I Was a Male War Bride

I Was a Male War Bride. 1949 20th Century Fox.
Starring: Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan
Director: Howard Hawks
Available from Amazon.

Can love overcome strict military regulations?

After the end of World War II, a French officer, Captain Henri Rochard (Grant) is assigned to put an end to a black market operation orchestrated by a scientists known as Schindler (Martin Miller). Accompanying Rochard on his mission is an American WAC, Lt. Catherine Gates (Sheridan). Things do not go swimmingly at first, as Rochard finds himself having to ride in a motorcycle's side car (only Cathy was cleared to operate the vehicle), as they run into road blocks, waterfalls, and a lost container of lipstick at a railroad crossing just as a train is arriving.

Eventually, following a few mishaps at a hotel, and Henri's arrest over a misunderstanding due to strict orders, he and Cathy do fall in love and decide to get married. This isn't as simple as you would believe, and after the ceremony happens, Cathy is ordered to report to headquarters so she can be shipped back to America immediately. The only way Henri can get a visa to emigrate with her is under the War Bride Act, which is significantly different when a man is marrying a female member of the U.S. military. Henri does receive permission to sail to America with Cathy, but pure dumb luck and Army regulations work in tandem to keep them from spending a night together. Henri finally is pushed far enough to disguise himself as a WAC to go past Navy officers. He is swiftly arrested, but Cathy is able to straighten out the situation, and they eventually have their wedding night.

Good movie, although Cary Grant doesn't make much of an effort to portray a French character, and he usually speaks in his normal voice instead of using an accent. Recommended.