makes the casting of bighearted, all-American icon Jimmy Stewart, and comedic genius Carole Lombard, either a terrible miscue - or utterly masterful.

To their great credit, even as the slant throughout 'Made for each other' seems to run counter to that of the best of their movies, Stewart and Lombard give performances that are exceptional. If there is any one irrefutable strength and focal point in this feature, they are it as they realize John and Jane with wonderful, withering range and nuance. Every shift, no matter how hopeful or hopeless, feels painfully real and meaningfully impactful, an exercise in stretching gloom-ridden human drama to its maximum. It's not just the stars, though, as everyone in supporting parts stands out just as brightly: Lucile Watson as John's imperious mother Harriet, Charles Coburn as cold Judge Doolittle, and even Louise Beavers in a still smaller role as the Mason's vibrantly warm housekeeper Lily. Then, too, I appreciate the contributions of those seeing to costume design, and hair and makeup, and lighting. John Cromwell's direction seems solidly capable, and producer David O. Selznick proves why his name should be one dependably familiar to anyone who has engaged with older films.

And still - still! - all this is almost undone by a narrative climax that more or less hinges on a tired trope, and an ending so decidedly gauche and heavy-handed as to all but break what investment one has had with the feature. For this alone I find it difficult to hold the picture in any higher regard, for these beats are unabashedly common, and forced, as the last impressions the title has to make. It's a definite flaw, considering that for all the back-and-forth throughout the rest of the length of what the plot was or could have been, there were many enticing ideas or possibilities. The end result of it all is a movie that mostly feels like it didn't know what it actually wanted to be.

It's hard to know who I would recommend this to. It's worthwhile for the acting, yes, and therefore a good view for utmost fans of the cast - with the caveat that it's a far cry from their best-known productions. The feature dallies with some intriguing notions, to some measure ahead of its time in communicating a tale of human drama - but it commits to none of them, and confuses the mixture with touches of humor that ultimately feel out of place. Suffice to say that while I wouldn't say 'Made for each other' is bad, it is marked with unexpected incongruities and mismatched moods that make it extra hard to pin down a concrete opinion generally. For all the ways in which I've found value herein, that I had to work and contort for it - not least of all for a movie from a time in cinema that was overall more straightforward - inherently knocks the feature down a few pegs. 'Made for each other' is worth checking out if you come across it, but don't sit back and relax, because whatever you're anticipating, this is something different.

Interesting and thought-provoking drama with some touches of humor about newlyweds , their problems , distresses , overdue and poverty . This weeper movie turns out to be a simplistic tale , however provides an enjoyable time . Nostalgic and sensitive picture with brooding drama , adequate cinematography and evocative musical score . Well thought movie in which the couple's big dreams give way to a life full of unexpected sadness and unexpected joy . The picture begins with the followings lines : Greater New York has a population of 7.434.346 , among the least important of whom is John Mason (James Stewart) and Jane (Carole Lombard) . They fall in love and marry ; when John and Jane try to go on their honeymoon in Europe aboard the liner SS Normadie , their journey is suddenly interrupted . Then they must overcome meddlesome in-laws (Lucile Watson) , proud chiefs (Charles Coburn) , poorness and even the arrival a baby . Things become so serious , they decide to separate but their child's illness brings together for a second chance .

Sensitive film which deals with interesting issues such as family life , couple relationship , meddling mother-in-law , birth a son , and many other things . The story is plain and simple , nonetheless results to be a moving experience . It is a tearjerker about an agreeable couple who looks rather stiff and maudlin nowadays . This over-expended weepie flick relies heavily on the relationship between James Stewart and Carole Lombard but this does not get bored or spoils the tale . Slightly overrated but excellent all the same time , the picture is enjoyable and entertaining , including a stirring ending . Great producer David O. Selznick's experience of trying to have life-saving serum flown in for his critically ill brother was the basis for the flying sequences final the movie . The story is narrated with great sense and sensibility , the intelligent screenplay was written by Jo Swerling suggested by a story by Rose Franken . Sensational protagonist duo , James Stewart is extraordinary , as usual , and Carole Lombard is magnificent . They don't make'em like this anymore and no one plays Stewart better than Stewart . Only these big stars like Stewart and Lombard could play material like this . Support cast is frankly excellent such as Charles Coburn as Judge Doolittle , Lucile Watson as Mrs. Harriet Mason , Eddie Quillan as Conway , Harry Davenport as Dr. Healy , and uncredited War Bond as Hatton , among others.

Atmospheric cinematography in black and White by Leon Shamroy , subsequently a famed cameraman of super-productions , though also available colorized . The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either severely and usually badly edited and/or of extremely poor quality, having been duped from second or third-generation or more copies of the film . Pleasant as well as adequate musical score by Oscar Levant , though uncredited . This stunning and appealing flick filmed in great sensibility was compellingly directed by John Cromwell , considered to be one of the best American directors . Cromwell was a veteran filmmaker who directed all kind of genres through a long career from the 20s and 30s to the 60s such as Adventure genre : ¨Son of fury¨, ¨Prisoner of Zenda¨ , ¨Tom Sawyer ¨ , ¨Ana and the King of Siam¨ ; Thriller and Noir cinema : ¨The Scavengers¨ , ¨The racket¨, ¨Dead reckoning¨, ¨Algiers¨, ¨Vice squad¨ and especially drama as ¨The Goddess¨, ¨Spitfire¨ , ¨Ann Vickers¨ , ¨Dance of life¨, ¨Of human bondage¨ , the notorious ¨Abe Lincoln in Illinois¨ and this ¨Made for each other¨.

This is really three stories in one about the same couple - and none of them would be really worth seeing if not enacted by Stewart and Lombard.

