The Good Fairy (1935)

One of the least seen of director William Wyler’s films is also one of his most charming. Adapted by Preston Sturges from Ferenc Molnar’s play, THE GOOD FAIRY follows the life of an orphan (Margaret Sullavan) who sees the world as a fairy tale. When her innocence gets her into trouble with men, she claims to be married, picking one “husband” (Herbert Marshall) out of the phone book and changing both their lives. For all the charm on-screen, the production was a nightmare. Sturges was handing in script pages the day before they were filmed, and Wyler and Sullavan quarreled constantly until they ran off to get married. The film was a success anyway, but Universal Pictures fired both Sturges and Wyler over the production delays.

d. William Wyler, 98m, 35mm