the cast: Barbara Stanwyck (Lee Leander); Fred MacMurray (John Sargent); Beulah Bondi (Mrs. Sargent); Elizabeth Patterson (Aunt Emma); Sterling Holloway (Willie Simms)
the plot: Just before Christmas, Lee Leander is caught shoplifting. It is her third offense and the DA, handsome John Sargent, gets the trial postponed because it's hard to get a conviction at Christmastime. He later feels sorry for her, 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, which creates a new problem: how do they handle the upcoming trial?
don't miss: Willie's new hat.
listen for: "You know that's called arson?" "No! I thought that was when you bit somebody!"
did you know: this is one of four films where Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck co-starred.
the cast: Barbara Stanwyck (Elizabeth Lane); Dennis Morgan (Jefferson Jones); Sydney Greenstreet (Alexander Yardley); S.Z. Sakall (Felix Bassenak)
the plot: In her Smart Housekeeping column, Elizabeth Lane provides amazing recipes and homemaking hints. However, Elizabeth's got a little secret: SHE needs a recipe to boil water! Elizabeth has no cooking skills, no Connecticut farm, no adoring hubby and no baby-makes-three as suggested in her column. Something her boss, the magazine publisher, doesn't know when he decides to invite himself and a recently returned war hero to her home for a traditional family Christmas. Watch as Elizabeth tries to be a good wife and doting mother, with absolutely NO experience.
count: how many rocking chairs Elizabeth owns.
don't miss: Felix. (I liked S. Z. Sakall before, but this was the role that sealed the deal.)
watch for: how to flip-flop the flop-flips.
listen for: "Catastroph!"
did you know: the Connecticut home is the same set used in Bringing Up Baby.
also listen for: "Everytime I'd opened my mouth he talked. I felt like Charlie McCarthy."
the cast: Barbara Stanwyck (Sugarpuss O’Shea); Gary Cooper (Professor Bertram Potts); S. Z. Sakall (Professor Magenbruch); Dana Andrews (Joe Lilac)
the plot: Sexy, wisecracking nightclub singer Sugarpuss O'Shea is a hot tomato who needs to be kept on ice: mobster boyfriend Joe Lilac is suspected of murder and her testimony could put him away. Naive Professor Bertram Potts is working with his seven colleagues on the 9th year of a 12-year encyclopedia writing project. When Professor Potts discovers that his section on slang is outdated, he sets out to research the topic. He happens upon Miss O'Shea and in true romantic comedy fashion the two worlds collide. When Miss O'Shea hides out with Potts and his fellow professors, the professors learn how to conga and Potts learns the meaning of "yum-yum"! Just when things are humming along nicely, Joe resurfaces with other plans for Miss O’Shea.
count: the number of times Miss Bragg splits an infinitive.
don’t miss: how the professors get Pastrami to sing like a canary.
check out: the theater marquee in the background when Pottsy is taking notes of the newsboy’s slang. It advertises Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – referring to the inspiration for the Ball of Fire script.
listen for: “I love him because he's the kind of guy who gets drunk on a glass of buttermilk, and I love the way he blushes right up over his ears. I love him because he doesn't know how to kiss, the jerk!”
also listen for: “Well, I certainly am obliged to ya. I could use a bundle a scratch right now on account of I met me a mouse last week. What a pair o’gams! A little in, a little out, and a little more out. Well, with this dish on my hands and them given out twenty five smackaroos on that quizzola…we’ll be stubbin’, me and the smooch – I mean the dish – I mean the mouse. You know, hit the jiggles for a little Rhumboogie? Brother, we’re gonna have some hoy-toy-toy!”
I'm a collector of 1940s-60s just-about-anything, I have enough old snapshots to wallpaper a small house, and I'm saving my pennies so that one day I can have my very own roller rink.
Some of the images are from screenshots I've made and some have been collected from several years of net trolling. If one of them is yours and you would like to be credited, please let me know and I'll take care of it!
