Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: Bachelor Mother

Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) is a salesgirl at the department store John B. Merlin and Son in New York City who has just been told that since the Christmas season is ending she is going to be dismissed. During her lunch break, she sees a stranger leaving a baby on the steps of an orphanage. Fearing the baby is going to roll down the steps, Polly picks it up as the door is opened, and is mistakenly thought to be the mother.

David Merlin (David Niven), the playboy son of the store's owner, J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn), is sympathetic to the "unwed mother" and arranges for her to get her job back. Mrs. Weiss (Ferike Boros), Polly's landlady, offers to take care of the boy when Polly is at work. Unable to convince anyone that she is not the mother, Polly gives up and starts raising the child.

David's involvement with Polly gradually turns into love, but he keeps the relationship a secret from his father, fearing his reaction. When he finds that New Year's Eve has arrived and he has no date, David turns to Polly. He orders clothes to be sent from the store and takes her to a party. Although David is falling for Polly he does not relish the idea of a "ready made family."

J.B. finally finds out about the child; he assumes that David is the father and no one can convince him otherwise, especially when, in a bit of bad timing, Polly and David each produce a different man whom they claim is the father. To his son's surprise, J.B. is delighted (he had been impatiently waiting for David to settle down and provide him with a grandson). In the end, David decides that he is in love with Polly and baby John. He tells his father that he is the father of the child and plans to marry Polly, all the while believing Polly is the child's mother.

**Trivia Question for Today: Bachelor Mother was remade in 1956, starring Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. What is the name of this remake?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: For the 'drunk' dance in the New Year's Eve scene in Holiday Inn, Fred Astaire had two drinks of bourbon before the first take and one before each succeeding take. The seventh (last) take was used in the film. I would say that he was pretty 'tipsy'.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: Holiday Inn

Jim Hardy and Ted Hanover have been vaudeville partners for many years but when Ted announces that he and Jim's girlfriend, dancer Lila Dixon, are going to set off on their own, Jim decides the time has come to retire. He buys himself a farmhouse in New England and settles into the country life but soon realizes that he has an opportunity to do something special. He decides to open his inn to the public, but only on major holidays. Things are going well for him until his old partner Ted shows up and sets his sights on Jim's new friend, Linda Mason. The film introduced the song White Christmas.

**Trivia Question for Today: For the 'drunk' dance in the New Year's Eve scene in Holiday Inn, was Fred Astaire really drunk or was it just an act?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Although the word "Scrooge" means a stingy person now, in Charles Dickens's time, the word was a slang term meaning "to squeeze."

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)

Ebenezer Scrooge is a business man who thinks only of making money. For him Christmas is, in his own words, a humbug. It has been seven years since his friend and partner, Jacob Marley, died and on Christmas Eve Marley's ghost tells him he is to be visited during the night by three spirits. The first is the Ghost of Christmas Past who re-visits some of the main events in Scrooge's life to date, including his unhappy childhood, his happy apprenticeship to Mr. Fezziwig who cared for his employees, and the end of his engagement to a pretty young woman due to growing love of money. The Ghost of Christmas Present shows him how joyously is nephew Fred and his clerk Bob Cratchit celebrate Christmas with those they love. The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come shows him what he will leave behind after he is gone. Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning, a new man intent on doing good and celebrating the season with all of those around him.

**Trivia Question for Today: Although the word "Scrooge" means a stingy person now, in Charles Dickens's time, the word had another meaning. What was the meaning?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Lionel Barrymore was originally set to play Scrooge in the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol, but had to back out due to illness. Barrymore instead suggested his friend Reginald Owen take over the role.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: A Christmas Carol

On Christmas Eve, an old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge (Reginald Owen) is visited by the spirit of his former partner, Jacob Marley (Leo G. Carroll). The deceased partner was in his lifetime as mean and miserly as Scrooge is now and he warns him to change his ways or face the consequences in the afterlife. Scrooge dismisses the apparition but the first of the three ghosts, the Ghost of Christmas Past (Ann Rutherford), visits as promised. Scrooge sees those events in his past life, both happy and sad, that forged his character. The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present (Lionel Braham), shows him how many currently celebrate Christmas. The Ghost of Christmas yet to Come (D'Arcy Corrigan) shows him how he will be remembered once he is gone. To his delight, the spirits complete their visits in one night giving him the opportunity to mend his ways.

