An old man (Charles Coburn) sees a salesgirl (Anne Shirley) crying because she's been fired and steps in to help her get her job back. From there he poses as her uncle and helps her with her romantic problems with a wealthy playboy (James Craig). I adore Anne Shirley and Charles Coburn so I had high hopes for this little B romantic comedy. Both do well with the limited material. The problem is James Craig. He's one of those lesser leading men Hollywood tried to make happen in the '40s but they never quite caught on. Craig here seems to be going for some kind of cross between Clark Gable and Cary Grant. To say he misses the mark would be kind. He, both the actor and the character he plays, is hard to like. See it if you enjoy Coburn or Shirley as much as I do but keep expectations low.
10 Reviews
Coburn -- Who needs More?
boblipton7 June 2005
Charles Coburn takes the title role of this trifle of a romantic comedy and, with the exception of good supporting roles by Ernest Truex and Russell Gleason is the whole show. Certainly, James Craig and Anne Shirley as the juveniles, go through their roles competently, but there isn't much to them.
Charles Coburn: a fat, swag-bellied, slow moving con man, vaguely contemptuous of everyone, had a long career in Hollywood, peaking in the early 1940s in pieces like THE LADY EVE and THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES (both produced in the same year as this picture) and THE MORE THE MERRIER, which this resembles in story structure. His presence makes this movie worthwhile.
Charles Coburn: a fat, swag-bellied, slow moving con man, vaguely contemptuous of everyone, had a long career in Hollywood, peaking in the early 1940s in pieces like THE LADY EVE and THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES (both produced in the same year as this picture) and THE MORE THE MERRIER, which this resembles in story structure. His presence makes this movie worthwhile.
short little love story from the 1940s
ksf-221 October 2009
Acc to IMDb, this 67 minute short was only the fourth project directed by Peter Godfrey. It came out JUST before Pearl Harbor, which probably didn't help. Anne Shirley, on the other hand, had been making films since 1922, as a little girl. Here, she plays Kathleen Brown, a Florida sales clerk who is helped out of a situation by a passer-by Seton Mansley (Charles Coburn). The two of them spend most of the film trying to decide if rich playboy Johnny (James Craig) is good husband material. Craig appears to have had a long, successful career, in spite of his odd voice...here it sounds like he's trying to speak without an accent; it comes out stilted, as if he's trying to disguise his voice or something. Viewers will know Coburn from "Lady Eve" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". He was always the cigar-puffing, large, older gentleman who got caught up in scrapes. This one turns into a fun caper, with airplanes, mansions, and country clubs. Quick little love story, with a lot packed in. Pretty light fare, but it all works. Story by Eric Hatch, who also wrote the novel from which "My Man Godfrey" was made.
Slightly Amusing Story
dsmith606813 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Short story about a fairy godfather as pretend uncle (Coburn) helping out course of love.Of course, it helps if you believe both the godfather and business man both don't know how to delegate responsibility to subordinates, or they wouldn't be working 18 hour days which was cause of both their problems.
Never underestimate the kindness of feisty old strangers.
mark.waltz13 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
While strolling down the street one day, vivacious Charles Coburn happens to meet pretty Anne Shirley and helps her out of a jam with her imperious department store boss. She is impressed with his kindness and immediately adopts him as her surrogate uncle. He is influential in fixing her up with a wealthy young businessman (James Craig) whom she isn't quite sure what his true intentions are, especially when he moves her and Uncle Charlie into his servant filled mansion. But with an old codger like Coburn, romance is the blood line of life and he has a few surprises for them all.
Surprisingly enjoyable light comedy made more palatable by the presence of Coburn who became an expert at these type of roles. Shirley and Craig contribute great charm, but Coburn is an old master in the art of scene-stealing. Lots of laughs at the perfect times keep the plot rolling and a few enjoyable character performances add to the enjoyability. The highlight is a party sequence where Coburn dances with that sweet old Scottish gal, Mary Gordon.
Surprisingly enjoyable light comedy made more palatable by the presence of Coburn who became an expert at these type of roles. Shirley and Craig contribute great charm, but Coburn is an old master in the art of scene-stealing. Lots of laughs at the perfect times keep the plot rolling and a few enjoyable character performances add to the enjoyability. The highlight is a party sequence where Coburn dances with that sweet old Scottish gal, Mary Gordon.
The plot is, frankly, a mess...
planktonrules26 October 2009
This was a rather underdeveloped and unappealing romantic comedy. The only reason I watched it was because it co-stars Charles Coburn--one of my very favorite supporting actors. Coburn is just fine as the avuncular 'Uncle' Seaton, but the story itself just doesn't make any sense and falls very, very flat.
Anne Shirley plays a woman who barely knows a rich jerk played by James Craig. Craig is an odd guy--he either plays hard or he's a workaholic--there is nothing in between. How and why Shirley's character falls for him (considering he really doesn't even know him) makes no sense at all. Nor, for that matter, does it when he sweeps her off her feet and takes her home to be his wife. Nor, for that matter, does it make sense when he then ignores her completely. Nor, for that matter, does it make sense that she'd leave and then take the jerk back.
