She Wouldn't Say Yes (1945)

 

She Wouldn't Say Yes - 1945

Coming up next is 1945's "She Wouldn't Say Yes", a story about a woman who refuses to marry the man that fate has evidently picked out for her.

The film's cast includes Rosalind Russell, Lee Bowman, Adele Jurgens, Charles Winninger, Harry Davenport, Sara Haden, Percy Kilbride, Tom Dugan, Sam McDaniel, Darren McGavin, Ida Moore, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer, Cora Witherspoon, and Mabel Paige.

Noted psychiatrist Dr. Susan Lane is traveling home to Chicago after spending some time working at a mental hospital in New York City.

Collecting her train tickets, she meets a man whom she keeps bumping into, literally.  "I have a feeling that meeting under other circumstances I would've liked you very much," says the man, a Mr. Michael "Mike" Kent.  Clearly annoyed, Susan replies, "Then I'm glad the circumstances were as they are."

Coincidentally, they meet later on board the train.  He insists on having a drink with her in the club car.  When he likens her profession to being that of a "mental Peeping Tom", Susan retorts, "Only by appointment".

Susan is further annoyed when she finds out that Mike has tickets to her upper berth.  Apparently, the ticket office gave them a set of identical tickets.  She wastes no time tossing him out when the train goes around a sharp curve.

In Chicago, Mike, very smitten with Susan since first laying eyes on her, finds out where she lives.  He shows up and regales her father with tales of how the two shared an upper berth.  Susan's father, also a doctor, is mortified until Susan sets the story straight.

Susan's father, however, likes Mike a lot.  And he's tired of Susan thinking that she can do without love.  So, he tells Mike where he can find Susan the next day.  For her part, Susan only hopes she's seen the last of him.

When Mike shows up at Susan's office the next day, Susan thinks she's got the perfect way to get rid of him.  She gets a man hungry patient interested in him.

Susan goes to the trouble of arranging a dinner for the two of them at her house.  Mike thinks that Susan herself will be there, and he readily accepts.  However, Susan goes out with her father and leaves Mike and her patient, Allura, alone.

Once Mike realizes that it's all a set-up with the aim of getting Allura and himself together, he gets a little frightened.  Allura is very persuasive and she wants Mike.

Susan resists all of Mike's charms.  She's bound and determined to stay single.  She explains it's because of all the women who come through her office because of what "love" did to them.  Mike is bound and determined to wear down her defenses.

Susan's father goes to the trouble of arranging a marriage for the two.  Susan doesn't know anything about it.  She thinks she's there to treat a very jumpy judge.  Before she knows it, she and Mike are married, and she is none the wiser.

Naturally, Susan is very upset once she learns the truth about the marriage.  She orders Mike out of her house and her life.

However, Susan realizes that she does love Mike.  This realization comes right in the middle of a session with another patient.

She hurries to catch up with Mike, who is on his way to San Francisco.  She arranges to be in his upper berth.  They kiss and make up.  They also make plans to stop in Nevada and have a real wedding.

Cast rundown:

   Rosalind Russell.............................Dr. Susan Lane

   Lee Bowman..................................Michael Kent

   Adele Jurgens................................Allura

   Charles Winninger..........................Dr. Lane

   Harry Davenport............................Albert

   Sara Haden...................................Laura Pitts

   Percy Kilbride................................Judge Whittaker

   Tom Dugan...................................Cab Driver

   Sam McDaniel...............................Train Steward

   Darren McGavin.............................Soldier In Hospital

   Ida Moore.....................................Spinster On Train

   Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer......................Delivery Boy

   Cora Witherspoon..........................Mrs. Peterson

   Mabel Paige..................................Martha Whittaker

And that's it for She Wouldn't Say Yes.  The release date of the film clashed somewhat with a plot point.  Michael Kent was on his way to San Francisco so that he could join the war effort in Japan.  However, the war had ended three months before this film was released.

This film also marked the screen debut of actor Darren McGavin, who would later become famous (especially to American audiences) for his portrayal of Mr. Parker in the film "A Christmas Story".

As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.

The Egg And I (1947)

 

The Egg And I - 1947

Coming up next we have 1947's "The Egg And I", a story about a city couple who move to the country to become chicken farmers.  The husband is in his element, but the wife has a lot of trouble adjusting to farm life and the challenges she faces may just be more than she can handle.

The film's cast includes Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Louise Albritton, Richard Long, Ida Moore, Donald MacBride, Esther Dale, John Berkes, Victor Potel, Sam McDaniel, Elizabeth Risdon, and Banjo The Dog.

Newlyweds Bob and Betty MacDonald are in two different minds.  Bob has just announced that he's bought a chicken farm, and he's ecstatic!  Betty couldn't be more shocked and confused.

With all their belongings and some livestock loaded up on an old truck, Bob and Betty head for Cape Flattery, Washington, a very rural town in the mountains.

While Bob can only see the possibilities of the run-down property that is now their home, Betty is overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the task that lies before them.

She's especially apprehensive about the huge stove that she will now have to learn to cook on.  "I don't think it likes me," she says as she backs away from it.

Soon enough, Bob and Betty have the place looking fine, and they settle down to the task at hand: raising chickens.

There's also a bunch of other assorted animals on the property, such as this stubborn pig named Cleopatra.

Bob gets a hunting dog named Sport.  However, Sport is less vicious than advertised.  He runs and hides at nearly every noise and disturbance.  Betty is thrilled with him.

Among the neighbors is Harriet Putnam, the owner of a nearby farm.  Harriet seems to have cast her eye on Bob, and Betty is extremely wary of her.  "That barnyard glamor girl is setting a trap for you, and you’re just goofy enough to fall into it!" she warns.

But it's Betty's friendship with Ma Kettle, a nearby neighbor and mother of fifteen children, which is the most meaningful in Cape Flattery.  Ma is always friendly and kind, no matter what kind of chaos reigns in the Kettle household.

Betty is much amused by Ma's cookie recipe: "Just a drop of this and a drop of that.  Mix it together and shove it in the oven."

Pa Kettle is quite the character as well.  He's always borrowing things and never returning them.

Betty befriends the whole Kettle clan, including the eldest son Tom.  Tom wants to go to college, and Betty sees that he gets the chance.

Through all the craziness of farm life, Bob and Betty find time to remember their old life and have a bit of a date night.

However, a fire devastates all the hard work that they've put into the farm.  Bob is ready to throw in the towel and return to the city.

But everyone rallies around them and teaches Bob and Betty the true meaning of community spirit.

However, things take an interesting turn, and Betty is at her wits end.  Will she stay or will she return to the city?  You'll have to watch to find out.

Cast rundown:

   Claudette Colbert.......................Betty MacDonald

   Fred MacMurray..........................Bob MacDonald

   Marjorie Main.............................Ma Kettle

   Percy Kilbride.............................Pa Kettle

   Louise Albritton..........................Harriet Putnam

   Richard Long..............................Tom Kettle

   Ida Moore..................................Emily

   Donald MacBride........................Mr. Henty

   Esther Dale................................Birdie Hicks

   John Berkes...............................Geoduck

   Victor Potel................................Crowbar

   Sam McDaniel............................Waiter On Train

   Elizabeth Risdon.........................Betty's Mother

   Banjo The Dog...........................Sport

And that's all for The Egg And I.  This film introduced us to the characters of Ma and Pa Kettle.  The Kettles proved to be so popular that they received their own set of films: 9 of them to be exact.  The Kettle franchise went on to save Universal from financial ruin.  For this film, Marjorie Main was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.