The first part is by far the best. It is a light-hearted comedy, in the screwball style, about a generally not self-assured young lawyer who for once has taken an impulsive decision, marrying a girl on a chance meeting as a result of love at first sight, putting himself at odds with the two persons he is in awe of and mostly dominated by - his deaf Scrooge of a boss, and his possessive mother. This is quite funny, especially the scene of breaking the news to the mother/mother-in-law.

Then things become fairly humdrum and boring with the second part. The lawyer does not get the promotion he deserved and expected, the young couple has a baby, and they start facing money problems. Baby scenes are a string of moderately amusing cliches, which are absolutely useless to the story. Money problems are trivial, and it takes James Stewart awkwardness to provide some fun when he tries to get a raise from his literally but potentially intentionally deaf boss - Charles Coburn not in one of his most memorable compositions. All of this part of the film spills the beans about what its problem really is - basically it has very little to tell, therefore it fills the void with everything which passes at hand.

And everything in the third part becomes an old plot trick of screenwriters with a shortage of inspiration - a severe, potentially fatal illness of one of the characters, in that case the baby in order to create drama where really there should have been none. Brutally the film turns to crude melodrama and the artificial suspense, extensively dilated, of a serum to be brought by an heroic pilot. Well, well - not telling whether the baby is saved, the film is most certainly not.

Carole Lombard and James Stewart are the only good reason, if any, to watch this mishmash. Stewart is mostly his usual funny and touching self, playing a well-meaning but not always well-inspired character who tries, through necessity, to become the hard-edged breadwinner whom he is not naturally. Lombard's role on the contrary evolves farther and farther away from her usual parts while the film shifts from one storyline to the other. Fresh-faced and fresh-tongued as the bride from nowhere, she adjusts less well, like her character, to the boring life of a housewife with domestic problems - hard to blame her not to put her heart fully in it when viewers are quite bored themselves. Then and finally, melodrama - not an usual or natural genre for her, but she more than deftly adjusts. Moreover, some shots of her face in grief and anxiety, unusually strained but as beautiful as always if not more, "Garbo shots", deepen our regrets of her tragically shortened life and career. Sooner or later it would probably have been discovered that beyond her innate talent for comedy, she could play with equal ease and natural much more dramatic roles. Alas, occasions including this botched one have been very limited.

A delightful little comedy that doesn't weigh in too much when Stewart and Lombard are not on the screen, which is on par for many of Stewart's light comedy movies that are black and white. It seems that when he was just getting his gears shifting and people were starting to notice him, that he couldn't find the right script. This movie's no different. It had the ideals of being better than it really was, and nothing to prove by the end to make you feel like you were really experiencing something out of the ordinary, which pushes the viewer partially away from the film. It's the kind of movie you don't really invest in seeing a second time, because you've seen it all before. Unfortunately, movies that are hitting middle ground like this are still being made.

James Stewart plays Johnny Mason, lawyer. Carole Lombard is Jane Mason, wife. Lucile Watson the mother-in-law Harriet Mason. Johnny sees Jane and quickly marries her. Mother is disappointed. Mother lives with them. Many troubles are ahead. Jane can't cook. Can't set the table. Can't do many things according to mother. The interaction between daughter-in-law and mother are the highlights of this film. Stewart and Lombard are married but just don't have any real magic on screen. Stewart is Stewart. He is good as a timid husband and son but this doesn't carry the film. Can baby Mason build bridges between Jane and Harriet? A believable film for those that are married.

After reading IMDb about various movies for years, this is the one film that caused me to sign up as a member in order to leave a review.

That should say a lot.

This is a fantastic movie with great acting and it clearly prefigured "It's a Wonderful Life."

It's an honest tearjerker. Those prone to cry will do so. For some I could see it producing Niagara Falls. The acting is that good. And a movie is made only once every few years that can make my eyes water.

I'd advise you not to pay much attention to the negative reviews, including from those who would now find the plot to be derivative when future movies were the ones that were derived from this.

Sure, it starts slow (and Jimmy Stewart was more of a novice). It's supposed to be showing the every day life of a struggling couple during hard times.

That only adds to the emotional impact of the last half hour.

The producer put a part of his own life story into this picture.

It's really sad to know that Carole Lombard died soon after this movie was made in a plane crash over the mountains.

This movie is a must-see.

The old saying goes that there are three rings in marriage: the engagement ring, the wedding ring and suffering. Well, if there's only one thing that the 1939 slice-of-life drama "Made For Each Other" shows, it's that the problems faced by young married couples haven't changed much in the last 70 years. In this tender little film, NY lawyer Jimmy Stewart meets Carole Lombard on the Boston Common. It turns out that they have the mutual irresistibles for each other and get spliced a mere few days later. And then the fun begins, as the newlyweds begin to deal with money problems, mother-in-law issues, job nuisances, a cramped apartment, AND the arrival of the inevitable bundle of joy. In today's culture, this couple would soon be considering a divorce, but Jimmy and Carole bravely slog through, despite some occasional misgivings.... "Made For Each Other" is as sweet and warm a domestic soaper as can be, and the two leads really do float the picture with their boundless charm and charisma. Lombard, 30 here, looks absolutely beautiful (often in stunning close-up), and her character is just so nice and understanding. The picture alternates scenes of gentle humor with scenes of bittersweet warmth, and the character actors here--Lucile Watson, Louise Beavers, Charles Coburn, Ward Bond--are all given moments to shine. The film culminates with a good deal of suspense, too, as a valiant flier braves a storm to deliver serum to Jimmy and Carol's dying son. All in all, then, this is yet another class production from David Selznick, coming out soon before that same year's "GWTW." It should be required viewing for all couples about to take the big plunge.