A superlative romantic comedy, although Stevens’ entries in the genre lack the speed and sass of his best contemporaries. His films make it up with thoughtfulness and sensitivity: punctuated by outbursts of zaniness, carried along by pleasant vibes of charm and sweetness, they are basically earnest affairs. Frank Capra, plainly, has more edge. At the same time, they never drift into meaningless sentiment or crass manipulation, regardless of the material (and consider how easy it would have been with something like the laughable-on-paper, much-afflicted lovers of Penny Serenade) — Stevens’ films are above all grounded in moments of refreshing human intimacy.

Merrier’s plot speaks to both the time and a screwball sensibility: in a small gesture of patriotism, amidst war and a housing shortage, kind and orderly Jean Arthur offers half her apartment for »»»