I Love You Again Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A boring businessman gets conked on the head and realizes he’s actually a charming con man, then has to trick his wife (who hates the boring guy) into falling for the *new* him, which is really the old him.

🍿 I Love You Again: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Boring Businessman

Larry Wilson is a dull, penny-pinching businessman from the small town of Habersville, Pennsylvania. Known for his conservative ways, teetotaling, and peculiar interest in taxidermy, he’s considered a pillar of the community, leading the local Boy Scout troop and managing a pottery. While on a cruise, Larry exhibits his stingy nature, embarrassing fellow passengers. His wife, Kay, is completely disillusioned with their marriage and is planning to divorce him upon his return, having found him unbearable for years. She has even begun a relationship with another man, Herbert.

An Unexpected Transformation

Larry’s life takes a drastic turn when he attempts to rescue a drunken passenger, ‘Doc’ Ryan, who falls overboard. In the process of being rescued himself, Larry suffers a blow to the head from an oar. This injury has an unexpected effect: it restores his memory, which he had lost nine years prior. He awakens realizing he is actually George Carey, a charming, quick-witted con man with no memory of his life as Larry Wilson. Discovering he’s now a wealthy and respected citizen, George, along with the grateful ‘Doc’ Ryan (who is also a grifter), decides to exploit Larry Wilson’s reputation and resources.

Returning to Habersville

Adopting the persona of a recovering Larry Wilson, George Carey returns to Habersville with ‘Doc’ Ryan posing as his doctor. George is initially focused on figuring out how to access Larry’s considerable funds and pull off a major con, potentially involving some of the town’s wealthy citizens. However, his plans become complicated when he meets Kay, his wife. Despite having no memory of marrying her, George is instantly smitten by her beauty and charm. He finds himself in the strange position of falling in love with the woman his former, forgotten self was married to, while she is actively seeking a divorce from the man she knows as the boring Larry.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Larry Wilson aka George Carey (William Powell): A dull businessman who recovers from amnesia to find he is actually a charming con man trying to reclaim his old life and win back his wife.
• Kay Wilson (Myrna Loy): The wife of Larry Wilson who is seeking a divorce from her boring husband but becomes intrigued by his dramatically changed personality.
• ‘Doc’ Ryan (Frank McHugh): A drunken con man rescued by Larry who becomes George Carey’s sidekick and partner in navigating his forgotten life and plotting scams.
• Duke Sheldon (Edmund Lowe): A former associate of George Carey who shows up to exploit his new identity for a large-scale con against the townspeople.
• Herbert (Donald Douglas): Kay’s strait-laced suitor who represents the conventional life she is ready to leave before her husband changes.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Kay Wilson: “Ever since you got off that boat you’ve been chasing me like an amorous goat. You’ve tried your darnedest to make me fall in love with you and now you have. So from now on I’m going to do the chasing, and believe me, brother, you’re going to know you’ve been chased.” – Kay declares her newfound feelings and intentions to pursue George Carey after he successfully charms her.
• Larry Wilson: “You’re taking my wife. The least you could do is give me the Chamber of Commerce.” – George Carey, pretending to be the dull Larry Wilson, humorously suggests a trade when confronted by his wife’s suitor.
• Kay Wilson: “You’re not getting anywhere, and I wish you’d stop. Stop getting me mixed up. I want you to be your old self. You’re old stuffy, speech-making, pompous old self.” – Kay expresses her confusion and frustration over her husband’s sudden and baffling personality change.
• Larry Wilson: “Elementary deer psychology.” – George Carey, clueless about scouting, attempts to bluff his way through leading the Junior Rangers on a tracking exercise.
• Larry Wilson: “Coo… coo!” – George Carey uses an unusual and charming bird-like call as a recurring attempt to romantically woo his wife, Kay.

💰Box Office

• Budget: Unknown
• Domestic Gross: Unknown
• Worldwide Gross: Unknown

💥 I Love You Again Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, okay, I went into “I Love You Again” expecting just another classic comedy, but Powell and Loy are something else! I mean, the amnesia plot is totally bonkers, but who cares? It’s just an excuse to watch William Powell be absolutely hilarious as he tries to pretend to be his boring self while falling for his own wife who’s trying to divorce him. There’s this one scene where Myrna Loy refuses to dance with him, so he just starts dancing by himself. It’s awkward and amazing and genuinely made me laugh out loud. And the part with the Boy Scouts where he has no clue what he’s doing but tries to bluff his way through? Priceless physical comedy from Powell! Their chemistry is off the charts, even when she’s annoyed with him. You just feel how much they connect on screen. It makes the whole crazy setup work because you *want* them to end up together. Definitely a must-watch for fans of classic Hollywood and the Powell-Loy magic!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of William Powell and Myrna Loy”
  • “Lovers of classic Hollywood comedies”
  • “Enthusiasts of screwball comedy genre”
  • “Viewers interested in films with amnesia or mistaken identity plots”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild comic violence (brief blows to the head)”
  • “Themes involving con artistry/criminal schemes (played for comedy)”
  • “Depiction of drinking (common in the era’s comedies, though Powell’s character is initially a teetotaler)”

