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Practically Yours
Practically Yours
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mitchell Leisen
Written by	Norman Krasna
Produced by	Mitchell Leisen; Harry Tugend
Starring	Claudette Colbert; Fred MacMurray ; Cecil Kellaway
Cinematography	Charles Lang
Edited by	Doane Harrison
Music by	Sam Coslow; Victor Young
Production; company	Paramount Pictures
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	December 20, 1944;
Running time	90 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.2 million

Practically Yours is a 1944 American romantic comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray and Cecil Kellaway. Written by Norman Krasna, it was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures.^[2]

Plot

When a young pilot, Daniel Bellamy, is presumed dead after crash-bombing an enemy aircraft carrier, the footage of the crash and his presumably final reminiscence of walking in the park with 'Piggy' and kissing her on the nose is sent back home. A typographical error in transcribing his words becomes a tribute to heroism, while a girl who worked in his office, Peggy, is thought to be the object of his secret love. However, Dan returns home and in order to save embarrassment for both the girl and himself, he tries to maintain the pretense. Dan reveals that he was not speaking of a girl but of his dog. A series of comical mishaps ensue, leading to a resolution of the misunderstanding.

Cast

Claudette Colbert as Peggy Martin
Fred MacMurray as Daniel Bellamy
Gil Lamb as Albert W. Beagell
Cecil Kellaway as Marvin P. Meglin
Robert Benchley as Judge Robert Simpson
Tom Powers as Commander Harry Harpe
Jane Frazee as Musical comedy star
Rosemary DeCamp as Ellen Macy
Isabel Randolph as Mrs. Meglin
Mikhail Rasumny as LaCrosse
Isabel Withers as Grace Mahoney
George Carleton as Hardy
Arthur Loft as Uncle Ben Bellamy
Will Wright as Senator Cowling
Donald MacBride as Sam
Charles Quigley as George Macy
Stanley Andrews as Shipyard Official
Hugh Beaumont as Film-Cutter
Hillary Brooke as Stenographer
Kitty Kelly as Wife
Louise LaPlanche as Attractive Girl
Yvonne De Carlo as Office Clerk

Production

The film was based on an original story by Norman Krasna. He had written a film called Bachelor Party that was produced by Buddy DeSylva, who had since become head of production at Paramount. In September 1943, Paramount bought Practically Yours from Krasna.^[3] He had written the story in his spare time while on duty for the armed services in Los Angeles.^[4]

In December 1943, Paramount announced the stars as Fred MacMurray and Paulette Goddard with George Marshall as director and Harry Tugend as producer.^[5] In January 1944, Goddard left for an army camp tour and her role was taken by Claudette Colbert.^[6] Mitchell Leisen replaced Marshall as director. Filming started in January 1944.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times said the film "maybe ... isn't quite big time, but it has the look."^[7]

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther called the film "a curiously thick-skinned little comedy" but with "the ugly contours of a most callous and inhuman jest." Crowther was uneasy with the film's premise given the state of the warring world at the time, writing: "[T]he crocodile-tearful provocation which Norman Krasna used for the yarn is decidedly tasteless and unworthy. This is no time to joke about grief."^[8]

Radio adaptation

Practically Yours was presented on Broadway Playhouse December 3, 1952. The 30-minute adaptation starred Gloria DeHaven.^[9]

References

^ BLITHE SPENDTHRIFT: Parisian Lady By THOMAS M. PRYOR. New York Times 8 Apr 1945: 41.
^ Milberg p.23
^ DRAMA AND FILM Los Angeles Times 7 Sep 1943: 14.
^ Davis, George Kidder. "Columbia vs Krasna". Supreme Court Appellate Division-First Department. pp. 72–73.
^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: New York Times 22 Dec 1943: 26.
^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 22 Jan 1944: 9.
^ 'Practically Yours' Diverting Comedy Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times (30 Mar 1945: 8.
^ Crowther, Bosley (1945-03-29). "'Practically Yours' Opens at the Paramount; 'The Affairs of Susan' and 'Between Two Women' Are Other Arrivals". The New York Times. p. 18.
^ Kirby, Walter (November 30, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved June 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography

Dick, Bernard F. Claudette Colbert: She Walked in Beauty. University Press of Mississippi, 2008.
Milberg, Doris. The Art of the Screwball Comedy: Madcap Entertainment from the 1930s to Today. McFarland, 2013.