Comedies of Remarriage

Comedies of Remarriage

Or How Censorship Created Some of the Greatest Comedies of All Time

Comedies of Remarriage, first identified in philosopher Stanley Cavell’s book Pursuits of Happiness, are a subgenre of the Screwball Comedy, those fast-talking, whip-smart films from the 1930s and 1940s that delighted audiences with their witty banter, swoony romances and unexpected twists.

The Comedies of Remarriage were the result of stricter U.S. censorship in the early 1930s (imposed by the infamous Hays Code). In fact, it became illegal to glorify adultery or illicit sex in films. To still create both obstacles and opportunities for romance, major directors such as Howard Hawks, George Cukor, Preston Sturges, Frank Capra and even Alfred Hitchcock directed delightful comedies in which couples often start off together, separate and then play with others. But finally, they would end up together again, so the rules of the Code were respected but the set-up still provided plenty of opportunity for drama, humour, a hint of sex and the many quid pro quos required of a good romantic comedy. Whilst often gently satirising issues of class, gender and power, Comedies of Remarriage ask the question: What if Happily Ever After started… with a divorce?