I was curious to see Marilyn Monroe's (one-second) film debut, and when I saw Natalie Wood's name in the cast, I got drawn in. It's an odd film: an "East of Eden" type soap opera plot involves step brothers who vie for vivacious blonde June Haver, and a team of mules. The characters are all quite gruff with each other, and there's little of the sentimentality typical of this era. The film's title suggests a screwball comedy or maybe a musical, but the film is far from either. The tone is rather dark, with little Natalie Wood providing welcome bits of comic relief. The acting can be hammy in parts. It seems like it would never work, but it somehow does all come together and make a watchable, enjoyable film. Bonus points for the proto-feminist attitude of June Haver; I thought that was a nice, unexpected touch from a film of this era. Watching in pandemic 2020, this movie drew me into its little world and made me strangely nostalgic for a time I never knew.
Review of Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!
