A top-notch tearjerker, IN NAME ONLY is a surprising frank and realistic study of the dissolution of marriage and relationships. Carole Lombard and Cary Grant, both of whom were best known to audiences of the day for light romantic comedies, are fantastic in roles that are far removed from their typical fare. Grant continues to successfully stretch the contours of his on-screen persona (a process that begin with 1939's ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS), and Lombard has seldom been as beautifully self-effacing as she is in this film. The commanding Kay Francis literally owns the role of Grant's bitchy wife, and her perfectly calculated performances manages to radiate with the appropriate menace without falling into one-dimensional parody (which is not an easy feat).
The film feels unique in both structure and tone when compared to other movies from the same era. The first-third of the picture almost feels like the set up for a screwball comedy, but film then takes several unexpected turns before launching into a dark and haunting third act. This structure is highly unusual for a studio film of this era, as is the somewhat gloomy approach to the material, but it all works thanks to director John Cromwell and his amazing cast. The film was not highly regarded among critics nor most audiences when originally released, but the reputation of IN NAME ONLY has gained additional luster over the decades and is now considered to be somewhat of lost gem by many film fans.
The film feels unique in both structure and tone when compared to other movies from the same era. The first-third of the picture almost feels like the set up for a screwball comedy, but film then takes several unexpected turns before launching into a dark and haunting third act. This structure is highly unusual for a studio film of this era, as is the somewhat gloomy approach to the material, but it all works thanks to director John Cromwell and his amazing cast. The film was not highly regarded among critics nor most audiences when originally released, but the reputation of IN NAME ONLY has gained additional luster over the decades and is now considered to be somewhat of lost gem by many film fans.