Cynthia (1947) - Star of the month... Elizabeth Taylor

'Cynthia' is a 1947 drama starring Elizabeth Taylor, Mary Astor, George Murphy, Gene Lockhart, Spring Byington and S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall.

Cynthia (played by Taylor) is a 15 year old who gets sick often and lives with her overprotective parents. She befriends a dog, but is unable to keep it, due to being allergic to dogs.  After the landlord puts the family home up for sale, Cynthia's parents are forced to chose whether they should attempt to purchase the home or move away. 

The film's musical program features some memorable MGM songs including "Buckledown Winsockie" from 'Best Foot Forward' (1943) and "The Trolley Song" from 'Meet Me In St. Louis' (1944).

Early example of feminism

This film is an early example of feminism in cinema. It is Cynthia's mother who dominates the relationship in her marriage. She is the one with the wealthy inheritance, she is the one who permits Cynthia to attend the prom, she is the one who makes the final decision on whether or not to buy the house, and she is the one who leads her husband through his journey of self discovery.

Closing remarks

'Cynthia' stats off rather slow with the first hour dragging on quite a bit, but it does get better. I think of 'Cynthia' as one of the original mean girls movies, with Cynthia's malicious cousin Fredonia deliberately sabotaging her chance at happiness at school. That is until Cynthia grows the courage to bite back. Elizabeth Taylor delivers a great performance in this film, and we are also treated to a rare singing appearance.

Living in a Big Way (1947) - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

"Nobody else gives me a thrill, with your faults I love you still... It had to be you." - Gene Kelly (as Leo Gogarty in 'Living in a Big Way')


'Living in a Big Way' is a 1947 musical comedy b-film starring Gene Kelly, Marie McDonald, Phyllis Thaxter, Charles Winninger, Spring Byington and Jean Adair.

Shortly after they first meet, Leo Gogarty (played by Kelly) and Margo Morgan marry in a secret ceremony just before Leo is sent off to war. Three years later Leo returns to discover Margo is from a wealthy society famiiy, her family dont know she's married, she's engaged to someone else and wants a divorce. The problem faced by Margo is Leo does not believe in divorce and is determined to make the marriage work.

Watch the trailer:

Musical program

With only 3 musical sequences, I would consider the film to be more romantic comedy than a musical comedy.  That said, the 3 musical sequences are all entertaining and 100% Gene Kelly.

Gene Kelly beam balances on a construction site in
'The Children's Dance'

The first sequence is a six minute song and dance routine to the classic song "It Had To Be You".

The second sequence "Fido & Me" is a very cute dance Gene performs with a dog and a statue.

The third and final musical sequence "The Children's Dance" features a medley of children songs, with Gene Kelly balancing, jumping around and doing acrobatics on a construction site. As entertaining as it is to watch, I'm not convinced jumping around and dancing on a construction site with young children around is setting a great example.

Clip - "The Children's Dance" - Gene Kelly

Song: "Fido & Me" - Gene Kelly

Song: "It Had To Be You" - Gene Kelly

Hisotrical context

Gene Kelly stars as Leo Gogarty

The film was made in an era where many rushed war-marriages were ending in divorce. The film was intended to deliver an anti-divorce message and inspire couples to reconcile.

The subplot around the war widows was intended to encourage those in America to lend a helping hand to war widows and their children, who may be in aid.

Did you know...

Marie McDonald stars as Margo Morgan

• Shelley Winters appears uncredited as a Junior Leage Girl
• Barbara Billingsley appears uncredited as GI Joe's wife
• Charles Lane appears uncredited as Hawkins
• This is the second and last time Gene Kelly appeared in a black and white musical - the first was 'For Me & My Gal' (1942)
• This was director/writer/producer Gregory LaCava's final film
• This was Gene Kelly's return to Hollywood after servicing several years in the U.S. Naval Air Service

Closing remarks

'Living in a Big Way' (1947) is a hard to find gem, which I recommend you keep your eyes open for. Spring Byington is bubbly and delightful as always as Margo's mother, and Jean Adair delivers a fine performance as Margo's wise grandmother.

Overall not a bad film, and rather entertaining, despite it being an epic fail when it was first released.

It's Love I'm After - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

"I think I'm going to scream!... I'm sure I'm going to scream!... *SCREAM*"


It's Love I'm After is a 1937 screwball comedy, directed by Archie Mayo, and starring Bette Davis, Leslie Howard and Olivia de Havilland. The supporting cast features Eric Blore, Patric Knowles, Spring Byington, Bonita Granville and George Barbier.

