5th Ave. Girl (1939)

 

5th Ave. Girl - 1939

Coming up next is 1939's "5th Ave. Girl", the story of a working class girl that makes a big impact on an upper crust New York family.

The film's cast includes Ginger Rogers, Walter Connolly, Verree Teasdale, James Ellison, Tim Holt, Kathryn Adams, Franklin Pangborn, Ferike Boros, Louis Calhern, Theodore von Eltz, Jack Carson, Charles Lane, and Bess Flowers.

Millionaire Timothy Borden arrives home on his birthday and finds his house completely empty.  It seems his whole family has forgotten about his special day.

He takes a walk over to Central Park and visits the seal pond.  There he makes the acquaintance of a struggling out-of-work young woman named Mary Grey.  Noticing that she doesn't have much to eat, Timothy asks the young woman to help him celebrate his birthday by accompanying him to a nearby nightclub.  She agrees.

Timothy delights Mary by spending more money than she's ever seen.  "If you're fool enough to spend it, I'm smart enough to help you," she says happily.  They have an enjoyable time together.

Timothy's wife, Martha, also happens to be there.  However, she is in the company of someone who is not her husband.

Timothy acknowledges his wife with a smile as he sweeps Mary around the dance floor.  Martha can't quite believe it.

Timothy moves Mary into the mansion.  He keeps her on as his assistant, but he lets his family think that he and she are an item.

She has some run-ins with Timothy's children, particularly son Tim.  "I'm amazed to discover that horses have better breeding than the people who ride them," Mary tells a perplexed Tim after he insults her.

Mary and Timothy spend a lot of time together.  She even indulges his hobby for pigeons and helps him take care of his flock on the roof of the mansion.

Martha is concerned enough to call in a psychiatrist to analyze her husband.  Dr. Kessler arrives and spends some time with Timothy.

After his consultation, Dr. Kessler says that Timothy is behaving perfectly normally and that maybe it's Martha who needs to see someone professionally.

Martha and her children decide to close ranks around Mary and drive her somehow from the house and their father/husband's life.

First up is Tim.  He insults Mary every chance he can get.  But the more he spends time with her, the more he realizes that he likes her, and even loves her.

Katherine Borden uses her time with Mary to confide in her about her love for the family chauffeur, Michael.  Mary is able to give the young girl some advice.

And she causes a ruckus downstairs when she uses some unconventional methods to get Michael to notice Katherine.

Martha also makes the most of her time with Mary.  Mary helps the older woman see her husband in a new light and appreciate him more.

Martha decides to rekindle the romance between Timothy and herself.  She cooks him a meal for the first time in ages, and then takes a trip down memory lane by looking at an old photo album with him.  They are well on the road to recapturing the happiness that they once knew as a young married couple.

It seems that everybody gets a happy ending.  Michael and Katherine get married and receive her parent's blessing.  And Tim falls in love with Mary.

Cast rundown:

   Ginger Rogers............................................Mary Grey

   Walter Connolly..........................................Timothy Borden

   Verree Teasdale..........................................Martha Borden

   James Ellison.............................................Michael Fairnsbother

   Tim Holt.....................................................Tim Borden

   Kathryn Adams...........................................Katherine Borden

   Franklin Pangborn.......................................Higgins

   Ferike Boros...............................................Olga

   Louis Calhern.............................................Dr. Hugo Kessler

   Theodore von Eltz.......................................Terwilliger

   Jack Carson................................................Minnesota

   Charles Lane..............................................Union Representative

   Bess Flowers..............................................Woman With Mr. Pape

And that's it for 5th Ave. Girl.  After filming wrapped, Ginger Rogers went on vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii.  The film was shown to test audiences.  Originally, the film had an unhappy ending, which featured Ms. Rogers walking out of the house and down 5th Ave.  Due to the audience unhappiness, a happier ending was filmed when the actress returned from her vacation.

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Vivacious Lady (1938)

 

Vivacious Lady - 1938

Coming up next we have 1938's "Vivacious Lady", a story about a serious college professor who falls in love and marries a New York nightclub singer after a whirlwind romance.  When he brings her home to meet his family, telling them about his new wife might not be as easy as it seems.

