Bachelor Mother

Bachelor Mother
Released Date: August 4, 1939
Director: Garson Kanin
Actors: Ginger Rogers, David Niven, Charles Coburn, Frank Albertson, E.E. Clive, Elbert Coplen Jr., Ferike Boros, Ernest Truex, Leonard Penn, and Paul Stanton

     David Niven and Ginger Rogers light up the screen with comedy, love and fun. I have always had a huge crush on David Niven. I'm not sure if it is his distinguished mustache or his accent, but I love him. I have also always loved Ginger Rogers. Her dancing, her grace, her beauty and this movie shows her acting range. Perfection, is Ginger Rogers.

     Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) has just been fired from Merlin's Department Store. And for a single woman living in the city, that makes things rather difficult. But due to hilarious mishaps, she is mistaken as the mother of a baby that has just been abandoned at a church. David Merlin (David Niven) is the stores manager and owner, and is outraged at this turn of events. He believes that the baby is hers, even though she is constantly telling him that it isn't. This movie is hilarious, and cute. And I enjoyed every minute. With David Merlin and Polly Parrish falling in love, around the holidays, it is a true holiday classic. Even though when we think of "Holiday Classic," we think of It's A Wonderful Life and others along that line. But this is truly a classic too. :) And one I believe you will enjoy too. 

Vivacious Lady

Vivacious Lady
Released Date: May 10, 1938
Director: George Stevens
Actors: Ginger Rogers, James Stewart, James Ellison, Beulah Bondi, Charles Coburn, Frances Mercer, Phyllis Kennedy, Jack Carson and Franklin Pangborn

     This movie is one of the cutest movies I have ever seen. It is because James Stewart and Ginger Rogers are so adorable together, and look totally in love in this film. I have always been a huge James Stewart fan and have been really getting into Ginger Rogers lately (which I'm sure I have said a few times ;)) so if you can imagine how shocked I was that I had never seen this gem. Beulah Bondi is in this as James Stewart's mother, which happens to be five movies in total that they play mother and son. The other movies are It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Human Hearts, and once on his TV show. This movie was made around the time that Ginger Rogers made a lot of her films with Fred Astaire, the movie has a fight scene with Ginger Rogers and she had to be extra careful of her legs which happened to be insured for $500,000. Can you imagine your legs being that expensive? That fact always tickled me, I had read that before and wondered what all happened in the fight scene, I'm glad I finally got to see it, it is quite a treat.

     Professor Peter Morgan (James Stewart) goes away to New York City to find his cousin Keith Morgan (James Ellison) and falls in love with a nightclub performer, Ms. Francey Brent (Ginger Rogers). They end up touring New York and get married the next day. The Professor has to go back to Old Sharon University where his father, also a Professor Morgan (Charles Coburn) is a teacher. Peter now has to tell his father and mother, Mrs. Morgan (Beulah Bondi). But since he has a little trouble telling his parents, he has his wife stay with his cousin until he gets the courage to tell them. Francey is very in love and wants her new husband to tell them so they can finally live together as husband and wife. Peter wants to tell his parents about his marriage at the school prom, but when Peter's fiance shows up, a little trouble and cat fight breaks out in a hilarious fight scene that puts Ginger Rogers in a whole new category. Rogers is a dancer, actress, singer and now fighter. The fight scene made me laugh out loud, but also at the cracks made during the fight. You will love it. Does Peter ever tell his parents? Will Francey end up staying married to Peter, the man that seems to be having trouble sharing the knowledge of his marriage? Find out by watching a movie you will not regret watching. One of my favorite James Stewart movies :) I honestly loved every minute of it. 

Monkey Business

Monkey Business 
Released Date: November 7, 1952
Director: Howard Hawks
Actors: Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe, Charles Coburn, Hugh Marlowe, Henri Letondal, and Robert Cornthwaite

     I would have to say, that even though Ginger Rogers is older in this movie, she only looks older. Meaning, that there is a scene where she has to act younger, and she does, without any problems. And so does Cary Grant. But Ms. Rogers also shows us an amazing part where she puts a half full water glass on her forehead and  she maneuvers herself to a sitting down position and then to a laying down one as well. It is very cool.

     Dr. Barnaby Fulton (Cary Grant) is a scientist and is trying to find a formula to make people younger. Which he is trying to make into a pill form for a chemical company. A monkey that is used to see if the experiment works, gets out of his cage and makes the concoction himself. And it works. Dr. Barnaby tries it on himself and becomes a teenager again. Miss Lois Laurel (Marilyn Monroe) is Dr. Fulton's secretary and gets to "take a ride" with Dr. Fulton while in a teenager frame of mind. Then Dr. Barnaby has his wife come in and try the potion herself. Mrs. Edwina Fulton (Ginger Rogers) becomes even younger because she takes double the dose. And gets a man that is in love with her, to feel that Edwina will divorce her husband which means Hank Entwhistle (Hugh Marlowe) a chance. Does that happen? Or will the couple stay together? Watch and see. This movie is very funny and will have you laughing all the way through. 

Made For Each Other

Made For Each Other
Released Date: February 10, 1939
Director: John Cromwell
Actors: Carole Lombard, James Stewart, Charles Coburn, Lucile Watson, Eddie Quillan, and Alma Kruger

     Carole Lombard was an amazing and well loved actress back in the early era of Hollywood. She was well known for her comedic roles, and even got Alfred Hitchcock to make his one and only comedy movie, Mr and Mrs. Smith. Carole Lombard was born as Jane Alice Peters on October 6, 1908 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her parents divorced soon after her birth. Carole decided, while in high school to become an actress. She even left school to become one. She was married to famous actors William Powell and also till her death, Gone With The Wind star, Clark Gable. Carole, her mother and 20 others died on January 16, 1942 from a plane crash. The plane crashed in a mountain in the State of Nevada. Carole was only 33. Ms. Lombard was very big with war relief efforts, and was at a war bond rally when after, she was in the plane that ended her life so early. Sad and heart broken, her husband at the time, Clark Gable joined the Army to be in the War. He joined, he said, for his wife.

     Young lawyer John Horace Mason (James Stewart) meets his young wife to be Jane Mason (Carole Lombard) and marries early on in their relationship. Well, they only knew each other for a day.... Jane's family disapproves and John's thinking is that when he moves up in his job, then his in-laws would approve and love him too. The first year of marriage, they say, is the toughest. Learning more about each other that you would not get from dating. And seeing how things work out with one another's family too. They also have money issues. They end up having a baby, a son, who ends up getting pneumonia. And the only way to save their son is by having a serum flown from Salt Lake City to New York. But all the planes are grounded due to bad weather... Yes, they do learn that they are Made For Each Other, but do they last? Are things too difficult to handle? And are they problems they face with in-laws make for a divorce? Find out by watching this movie made early on in Hollywood. 1939... we are almost at the 100 year anniversary.