**Trivia Question for Today: In the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol, who was originally set up to play the part of Ebenezer Scrooge?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: There are 21 mail bags carried into the courtroom at the end of Kris Kringle's hearing in Miracle on 34th Street.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: Miracle on 34th Street

At the Macy's Department Store Thanksgiving Day parade, the actor playing Santa is discovered to be drunk by a whiskered old man (Edmund Gwenn). Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara), the no nonsense special events director, persuades the old man to take his place. The old man proves to be a sensation and is quickly recruited to be the store Santa at the main Macy's outlet. While he is successful, Ms. Walker learns that he calls himself Kris Kringle and he claims to be the actual Santa Claus. Despite reassurances by Kringle's doctor that he is harmless, Doris still has misgivings, especially when she has cynically trained herself, and especially her daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood), to reject all notions of belief and fantasy. And yet, people, especially Susan, begin to notice there is something special about Kris and his determination to advance the true spirit of Christmas amidst the rampant commercialism around him and succeeding in improbable ways.

**Trivia Question for Today: How many mail bags are carried into the courtroom at the end of Kris Kringle's hearing in Miracle on 34th Street?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: For the scene in It's a Wonderful Life that required Donna Reed to throw a rock into the window of the Granville House, Frank Capra hired a marksman to shoot it out for her on cue. To everyone's amazement, Donna Reed broke the window with true aim and heft without the assistance of the hired marksman!

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: It's A Wonderful Life

George Bailey (James Stewart) has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy (Thomas Mitchell) loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, Mary, (Donna Reed), their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) coming to earth to help George.

**Trivia Question for Today: For the scene in It's a Wonderful Life that required Donna Reed to throw a rock into the window of the Granville House, did she actually break the window herself?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Danny Kaye was a last-minute replacement for Phil Davis in White Christmas. Donald O'Connor was originally cast to play the part.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: White Christmas

After leaving the Army after W.W.II, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful girls, the Haynes sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen), who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly (Dean Jagger), is the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the General.

Trivia Question for Today: Danny Kaye was a last-minute replacement for Phil Davis in White Christmas. Who was originally cast to play this part?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: In The Bishop's Wife, there was a change in the cast part way through the filming. Cary Grant was originally cast as the bishop and David Niven was cast as the angel. When original director William A. Seiter left the film, Henry Koster replaced him and viewed what had been shot so far. He realized that the two were in the wrong roles. It took some convincing because Grant wanted the title role of the Bishop. He soon accepted the change and his role as the angel was one of the most widely praised of his career.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: The Bishop's Wife

An Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham (David Niven), has been working for months on the plans for an elaborate new cathedral which he hopes will be paid for primarily by a wealthy, stubborn widow. He is losing sight of his family and of why he became a churchman in the first place. Henry prays for guidance with his cathedral. Dudley (Cary Grant), an angel sent to help him, arrives on the scene, but his guidance isn't about fundraising. Dudley does help everyone he meets, but not necessarily in the way they would have preferred. Dudley quickly charms his way into Henry's life, becoming a favorite of his maid, his daughter, and even his wife Julia (Loretta Young), all the while preventing Henry from telling anyone what Dudley claims to be. Julia begins to enjoy Dudley's company, being completely charmed by his ability to do seemingly everything well. Meanwhile, Henry gets no closer to building his cathedral, and becomes increasingly angry with Dudley for taking over his family. With the exception of Henry, everyone loves Dudley, but Henry begins to believe that Dudley is there to replace him, both at work and in his family's affections, as Christmas approaches.

**Trivia Question for Today: In The Bishop's Wife, there was a change in the cast part way through the filming. Who were originally cast as the bishop and the angel?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: In March of the Wooden Soldiers, the "actor" in the "Mickey Mouse" costume was a capuchin monkey!

Trivia Bonus Answer for Previous Post: In March of the Wooden Soldiers, look carefully at the back wall in the Three Little Pigs' house, and you'll be able to spot framed photographs of "Mother" and "Father" - a plate of sausages and a football, respectively.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: March of the Wooden Soldiers

Ollie Dee (Oliver Hardy) and Stanley Dum (Stan Laurel) try to borrow money from their employer, the toymaker, to pay off the mortgage on Mother Peep's shoe and keep it and Little Bo Peep (Charlotte Henry) from the clutches of the evil Barnaby (Henry Brandon). When that fails, they trick Barnaby into marrying Stanley Dum instead of Bo Peep. Enraged, Barnaby unleashes the bogeymen from their caverns to destroy Toyland.