The film's cast includes Ginger Rogers, James Stewart, James Ellison, Beulah Bondi, Charles Coburn, Frances Mercer, Jack Carson, Hattie McDaniel, Franklin Pangborn, and Grady Sutton.

While on a trip to New York to fetch his profligate cousin Keith, botany professor Peter Morgan meets nightclub singer Francey.  She captivates him with a performance of "You'll Be Reminded Of Me".

They spend the rest of the night talking and getting to know one another.  Peter apologizes for talking so much, telling Francey that he wants to make an impression.  She says she'd like to make an impression, too.  Peter replies, "You speak for yourself, and very eloquently, too!"

After a whirlwind romance, the two get married.  Francey gives up life in New York and they head to Old Sharon, where Peter teaches botany at the university.  Francey asks him what a professor's wife does, and Peter replies, "Oh, mostly just keep the professor happy.  That's all."

Their happiness is interrupted at the train station when Peter's father and his "fiancée" arrive to greet him.  Peter's cousin Keith quickly whisks Francey away so that Peter can tell his father about his marriage.  Before she goes, Francey gets a good look at Peter's intended bride, Helen.  Peter isn't serious about her.  Helen is somebody his father picked out for him.

At a college dance, Peter tells Francey that he is going to tell his parents about their marriage that night and everything will be okay.

While waiting for Peter in the powder room, Francey inadvertently meets his mother.  The two bond over a forbidden cigarette.  (Peter's mother feigns heart trouble and isn't allowed to smoke.)  The two women seem to like each other a great deal.

When Mrs. Morgan is called back to the party, maid Hattie has to remind her to "snuff out that snipe."  After she goes, Hattie tells Francey, "If my husband wouldn't let me smoke, I'd find a way to get me a husband that would."

Francey's response shocks Hattie to the core.  She stares wide-eyed in disbelief as Francey makes her way back to the dance.

Before she can meet Peter's parents, Francey has a showdown with Helen.  "Now are you going to mind your own business, or must I really give you a piece of my mind?" asks Helen.  "Oh, I couldn't take the last piece," Francey quips back.

With that, the battle royale is on.  Hair pulling, slapping, kicking, and a pin in the patoot all happens right when Peter's father arrives on the scene.  "Don't you think it's a little rough?" he asks his son.

Eventually, Peter confesses that Francey is his wife, which makes his father furious.

However, Mrs. Morgan has the complete opposite reaction.  She goes to see Francey and is genuinely glad that she is now a part of the family.

When Keith arrives for a visit, he gets Francey to show Mrs. Morgan the dance steps to the "Big Apple".  They get busy shuffling, doing the Susie Q, dropping the apple, and praising Allah.  Mr. Morgan arrives and can't believe what his wife is up to.  When the party disbands, he tells Francey that the best thing would be for her to give Peter up and leave town.  Eventually, she decides that quick divorce might be better for all involved.  However, Mrs. Morgan opposes her husband vehemently.

Upon hearing that Francey is leaving him, Peter decides to blacken his name in order for his father to think that Francey is too good for him.  He gets drunk and prepares to teach a class in front of his father and a potential university donor.  The result is hilarious.  The donor can't keep a straight face, though Mr. Morgan is mortified at his son's behavior.

After class is dismissed, Peter gives his father a lesson in being a good husband, which makes his dad think twice about the way he's treated his own wife.

With his father's blessing, Peter and Francey are free to be together and begin their married life out of the shadows.

Cast rundown:

   Ginger Rogers............................Francey Morgan

   James Stewart...........................Prof. Peter Morgan

   James Ellison.............................Keith Morgan

   Beulah Bondi.............................Mrs. Morgan

   Charles Coburn..........................Peter Morgan Sr.

   Frances Mercer...........................Helen

   Jack Carson...............................Charlie

   Hattie McDaniel..........................Hattie

   Franklin Pangborn.......................Apartment Manager

   Grady Sutton.............................Culpepper

And that's all for Vivacious Lady.  At the time, Ginger Rogers' legs were insured for $500,000.  To save them from injury during the fight scene at the dance, her legs were strapped with boards and padded for protection.  Rogers was cast first, and she recommended James Stewart, whom she was dating at the time, for the role opposite her.

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