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Post by wmcclain on Sept 23, 2020 12:28:00 GMT
Bachelor Mother (1939), directed by Garson Kanin. Shop-girl Ginger Rogers tries to turn in an abandoned baby but no one will believe it's not hers. To keep her job she has to keep the kid, which is a burden at first but of course she goes soft. Good thing it's a comedy or the story would be awfully grim. In a wicked turnabout, snooty and patronizing David Niven, son of her employer, is implicated as the father. Miraculously, it all works out. Not a top-drawer screwball, but still a pretty good romantic comedy. Taking place from Christmas to New Years, it's a sort of holiday film. Great happy New Year's mob scene outdoors. Lots of dancing but no dance numbers. Rogers combines dignity with wit and comic timing. Niven cornered the market on the distinguished yet befuddled leading man. The baby was terrific, a real scene stealer. The 1939 sexual innuendo was apparently ok if treated comically and implied making babies. According to Niven, he had no training and in Hollywood just worked in bit parts and attended parties until invited to be a star. Easy. Warner Archive title. 
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Post by wmcclain on Sept 23, 2020 12:28:23 GMT
Having Wonderful Time (1938), directed by Alfred Santell. A minor, mild mannered romantic comedy, it starts dull but gets better. Office worker Ginger Rogers has a two week vacation at a resort; she wants peace and quiet and solitude. Camp Kare Free is a crowded and noisy watering hole where the tired male staff force themselves to dance with all the lonely single women. After some initial hostility she falls in love with Douglas Fairbanks Jr, a proud lawyer working as a waiter (it's the Depression or maybe just his bad attitude). Since they won't be able to marry for a long time he suggests Sex Real Soon Now and she stomps off. I don't understand the Code at all; did the censors nod off during this type of film? Later, in a funny bit, he clumsily tries to defend her honor while she holds off a predatory playboy by the strength of her backgammon game. We have a quick happy ending. Many familiar faces including Lucille Ball. This is Red Skelton's film debut, doing some irritating and unfunny skits. Warner Archive title. 
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