Next up? Another classic old film. Anyone see it? I love it - it's directed by Garson Kanin, and it stars Ginger Rogers.
Bachelor Mother 1939
Ginger Rogers was an astonishingly straightforward, good-natured comedienne. She played dozens of variations on Cinderella, and looked surprised each time she caught the prince. This time he's David Niven, the heir to the department store founded by his old-codger father (Charles Coburn). Ginger, who works at the toy counter, happens to find an infant who has been deserted; her employers, taking her for an unmarried mother, are indignant at her assertions that the baby isn't hers, and to keep her job she has to keep the baby. Contrived by Norman Krasna, and directed by Garson Kanin, this is a rollicking, warm, obvious comedy; it's heavy-handed yet ingenious and enjoyable, partly because of good punch lines and realistic gags, such as Ginger and her boyfriend, Frank Albertson, being disgusted when they win the first-prize loving cup in a dance contest, because the second prize is cash.
hahaha
People forget sometimes (I include myself) how FUNNY Ginger Rogers was. She was a massive talent, that one. Think of her dancing. But she did so much else ... and all very well. Astonishing.
Posted by sheilaMy mom used to sit me down in front of all of these old movies. This was the one with that stupid toy duck, right? Yeah. It was a good flick, I remember enjoying it.
Posted by: Dave at May 4, 2005 10:06 AMI like it too, Dave. It's also one of my faves.
The interesting thing is, Rogers NEVER wanted to be known as a dancer. Her skills as as an actress are really extraordianry. I mean, honestly, I'm certainly one of the ba-jillions of Astair and Rogeers Freaks, but the woman is an Oscar winning actress after all.
Look at her brilliant work in "Stage Door" next to a luminous Kate Hepburn. Brilliant.
Posted by: Alex at May 4, 2005 9:31 PMI have always adored Ginger Rogers. I use to have nearly every movie on VHS that I recorded from TV. I'm talking a LONG time ago!
I do love this movie and I also love her in The Major and the Minor...the Billy Wilder flick.
Silly but heartwarming.