The More the Merrier (1943): Cast & Plot
The More the Merrier is a 1943 romantic comedy directed by George Stevens, starring Henry Roquemore as Washington Sun Reporter (uncredited), Charles Coburn and Joel McCrea. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- George Stevens
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The More the Merrier About?
The premise of The More the Merrier without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set during WWII’s housing crunch in Washington, D.C., Connie Milligan decides to sublet half her apartment, hoping for a proper female roommate. Instead she lands the mischievous middle‑aged Benjamin Dingle, who immediately turns around and sublets his portion to the irreverent young Joe Carter, sparking a series of comic and romantic complications.
The More the Merrier Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- screwball comedy
- dating
- fertility
- sibling rivalry
- want ads
- drinking coffee
- house warming gift
- rooftop sunbathing
- despair
- desperation
- deception
- damsel in distress
+38 more Show fewer
- determination
- confusion
- fast talker
- comeuppance
- admiration
- brashness
- beach umbrella
- calling card
- intoxication
- frustration
- patriotism
- newspaper headline
- dire straits
- farce comedy
- honor
- lincoln memorial washington d.c.
- neighbor neighbor relationship
- newlywed couple
- washington monument washington d.c.
- remade
- crying woman
- woman
- united states of america
- romantic comedy
- man
- stevens and coburn
- stevens and arthur
- arthur and mccrea
- unwelcome advice
- reading the comics aloud
- sun roof
- statue of david glasgow farragut
- airplane propeller
- milk delivery
- apartment 2b
- pipe smoking
- bare chested male
- overcrowded apartment
The More the Merrier Cast & Characters
Henry Roquemore leads the cast as Washington Sun Reporter (uncredited), with Charles Coburn as Benjamin Dingle and Joel McCrea as Joe Carter. Directed by George Stevens; 61 actors are credited in all.
-
Director George Stevens
- Henry Roquemore as Washington Sun Reporter (uncredited)
- Charles Coburn as Benjamin Dingle
-
Joel McCrea as Joe Carter - Jean Arthur as Constance Milligan
Also Starring in The More the Merrier
· 57 more- Richard Gaines Charles J. Pendergast
- Ann Savage Miss Dalton (uncredited)
- Mike Lally Man Leaving Elevator (uncredited)
- Ann Doran Miss Bilby (uncredited)
- Chester Clute Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- Jack Carr Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Hank Bell Singing Man on Apartment Stairway (uncredited)
- Grady Sutton Diner Counterman (uncredited)
- Frank Sully FBI Agent Pike
- Bruce Bennett FBI Agent Evans
- Eric Mayne Singing Man on Apartment Stairway (uncredited)
- Douglas Wood Senator in Taxi (uncredited)
- Jack Gardner Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
- Donald Douglas FBI Agent Harding
- Sam Ash Committee Member (uncredited)
- Harrison Greene Apartment Seeker (uncredited)
Show all 61 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Edward Biby Committee Member (uncredited)
- John Ince Shaving Gag (uncredited)
- Fred Rapport Shaving Gag (uncredited)
- Gladys Blake Barmaid (uncredited)
- Hal Price Bathing Man (uncredited)
- Eddie Foster Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Lon Poff Sleeper (uncredited)
- Frank LaRue Senator in Taxi (uncredited)
- Don Barclay Drunk (uncredited)
- Stanley Clements Morton Rodakiewicz
- Brandon Beach Shaving Gag (uncredited)
- Lew Davis Man Entering Elevator (uncredited)
- Kay Linaker Miss Allen (uncredited)
- Fred Johnson Juggler (uncredited)
- Henry Hebert Committee Member (uncredited)
- Robert F. Hill Headwaiter (uncredited)
- Lulu Mae Bohrman Secretary (uncredited)
- Ernest Hilliard Senator (uncredited)
- Clyde Fillmore Senator Noonan
- David Ward Waiter (uncredited)
- Jack W. Johnston Night Club Guest (uncredited)
- Marshall Ruth Fat Statistician (uncredited)
- Ruth Cherrington Night Club Guest (uncredited)
- Shirley Patterson Girl (uncredited)
- Pat Lane Waiter (uncredited)
- Marjorie Wood Snippish Woman (uncredited)
- Byron Shores Air Corps Maj. Denton (uncredited)
- Helen Holmes Dumpy Woman (uncredited)
- Douglas Leavitt Waiter (uncredited)
- Edna Mae Jones Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- Jean Stevens Dancer (uncredited)
- Bertha Priestley Fat Girl (uncredited)
- Russell Huestis Night Club Guest (uncredited)
- Sugar Geise Dancer (uncredited)
- Hal Gerard Second Statistician (uncredited)
- Sally Cairns Bathing Girl (uncredited)
- Diedra Vale Fat Girl (uncredited)
- June Harris Girl (uncredited)
- Betzi Beaton Miss Finch (uncredited)
- Nancy Gray Miss Chasen (uncredited)
- Betty McMahon Miss Geeskin (uncredited)
The More the Merrier Plot Summary
What happens in The More the Merrier from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Benjamin Dingle arrives in Washington, D.C., posing as an adviser on the housing shortage, only to discover that his hotel suite won’t be available for two days. He spots a classified ad seeking a roommate and effectively persuades the reluctant young woman, Constance Milligan, to let him sublet half of her modest apartment. The morning after, as Connie heads off to work, Joe Carter is looking for a temporary room while he waits to be shipped overseas, and Dingle ends up renting him half of his own half, turning a cramped situation into a temporary shared home.
Full summary
The whole story of The More the Merrier, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The More the Merrier?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
In which city is the film's housing shortage plot set?
Cars in The More the Merrier
13 cars on screen, including the 1936 Fiat 500 A and the 1935 De Soto Airstream.
-
1936 Fiat 500 A Important role -
1935 De Soto Airstream Minor role -
De Soto unknown Minor role -
1941 Ford Super De Luxe Minor role
Seen The More the Merrier?
Movies Like The More the Merrier
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including More the Merrier, Merrily We Live and That Funny Feeling.
The More the Merrier FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The More the Merrier, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The More the Merrier?
The More the Merrier runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was The More the Merrier released?
The More the Merrier was released on May 13, 1943.
Who directed The More the Merrier?
The More the Merrier was directed by George Stevens.
More films by George Stevens Who is in the cast of The More the Merrier?
The More the Merrier stars Henry Roquemore as Washington Sun Reporter (uncredited), Charles Coburn as Benjamin Dingle and Joel McCrea as Joe Carter, among 61 credited actors.
Does The More the Merrier have a post-credit scene?
No. The More the Merrier has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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