Impact (1949) in Color — Starring Brian Donlevy & Ella Raines

In Name Only (1939) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy In Name Only (1939) in color — John Cromwell’s elegant romantic drama featuring three of Hollywood’s brightest stars caught in a web of love, loyalty, and deception. Starring Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, Kay Francis, Charles Coburn, and Helen Vinson. Carole Lombard, Cary Grant and Kay Francis — available now as an instant, DRM-free digital download.

Plot Summary

Alec Walker (Cary Grant) is a handsome and wealthy young man trapped in a loveless marriage to the cunning and socially ambitious Maida (Kay Francis), who married him solely for his family’s fortune and prestigious position in New England society. Maida has no genuine affection for Alec but maintains the appearance of a devoted wife to preserve her access to the Walker family wealth, carefully manipulating Alec’s devoted father, Mr. Walker (Charles Coburn), who adores her and considers her the ideal daughter-in-law. Alec has long resigned himself to quiet misery, drowning his unhappiness in passivity, until a chance meeting with Julie Eden (Carole Lombard) transforms his world completely. Julie is a young widow and artist living modestly with her small daughter, and the connection between her and Alec is immediate, profound, and undeniable. For the first time in years, Alec feels alive and genuinely loved. He resolves to divorce Maida and build an honest life with Julie, but Maida has no intention of releasing her grip on the Walker name and fortune. She employs every weapon at her disposal — emotional manipulation, social pressure, and outright lies — to prevent the divorce, enlisting Alec’s father as an unwitting ally by portraying herself as the wronged and faithful wife. Mr. Walker, deceived by Maida’s flawless performance, turns against his own son with devastating consequences. Suzanne (Helen Vinson), Maida’s sophisticated friend and confidante, enables and encourages Maida’s scheming while maintaining a veneer of social propriety. Julie, meanwhile, struggles with the moral weight of loving a married man and the toll the situation takes on her dignity and self-respect. As Alec fights to free himself from a marriage that is nothing more than a gilded cage, each attempt is blocked by Maida’s ruthless cunning and his father’s misplaced loyalty. The drama builds toward a crisis that threatens to destroy every relationship involved, forcing all parties to confront the difference between the appearance of respectability and the reality of genuine love in a society that prizes surfaces above all else.

Cast & Crew

• Director: John Cromwell
• Starring: Carole Lombard as Julie Eden, Cary Grant as Alec Walker, Kay Francis as Maida Walker, Charles Coburn as Mr. Walker, Helen Vinson as Suzanne
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Year: 1939
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Country: USA

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized version of In Name Only reveals the sumptuous visual world of late 1930s high society with breathtaking elegance and detail. The frame-by-frame colorization process brings the film’s contrasting worlds sharply into focus — Maida’s cold, impeccably decorated mansion rendered in austere silvers, deep blues, and polished dark woods against the warm, sunlit simplicity of Julie’s artist studio filled with soft creams, natural light, and the gentle colors of her paintings. Carole Lombard has never looked more radiant than in this colorized version, her natural warmth and golden beauty perfectly captured in tones that make her the emotional sun around which the story revolves. Cary Grant’s effortless elegance gains new dimension in color, his perfectly tailored suits and anguished features telling a story of a man suffocating in luxury. Kay Francis is magnificent as the villain — her wardrobe of sharp, sophisticated dark fabrics and cold jewel tones creating a visual shorthand for her calculating nature that is instantly legible in color. Charles Coburn’s patrician warmth comes through in rich, comfortable earth tones that make his ultimate deception by Maida all the more tragic. The New England settings — grand estate houses, manicured gardens, and the glittering surface of upper-class society — become a gorgeous but oppressive world where appearances matter more than truth. This restored classic film transforms every frame into a window onto a vanished era of Hollywood glamour, making the story’s emotional battles between genuine love and social convention vibrantly, beautifully real.

Historical Significance

In Name Only holds a distinguished place in Hollywood’s golden year of 1939, a year that produced an extraordinary concentration of classic films including Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Stagecoach. That In Name Only stands proudly among this remarkable company speaks to the quality of its performances and the sophistication of its storytelling. The film represented a rare dramatic role for Carole Lombard, who was primarily celebrated as one of the greatest comedic actresses of her generation, and she proved herself equally compelling in emotional, deeply felt drama. Cary Grant, still building the screen persona that would define him for decades, delivered a performance of surprising vulnerability that revealed the dramatic depth behind his legendary charm. Kay Francis, one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood during the early 1930s, gave one of her finest and most complex performances as the manipulative Maida. Director John Cromwell was known for his sensitive handling of literary adaptations and complex character studies, and In Name Only showcased his ability to draw nuanced, deeply human performances from his extraordinary cast. The film’s frank examination of divorce, loveless marriage, and social hypocrisy was daring for its era and resonated powerfully with audiences navigating their own complicated romantic lives.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1939)
• Colorized: Professional frame-by-frame HD colorization and restoration
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 94 minutes
• Language: English
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is In Name Only about?
In Name Only tells the story of Alec Walker, a wealthy man trapped in a loveless marriage to the scheming Maida, who married him only for his money and social status. When Alec falls genuinely in love with the kind and independent Julie Eden, he attempts to divorce Maida, but she uses every manipulation possible — including turning Alec’s own father against him — to keep the marriage intact and protect her access to the family fortune. The film is a powerful story of love fighting against social convention and ruthless self-interest.

Is this a romance or a drama?
In Name Only brilliantly combines both genres. At its heart is a deeply romantic love story between Alec and Julie, but the film surrounds that romance with sharp social drama about class, money, manipulation, and the difference between the appearance of respectability and genuine human connection. The result is a film that satisfies emotionally while delivering genuinely sophisticated storytelling.

How are the performances of Lombard, Grant, and Francis?
The three lead performances are exceptional. Carole Lombard brings genuine warmth and emotional depth to Julie, proving she could match her legendary comedy skills with equally powerful dramatic work. Cary Grant reveals surprising vulnerability as a man trapped between duty and desire. Kay Francis delivers a masterfully controlled performance as the calculating Maida, creating one of the most compelling villains in classic Hollywood romance.

Was In Name Only a hit when it was released?
Yes, the film performed well at the box office in 1939, boosted by its star power and the audience appetite for sophisticated adult drama. While it has sometimes been overshadowed by the spectacular productions of that legendary year in cinema, In Name Only has maintained a devoted following among classic movie enthusiasts who appreciate its elegant storytelling and extraordinary performances.

Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the complete, uncut original 1939 film that has been restored and enhanced with professional colorization technology. Every scene and all original dialogue are preserved exactly as intended.

What devices can I watch this on?
You can watch this colorized version on any device that plays MP4 or MKV files, including computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, and media players like Roku or Apple TV.

Is the download DRM-free?
Absolutely. Your purchase is completely DRM-free, meaning you own the file outright with no restrictions on how many times you watch it or on which devices you play it.

How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive your download link instantly on-screen after purchase, and a backup link will also be sent to your email address. No waiting period — you can start watching immediately.

How much does it cost to buy this colorized classic?
The price for this restored and professionally colorized edition is €15.00 — a one-time payment for a permanent, DRM-free download you can watch anytime.

Also available in colour for international viewers. This restored and professionally colorized edition of In Name Only brings John Cromwell’s elegant romantic drama to gorgeous new life for a generation of classic film fans. Watch this landmark classic movie and experience the colorization that reveals every detail of its story of love, deception, and the courage to choose authenticity over appearances.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Awful Truth (1937)
• My Favorite Wife (1940)
• Penny Serenade (1941)
• Made for Each Other (1939)
• Love Affair (1932)