Released – September, 1942 

Directed By - Billy Wilder

Starring – Ginger Rogers (Susan Kathleen), Ray Milland (Major Philip Kirby), Rita Johnson (Pamela Hill), Diana Lynn (Lucy Hill), Robert Benchley (Albert Osborne).

Description – With no luck finding steady work in New York, Susan Kathleen wants to return home to Iowa. One problem, no money for the full train fare. Solution, pretending to be a 12 year old child in order to travel at half-fare.

What seemed like a good idea leads only to trouble after a train conductor catches her smoking. In an effort to avoid being thrown off the train, Susan hides in the compartment of Major Philip Kirby.

When the train is delayed due to flooding the Major’s fiancee and her father, the commanding officer at the military academy where Major Kirby is assigned, come to pick him up only to find Susan sleeping in a berth in the Major’s compartment.

Jealously is now the order of the day, and to make things worse Susan is becoming more and more attracted to the Major who still believes her to be 12 years old.

NOTABLE: This film was the U.S. directorial debut for Billy Wilder.

Near the end of the film we meet Susan’s mother who just happens to be Lela E. Rogers the real life mother of Ginger Rogers.

Actor Ray Milland got the part in this film in an unusual way. Director Wilder, while driving home from the studio one evening, stopped at a traffic light alongside a car driven by Milland. Wilder told Milland he was doing a picture, and asked if he would like to be in it.

The Major and the Minor (Universal Cinema Classics)

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – September, 1941 

Directed By - Sidney Lanfield

Starring – Fred Astaire (Robert Curtis), Rita Hayworth (Sheila Winthrop), Robert Benchley (Martin Cortlind).

Description – A musical comedy with a war time theme has stage star Robert Curtis finding himself drafted into the military just before his big show is to premiere. Not giving up, show producer Martin Cortlind bring the show to boot camp.

While trying to get his production completed, Cortilind’s wife discovers a diamond bracelet and thinks her husband is interested in beartiful showgirl Sheila Winthrop. In the mixup of events, Curtis finds himself right in the middle, trying to serve his country and romance the beautiful showgirl himself.

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

NOTABLE: This motion picture was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Music, Original Song, and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.

This was Rita Hayworth’s first big-budet starring role for Columbia Pictures.

Tremendously successful at the box office, this film was a needed shot-in-the-arm for Fred Astaire who felt his career was suffering since breaking off with Ginger Rogers.

Personal Comment: While not one of the strongest musicals of the era, I’m such a fan of Fred Astaire that I believe just about anything that has him on the dance floor is worth viewing. Especially with the beautiful, graceful, and sensual Rita Hayworth as his dance partner.

You’ll Never Get Rich

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store