**Trivia Question for Today: In March of the Wooden Soldiers, who was the "actor" in the "Mickey Mouse" costume?

Bonus Trivia for Today: In March of the Wooden Soldiers, how was the mother and father of The Three Little Pigs portrayed?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: In 1949, Mitchum was contracted to RKO Pictures. According to Robert Osborne, Howard Hughes, the head of RKO, had Mitchum take the part in Holiday Affair to repair his image after his arrest for marijuana possession.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: Holiday Affair

Holiday Affair (1949)
Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum

Just before Christmas, department store clerk Steve Mason meets big spending customer Connie Ennis, really a commercial spy. He unmasks her but lets her go, which gets him fired. They end up on a date, which doesn't sit well with Connie's steady suitor, Carl, but delights her son Timmy, who doesn't want Carl for a step-dad. Standard (if sweet) romantic complications follow.

**Trivia Question for Today: At the time of filming Holiday Affair, Robert Mitchum was contracted to RKO Pictures. According to Robert Osborne, Howard Hughes, the head of RKO, had Mitchum take the part to repair his image after his arrest. What was Mitchum arrested for?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films 1931-1940 claims that, except for Double Indemnity (1944), this was Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray's only joint screen appearance. Fact is, they also co-starred in The Moonlighter (1953) and There's Always Tomorrow (1956).

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: Remember the Night

Just before Christmas, Lee Leander is caught shoplifting. It is her third offense. She is prosecuted by John Sargent. He gets the trial postponed because it is hard to get a conviction at Christmastime. But he feels sorry for her and arranges for her bail, and ends up taking her home to his mother for Christmas. Surrounded by a loving family (in stark contrast to Lee's own family background) they fall in love. This creates a new problem: how do they handle the upcoming trial?

**Trivia Question for Today: American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films 1931-1940 claims that, except for Double Indemnity (1944), this was Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray's only joint screen appearance. Fact is, they also co-starred in two other movies together. What are the names of these two movies?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: The Connecticut home used in Christmas in Connecticut was also used in Bringing Up Baby (1938) starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: Christmas in Connecticut

Journalist Elizabeth Lane is one of the country's most famous food writers. In her columns, she describes herself as a hard working farm woman, taking care of her children and being an excellent cook. But this is all lies. In reality she is an umarried New Yorker who can't even boil an egg. The recipes come from her good friend Felix. The owner of the magazine she works for has decided that a heroic sailor will spend his Christmas on *her* farm. Miss Lane knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, but what can she do?

Trivia Question for Today: The Connecticut home in Christmas in Connecticut was the home used in a 1938 comedy film starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. What is the name of the film?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Bing Crosby's performance as Father O'Malley earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, the first time a person received a nomination for playing the same character in two different films. In 1944, Crosby portrayed Father O'Malley in Going My Way.

Classic Movies - Christmas Classics: The Bells of St. Mary's

Father O'Malley the unconventional priest from 'Going My Way' continues his work for the Catholic Church. This time he is sent to St. Mary's, a run-down parochial school on the verge of condemnation. He and Sister Benedict work together in an attempt to save the school, though their differing methods often lead to good-natured disagreements.

Father Chuck O'Malley is assigned as the pastor of an inner-city Catholic school and has to work with the dedicated, but stubborn, principal Sister Mary Benedict. O'Malley and Sister Mary Benedict quarrel frequently and he feels the school should be closed and the children sent to a nearby school with modern facilities but all of the sisters believe that God will provide for them. Specifically, they put their hopes on Horace P. Bogardus, a businessman who has built a modern building right next door to the school and who they hope will donate his new edifice to them.

**Trivia Question for Today: Bing Crosby's performance as Father O'Malley earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, the first time a person received a nomination for playing the same character in two different films. What was the name of the first movie in which Crosby portrayed Father O'Malley?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Van Johnson was originally cast as John Truett in Meet Me in St. Louis.

Bonus Trivia Answer for Previous Post: The house at 5135 Kensington Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri was the actual home of Sally Benson, author of the short stories that Meet Me in St. Louis was based on. Cheaper By The Dozen (1950) was the other well-known movie that used this same house for the Gilbreth family's house set in Montclair, New Jersey.

