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The More the Merrier

The More the Merrier
The More the Merrier - poster.jpg
theatrical poster
Directed by George Stevens
Produced by George Stevens
Screenplay by Richard Flournoy
Lewis R. Foster
Frank Ross
Robert W. Russell
Based on Two's a Crowd
short story
by Garson Kanin
Starring Jean Arthur
Joel McCrea
Charles Coburn
Music by Leigh Harline
Cinematography Ted Tetzlaff
Edited by Otto Meyer
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
  • May 13, 1943 (1943-05-13)
Running time
104 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $878,000
Box office $1.8 million (US rentals)

The More the Merrier is a 1943 American comedy film made by Columbia Pictures which makes fun of the housing shortage during World War II, especially in Washington, D.C. The picture stars Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea and Charles Coburn. The movie was directed by George Stevens. The film was written by Richard Flournoy, Lewis R. Foster, Frank Ross, and Robert Russell, from "Two's a Crowd", an original story by Garson Kanin (uncredited).

This film was remade in 1966 as Walk, Don't Run, with Cary Grant, Samantha Eggar and Jim Hutton.

Retired millionaire Benjamin Dingle (Charles Coburn) arrives in Washington, D.C. as an adviser on the housing shortage and finds that his hotel suite will not be available for two days. He sees an ad for a roommate and talks the reluctant young woman, Connie Milligan (Jean Arthur), into letting him sublet half of her apartment. Then Dingle runs into Sergeant Joe Carter (Joel McCrea), who has no place to stay while he waits to be shipped overseas. Dingle generously rents him half of his half.

When Connie finds out about the new arrangement, she orders them both to leave, but she is forced to relent because she has already spent the men's rent. Joe and Connie are attracted to each other, though she is engaged to bureaucrat Charles J. Pendergast (Richard Gaines). Connie's mother married for love, not security, and Connie is determined not to repeat her mistake. Dingle happens to meet Pendergast at a business luncheon and does not like what he sees. He decides that Joe would be a better match for his landlady.


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