Memorable lines from movies are often attributed to the actor who delivered them rather than to the original writer. 'To Mary - With Love' actually had three credited writers so the oft-quoted observation that "Everybody says that the movies should be more like life; I think life should be more like the movies" - while it has even made it into dictionaries of quotations under the name of Myrna Loy herself (who certainly beautifully delivered it) - we'll probably never know exactly who originally came up with it.
Largely forgotten today, 'To Mary - With Love' provided Ms Loy with a rare opportunity to demonstrate just what a fine dramatic actress she could be when given the opportunity. Several scenes are included reminiscent of 'The Thin Man' (drunken parties, even Christmas festivities), but in a much darker context.
The action spans ten years - taking in the election of Mayor Walker, the Dempsey-Tunney fight, Lindbergh's arrival in New York, the Wall Street Crash and the repeal of prohibition - but none of the cast age and the fashions are those of 1935 throughout.
John Cromwell - who was later blacklisted - plainly relished the opportunity to expose the dark side of the American Dream; while the eventual fate of Ms Loy, who died childless and alone after four unhappy marriage to alpha males totally unworthy of her adds additional poignancy.
Largely forgotten today, 'To Mary - With Love' provided Ms Loy with a rare opportunity to demonstrate just what a fine dramatic actress she could be when given the opportunity. Several scenes are included reminiscent of 'The Thin Man' (drunken parties, even Christmas festivities), but in a much darker context.
The action spans ten years - taking in the election of Mayor Walker, the Dempsey-Tunney fight, Lindbergh's arrival in New York, the Wall Street Crash and the repeal of prohibition - but none of the cast age and the fashions are those of 1935 throughout.
John Cromwell - who was later blacklisted - plainly relished the opportunity to expose the dark side of the American Dream; while the eventual fate of Ms Loy, who died childless and alone after four unhappy marriage to alpha males totally unworthy of her adds additional poignancy.