Melody Cruise (film)

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Melody Cruise (1933)

Overview
Melody Cruise is a 1933 American pre-Code musical romantic comedy directed by Mark Sandrich, his first feature with sound. The film stars Charles Ruggles, Phil Harris, and Helen Mack. It was produced on a budget of about $163,000 and earned roughly $485,000 at the box office, turning a profit of around $150,000.

Plot
On a California-bound cruise, Pete Wells hosts a party and, while drunk, signs a letter written by his friend Alan Chandler detailing Pete’s past affairs. Alan plans to mail the letter to Pete’s wife Grace after his own marriage. Pete tries to stop it by bribing a steward to hide two women, Zoe and Vera, in his cabin. Meanwhile, Alan courts Laurie Marlowe, a schoolteacher, and even reads her poetry, while a complication arises with Elsa Von Rader. As the voyage continues toward Havana and back, Alan grows closer to Laurie. Back on land, misunderstandings persist, and Elsa’s presence in Alan’s cabin shocks Laurie. Ultimately, the truth about the letter comes to light, and Alan and Laurie become engaged. Pete’s schemes fail, and Grace reveals she has read the letter, causing Pete distress. The film ends with Alan and Laurie married.

Reception
The New York Times praised the film as a conventional farce but lauded Mark Sandrich’s imaginative direction and the clever photography that gave the production a distinctive feel.