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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So You Want To Be In Pictures (1947)

 

So You Want To Be In Pictures - 1947

Coming up next is 1947's "So You Want To Be In Pictures", an installment in the "So You Want To..." franchise.  This time Joe McDoakes is headed to Hollywood to be an actor, and it's a lot tougher than he anticipated.

The film's cast includes George O'Hanlon, Art Gilmore, Jack Carson, Robert Hutton, Joan Leslie, Fredric March, Janis Paige, Ronald Reagan, Alexis Smith, Martha Vickers, George Chandler, and Bess Flowers.

So you want to be in pictures.  You want to work for a big movie studio like Warner Brothers?

You want to come home at the end of a day's filming to a fashionable Bel Air mansion?

You want to attend those big Hollywood premiers and sign autographs like Joan Leslie?

You want to eat at fashionable restaurants and have your name called over the loudspeaker for everyone to hear?

Well, first you have to learn your craft.  Joe McDoakes is currently doing just that.  He's taking some acting lessons by recording.  These lessons teach him to use voices and mannerisms just like Charles Boyer and Ronald Colman.

Unfortunately for Joe, when he gets a call from the studio for a job, the only thing he can do are Charles Boyer and Ronald Colman accents, which are not what the director is looking for.

While Joe is searching for the perfect part, we are introduced to a few of the studio stars who have made it big, including Ronald Reagan, Janis Paige, Alexis Smith, Wayne Morris, Robert Hutton, and Martha Vickers.

Finally, a part is found for Joe.  It's not much, but it's definitely something!

He gets to be actor George O'Hanlon's stand-in.  It's not a great day at the office when you get a pie in the face.  But, hey, never turn down work, right?

Cast rundown:

   George O'Hanlon...............................Joe McDoakes/Himself

   Jack Carson......................................Man Giving Directions

   Robert Hutton...................................Himself

   Joan Leslie........................................Herself

   Fredric March....................................Himself

   Janis Paige........................................Herself

   Ronald Reagan..................................Himself

   Alexis Smith......................................Herself

   Martha Vickers...................................Herself

   George Chandler................................Sammy

   Bess Flowers.....................................Woman At Brown Derby

   Art Gilmore.......................................Narrator

And that's it for So You Want To Be In Pictures.  I love the narrator's familiarity with all the actors in the film.  "There's Ronnie Reagan!" and "There's Robert Hutton and Martha Vickers.  Hiya, kids!"  It's great fun.  It's hilarious to watch George O'Hanlon put on a Charles Boyer accent.

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