Classic Movies - MGM Musicals and Christmas Classics: Meet Me in St. Louis

We would like to wrap up our month of MGM Musicals, and begin our new month with a Christmas classic all in one film. The movie we would like to feature in today's post is probably one of our favorites - Meet Me In St. Louis (1944). Even though the Christmas season is short-lived in this film, it is still one the the most memorable Christmas scenes debuting a Christmas song which has been sung and re-recorded by many singing artists throughout the years, and has become one of America's favorite, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

Meet Me In St. Louis is a romantic musical film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which tells the story of four sisters and a brother living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904. It stars Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake, Leon Ames, Marjorie Main, June Lockhart, and Joan Carroll, and was released by MGM. The movie was adapted by Irving Brecher and Fred F. Finklehoffe from a series of short stories by Sally Benson, originally published in The New Yorker magazine, and later in the novel 5135 Kensington.

The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli, who met his future wife, Judy Garland, on the set. In the film, Garland debuted the standards "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", which both became hits after the film was released. Another wonderful song, "The Boy Next Door", is Judy Garland at her best.

Meet Me in St. Louis is a heart-warming story about the Smith family, who lead a comfortable middle-class life in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Alonzo Smith (Ames) and Mrs. Anna Smith (Astor) have four daughters: Rose (Bremer), Esther (Garland), Agnes (Carroll), and Tootie (O'Brien); and a son, Lon Jr. (Henry H. Daniels Jr.) The film highlights a year in the life of the Smith family, beginning in the summer of 1903. Esther, the second eldest daughter, is in love with the boy next door, John Truett (Drake), although he does not notice her at first. Rose is expecting a phone call in which she hopes to be proposed to by Warren Sheffield (Robert Sully). Agnes has been keeping cool at the swimming hole. Tootie is delightful on the ice wagon helping Mr. Neely (Chill Wills) deliver ice to his customers. The Smith household are anticipating the upcoming World's Fair in St. Louis, echoing the song throughout the opening scenes, Meet Me in St. Louis.

The fall season arrives and Esther finally gets to meet John properly when he is a guest at the Smith's house party, although her chances of romancing him don't go to plan. Agnes and Tootie are up to mischief on Halloween, which is one of our favorite scenes of the movie. Tootie is declared "The Most Horrible" from all the neighborhood kids because of her bravery. After all the chaos from the young Smith girl's prank, the family enjoys each other's company while having cake made by their maid, Katie (Main). Then Mr. Smith announces to the family that he is to be sent to New York on business and eventually they will all move. The family is devastated and upset at the news of the move, especially Rose and Esther whose romances, friendships, and educational plans are threatened. Esther is also aghast because they will miss the World's Fair. But father insists that they will move shortly after Christmas. Everyone in the Smith household deems Mr. Smith as a villian and leaves him alone to eat the cake, but Anna consoles him. As Alonzo and Anna sing a duet, one by one the family decides to join them.

Meet Me in St. Louis forwards to the next season, Christmas. The family has been packing and preparing for their move. An elegant ball takes place on Christmas Eve. Esther is devastated when John cannot take her as his date, due to his leaving his tuxedo at the tailor's and being unable to get it back. But she is relieved when her grandfather (Harry Davenport) offers to take her instead. While dancing with Grandpa, she is overwhelmed when John unexpectedly turns up after somehow managing to obtain a tuxedo, and the pair dance together for the rest of the evening, followed by a marriage proposal. Esther returns home to an upset Tootie. She sings her "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Tootie, however, does become more upset at the prospect of the family's move and runs downstairs, out into the cold to destroy the snowman they have made. Mr. Smith sees his daughter's upsetting outburst.

Mr. Smith later announces that the family will not leave St. Louis after all when he realizes how much the move will affect his family. He also discovers that St. Louis is a wonderful city, with the 1904 World's Fair just around the corner. John declares his love for Esther and Warren declares his love for Rose and together they state that they will marry at the first possible opportunity. And all of the family finally are able to attend the World's Fair in the spring season.

We highly recommend Meet Me in St. Louis. It is a wonderfully, inspiring movie. The music is great - mixed with romance, laughter and emotions, Meet Me in St. Louis is one of the finest musicals ever made. This film holds a special place in our hearts because we live only 40 miles away from St. Louis! Read "Let's Talk Classic Movies" every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for more classic movie presentations and trivia.

**Trivia Question for Today: Who was originally cast as John Truett in Meet Me in St. Louis?

Bonus Trivia: The house at 5135 Kensington Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri was the actual home of Sally Benson, author of the short stories that Meet Me in St. Louis was based on. There was another well-known movie of the 1940s that used this same house for a family based on a true story. What was the name of the film?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Liza Minnelli appears in the final scene of In the Good Old Summertime. She's the little girl with Van Johnson and her mother, Judy Garland.