1h 24min | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 10 October 1951
Director: Joseph M. Newman (as Joseph Newman)
Stars: June Haver, William Lundigan, Frank Fay, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Paar, Leatrice Joy.
Watched online; mediocre print.
Not a musical; just tracking MM's development. This is definitely progress on the path to her final persona. This character is not yet frivolous, breathless and vulnerable. She plays a model who was a WAC in the war, so she didn't always make her living off her looks. She is a bit free with her body: she sees WL asleep on her couch, and whips off her blouse en route to the shower. She's gorgeous and compelling to look at, but hasn't much screen time despite 4th billing. She has a leitmotif that signals she is a worldly, manipulative woman.
This is a very cute story, with JH buying an apartment building to find a place to live for herself and her soon to return soldier husband (WL). We get involved with the tenants, too. FF plays a bunko artist who bilks rich widows out of some of their money. But he finds love in this house, and helps our young couple to bring it up to code.
JH is sunny and charming as always, even when she plays angry. WL plays smitten well, even when he's angry.
Fox, dir. Newman; 6+