Leslie Howard, Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland
as Basil, Joyce and Marcia

In the first nine minutes of the film, Davis and Howard as actors Joyce Arden and Basil Underwood re-create the final scene from 'Romeo and Juliet' as part of a stage production. Although their onstage wisecracks and insults are funny, they are bound to offend any serious thespian. Although the acting pair love each other deeply, they often quarrel off the stage.


Romantic complications arise when Basil meets starstruck heiress Marcia West, who has developed a strong, yet obsessive crush on him. Marcia's fiancee Henry Grant (played by Patric Knowles) enlists Basil, accompanied by his trusty butler Digges (played by Blore), to behave badly around Marcia, with the hope this will end her infatuation. As a result, Joyce (unaware of the charade) begins to display her jealously.

Did you know...

The film's title card

• This was the third time Davis and Howard were paired in a film - they had previously appeared together in 'Of Human Bondage' and 'The Petrified Forest'
• Bette Davis had initially declined the role of Joyce Arden, preferring to play Marcia West
• Other actresses initially considered for the role of Joyce Arden include Gertrude Lawrence and Ina Claire
• Bette Davis appears wearing the same checked-dress for the entire second half of the film
• The screenplay was originally titled 'Gentleman After Midnight'

Closing remarks

Overall, the film is very outdated, however I still enjoyed it very much. I had very low expectation of the film, which is not only met but also exceeded. 

My Love Came Back (1940) - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

'My Love Cane Back' is a 1940 b-grade comedy starring Olivia de Havilland and Jeffrey Lynn with Jane Wyman, Eddie Albert, Charles Winninger, Spring Byington, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Grant Mitchell, William T. Orr and Ann Gillis.

Amelia Cornell (played by de Havlland) is a scholarship student at a music academy, whose violin playing is acclaimed. Music academy patron Julius Malette (played by Winninger) becomes fond of Amelia, and secretly sponsors her with money from his company, disguised as an additional scholarship.  Complications arise when Malette's children Paul and Valerie (played by Orr and Gillis) find out, and accuse company president Tony Baldwin (played by Lynn) of embezzling money for a secret girlfriend.

A blonde Jane Wyman plays Cornell's roommate Joy O'Keefe, with Albert playing her boyfriend Dusty Rhodes. S.Z. Sakall gives great comic relief as conductor Geza Peyer, and as always steals the film.

Closing remarks

Not a bad movie, but still not a great movie. Tends to get slow at times, but still an entertaining romance, mainly due to it's first rate cast.

It's hard to explain this without a visual aid, but there is a very clever scene where Amelia and Tony appear dancing on large pieces of sheet music for the famous compositions they are dancing to.

PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES (1960)

Spotlight on Movie Mothers - Mothers Dearest and Screenwriter Birthday - Isobel Lennart

Star Birthday - Isobel Lennart

Isobel Lennart was born on 18 May 1915 and was responsible for writing a number of popular comedies. She began working for MGM in the mail room, but lost her job after she attempted to organise a union.

Lennart joined the Communist Party in 1939, and in order to save her career,  in 1947 she was forced to testify and name 21 individuals whom she knew had been members of the Communist Party.

Recommended viewing

• The Affairs of Martha (1942)
• Anchors Aweigh (1945)
• It Happened in Brooklyn (1947)
• The Kissing Bandit (1948)
• A Life of Her Own (1950)
• Love Me Or Leave Me (1955)
• Meet Me In Las Vegas (1956)
• Merry Andrew (1958)
• Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960)
• Period of Adjustment (1962)
• Funny Girl (1968)

Keeping with the spotlight on Movie Mothers throughout May, I have selected her screenplay for Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), which starred Doris Day and David Niven for my blog.

Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960)

Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960) is a very funny comedy starring Doris Day and David Niven as Kate and Lawrence Mackay.

The film was directed by Charles Walters, produced by Joe Pasternak and screenplay written by Isobel Lennart, based on the book (of the same name) by Jean Kerr.

The movie tells of a theatre critic Lawrence Mackay, his wife Kate, their four sons (David, Gabriel, George and baby Adam), and their dog Hobo. It co-stars Janis Paige, Richard Haydn and Spring Byington in her final film.

Between George eating the daisies, and baby Adam dropping water bombs from their apartment window onto the heads of unsuspecting people outside, the Mackays have a difficult time keeping their out of control kids behaved. They are also forced to keep baby Adam padlocked in his playpen, which resembles a cage. They do this so "he won't get out."

Musical highlights

Doris Day sings three songs in this film: "Please Don't Eat the Daisies", "Anyway the Wind Blows" and her signature tune "Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)". "Anyway the Wind Blows" was originally meant to be included in Day's previous film "Pillow Talk", and is the musical highlight from the film.

Concluding remarks

Aside from being one of Doris Day's favourite films from her career, it also one of mine. Having the seen this film at least 8 times, I enjoy it more and more each time I see it.