I don't expect many will be familiar with the two stars of this film, but
at the time this was produced they were very popular. In fact, one of them
was in one year the highest paid actress in the world. The world. That was
Gracie Fields. And she isn't beautiful or sexy. Just an old time entertainer.
She began her career on the stage in the English music halls and her comedic
ability and singing made her a huge star in England. Never quite as much in
America but she made a number of films in Hollywood as well. She teams up
here with Monty Woolley, as unlikely a star as you could have. He was born
into elite New York City society with a wealthy hotelier father. Grew up
doing not much of anything except enjoying life and indulging in theater and
partying with friends from the theater and music. He had a very close relationship
with Cole Porter which was kept discreet (in fact he played himself in the
Porter bio Night and Day with Cary Grant). At the age of nearly 50 he made
his film debut. His upper class tone of speaking, impeccable manners, easily
irritable irascible temper and thick whiskers became his trademark.
The Man Who Came to Dinner with Bette Davis and Ann Sheridan made him a star.
Two years before this film he had teamed up with Fields in Holy Matrimony.
This is a sweet film that feels like a Holiday movie but there is no holiday.
A warm family film. Gracie is a theatrical actress on the outs with work.
So she decides to play it straight and become the House Keeper of a very large
home with hot and cold running servants. She is only hired because the butler
also used to be in the theater. Lips zipped. If the owner and sole resident
of the home played by Monty ever finds out they will be booted out. He is
very proper indeed. He is running for Parliament with a small scandal in
his background. A divorce! Shocking! He also has a young son at school who
he is very distant from. Played by Roddy McDowall in as sweet a manner as
is legal without dying from an overdose of sugar. A few crises occur - the
staff walks out - or is kicked out - and Gracie has to get her theater
out of work friends to pitch in and fix up a fancy dinner for eight. And
the horrid wife comes back and Gracie takes care of that like she does everything
else. Lots of small moments of humor and just enough sentiment.
