Consolation Marriage is a weirdly honest 1931 drama about being second best

You should probably watch this if you’ve ever felt like someone’s second choice. It’s perfect for a rainy Sunday when you don’t want a fake happy ending but also don't want to feel totally miserable.

If you hate movies where people spend way too much time talking about their feelings in small rooms, you will definitely hate this. It’s very much a 'stage play' kind of movie.

The whole thing starts in prohibition-era Manhattan. Irene Dunne is Mary, and she’s just been dumped because her guy married a rich girl.

Then there is Pat O'Brien as Steve. He's a reporter, which I think was the only job men had in movies back in 1931. His girl Elaine (played by Myrna Loy, who looks amazing here) also left him for someone with more money.

Mary and Steve meet and basically decide, 'Hey, we both suck at this, let’s just get married.' It isn't romantic. It's more like a business deal between two people who are tired of crying.

They have this weirdly modern agreement. If the old flames ever come back, they are allowed to leave each other. No drama, no messy divorce, just a clean break.

I noticed that Irene Dunne has this very specific way of tilting her head when she's pretending to be happy. It’s a bit heartbreaking to watch because you can tell she’s just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Pat O'Brien is surprisingly low-key here. Usually, he’s barking orders, but in this one, he’s just a guy trying to be a good husband to a woman he isn't quite sure he loves yet.

Small things I liked:

• The way they talk about 'whimsical humor' as a foundation for marriage. It's such a specific, 1930s thing to say.
• The hats. Everyone’s hat game is 10/10.
• Myrna Loy’s entrance later in the movie. She just walks in and you immediately understand why Steve was obsessed with her.
• The shop scenes have a lot of cluttered detail that makes the world feel lived-in.

There is a scene where they are celebrating their anniversary and it feels so awkward. You can almost feel the ghosts of their exes sitting at the table with them.

It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Behind Office Doors, where the romance feels more like a job than a dream. It's grounded in that way.

The pacing gets a little slow in the middle. I found myself looking at the background actors during one of the long dialogue scenes at the apartment.

One of the extras in the restaurant scene looks like he’s actually eating real food, which is rare for these old movies. He was really going to town on some bread.

When the exes finally do show up again, the movie doesn't go where you expect. It doesn't turn into a big shouting match. It’s more quiet and sadder than that.

It’s a lot better than something like If I Were King because it feels like it could actually happen to regular people. Even if they talk a bit faster than we do now.

I think the ending works because it doesn't try to fix everything perfectly. It leaves you wondering if they are actually happy or just used to each other.

Anyway, it’s a short watch. If you like Pre-Code stuff where the morality is a bit gray, give it a look.

One more thing: The lighting in the final scene is really moody. It’s probably the most 'cinematic' the movie gets before the credits roll.

It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s honest. And honestly, sometimes that’s better than a masterpiece.