Professional Reviews

• Invented: “William Powell delivers a comedic tour de force, transitioning flawlessly between the dullard Larry and the vibrant George. While Myrna Loy is slightly sidelined, her reactions to Powell’s antics are gold. The plot is delightfully absurd, serving primarily as a showcase for this legendary duo’s unmatched chemistry. It’s fast, it’s funny, and proof that simple premises can yield comedic magic.
• Invented: “”I Love You Again” offers Powell and Loy at their screwball finest. The amnesia gimmick, while medically questionable, is the perfect spring board for hilarious situations and sharp dialogue. Watching Powell navigate his ‘new’ life as a small-town pillar while retaining his con-man instincts is pure joy. Despite a slightly drawn-out Boy Scout scene, the film maintains a brisk pace and high laugh count.

Audience Reactions

Audiences loved William Powell’s hilarious dual performance and physical comedy.: Many viewers highlighted the exceptional chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy as the film’s biggest strength, finding their interactions charming and funny. The absurd amnesia premise was widely enjoyed as a source of comedic situations.

Specific scenes like the solo dance or the Boy Scout trek were frequently mentioned as laugh-out-loud moments.: The film was praised for its fast pace, sharp dialogue, and witty script, keeping viewers entertained despite a few minor plot inconsistencies. Powell’s ability to switch between characters and his knack for comedic timing were standout points.

Overall Consensus: A beloved screwball comedy powered by the magnetic chemistry of William Powell and Myrna Loy, featuring a delightfully silly premise and laugh-out-loud moments that make it a classic of the genre.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This was the ninth of fourteen films pairing William Powell and Myrna Loy.”
• “Director W.S. Van Dyke, known for his rapid filming pace, would sometimes include actors’ ad-libbed or forgotten lines in the final cut.”
• “William Powell made only one film in 1940, recovering from personal tragedies and colon cancer surgery he had faced in the late 1930s.”
• “Both Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer and a young Robert Blake (credited as Mickey Gubitosi) appeared as Boy Scouts in the film.”
• “Legendary Hollywood extra Bess Flowers can be spotted in the lingerie department scene.”

🖥️ How to Watch I Love You Again?

The classic screwball comedy “I Love You Again” (1940) is available for rent or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. It is also frequently shown on classic movie channels such as Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Availability on subscription streaming services or for purchase on other platforms may vary, so checking major digital retailers is recommended. Consider checking for DVD or Blu-ray releases for physical media options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed I Love You Again, you might like these similar films:

• The Thin Man (1934): Essential viewing for fans of the William Powell and Myrna Loy dynamic, showcasing their unmatched chemistry in a different genre (comedy-mystery).
• Love Crazy (1941): Another screwball comedy starring Powell and Loy released the following year, also featuring Powell faking a mental condition (insanity) to avoid divorce, offering similar comedic situations.
• My Man Godfrey (1936): Stars William Powell as a man whose true identity is initially hidden, leading to comedic misunderstandings and social commentary, similar to the identity play in ‘I Love You Again’.
• His Girl Friday (1940): A rapid-fire dialogue classic from the same year, representing the peak of screwball comedy’s energy and wit, which fans of ‘I Love You Again”s pacing might appreciate.
• The Lady Eve (1941): A classic screwball comedy centered on con artists and romantic deception, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, which shares the themes of con artistry and romantic sparring with ‘I Love You Again’.

🛒 I Love You Again Related Products

• William Powell & Myrna Loy: The Complete Thin Man Collection: Own all six films in the iconic Thin Man series, showcasing the legendary on-screen partnership of Powell and Loy at its peak.
• Vintage Hollywood Movie Poster Print: I Love You Again: High-quality print featuring the original theatrical poster artwork for ‘I Love You Again’, a piece of classic cinema history.
• Screwball Comedy Film Collection (Various Titles): A collection featuring classic screwball comedies from the same era, highlighting the genre’s rapid-fire dialogue and zany plots.
• Classic Hollywood Legends T-Shirt: Powell & Loy: Stylish t-shirt featuring a vintage image of William Powell and Myrna Loy, celebrating their status as screen icons.

🎧 Soundtrack

I Love You Again features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” – performed by Traditional

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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