In addition to having almost no chemistry between them and no reason for them to be together, the film also lost me concerning Craig's character in particular. He likes to drive drunk and seems like a complete and total jerk. There really is nothing redeeming about him and why Shirley would stay with him more than .04 of a second is beyond me.
All in all, a terrible waste of Charles Coburn's immense talents and personality. The story makes no sense nor did it engage me in the least.
Anne Shirley plays a woman who barely knows a rich jerk played by James Craig. Craig is an odd guy--he either plays hard or he's a workaholic--there is nothing in between. How and why Shirley's character falls for him (considering he really doesn't even know him) makes no sense at all. Nor, for that matter, does it when he sweeps her off her feet and takes her home to be his wife. Nor, for that matter, does it make sense when he then ignores her completely. Nor, for that matter, does it make sense that she'd leave and then take the jerk back.
In addition to having almost no chemistry between them and no reason for them to be together, the film also lost me concerning Craig's character in particular. He likes to drive drunk and seems like a complete and total jerk. There really is nothing redeeming about him and why Shirley would stay with him more than .04 of a second is beyond me.
All in all, a terrible waste of Charles Coburn's immense talents and personality. The story makes no sense nor did it engage me in the least.
Charles Coburn Is the Saving Grace
drednm6 February 2019
Badly done romantic comedy. It's hard to say if it's badly directed or was butchered in the editing room. The 67-minute running time and choppy narrative point to the latter.
Charles Coburn is excellent as the mysterious "uncle" who breezes into the life of a shop girl (Anne Shirley) who's juts been fired. She's been saving up for a gown for a dance, so he buys the dress for her and off they go. They run into a runaway millionaire (James Craig) and his crowd at the dance. Shirley and Craig are immediately attracted to one another.
Eventually Craig has to go back home to run his business and he takes Shirley and Coburn with him. But he has no time for them. They movie into his mansion but never see him. After a few breakups and misunderstandings, every come out right.
The problem is that we never even know what his business is. This section seems to have been cut from the film. The censors may also have had something to say about the living arrangement of the unmarried couple. The bottom line is that neither Craig nor Shirley is very likable.
Coburn, on the other hand, plays the charming oldster (who has a passion for pitching horse shoes) with zest and humor. He also has a big secret. Co-stars include Ernest Truex as the man servant, Russell Gleason as the nerdy Tommy, Nora Cecil as the landlady as well as Astrid Allwyn, Jed Prouty, Jimmy Conlin, Renee Godfrey (who was married to the director), and Tom Dugan as the bus driver.
The film is notable for its overuse of rear projection (badly done) and incredibly cheesy outdoor sets in which most of the backgrounds are giant paintings.
Watch it for Coburn.
Charles Coburn is excellent as the mysterious "uncle" who breezes into the life of a shop girl (Anne Shirley) who's juts been fired. She's been saving up for a gown for a dance, so he buys the dress for her and off they go. They run into a runaway millionaire (James Craig) and his crowd at the dance. Shirley and Craig are immediately attracted to one another.
Eventually Craig has to go back home to run his business and he takes Shirley and Coburn with him. But he has no time for them. They movie into his mansion but never see him. After a few breakups and misunderstandings, every come out right.
The problem is that we never even know what his business is. This section seems to have been cut from the film. The censors may also have had something to say about the living arrangement of the unmarried couple. The bottom line is that neither Craig nor Shirley is very likable.
Coburn, on the other hand, plays the charming oldster (who has a passion for pitching horse shoes) with zest and humor. He also has a big secret. Co-stars include Ernest Truex as the man servant, Russell Gleason as the nerdy Tommy, Nora Cecil as the landlady as well as Astrid Allwyn, Jed Prouty, Jimmy Conlin, Renee Godfrey (who was married to the director), and Tom Dugan as the bus driver.
The film is notable for its overuse of rear projection (badly done) and incredibly cheesy outdoor sets in which most of the backgrounds are giant paintings.
Watch it for Coburn.
Only for Coburn fans
vincentlynch-moonoi3 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, there is only one reason to watch this film -- and that's if you're a Charles Coburn fan...and I am. I've yet to see him in a film where he didn't steal practically every scene he was in, and that's true here, as usual. The only problem here -- stealing anything in this film would be petty larceny at best.
Big Problem #1: James Craig is horrible. It's one of the rare times when I can honestly say, "What the heck did Hollywood see in this guy?" I've yet to see him in a single film where I thought he was at least "good". He was sort of adequate in "THe Human Comedy". But adequate isn't good enough to make me want to watch any James Craig film.
Big Problem #2: The plot is just plain weak, sometimes confusing -- well, actually too dumb to even be confusing. This script appears to have been slapped together despite being the product of And here we come back to James Craig...although this time the character he plays. Why in heck would Anne Shirley fall in love with a fool like Craig's character? That makes no sense at all. It's surprising that Delmer Daves was one of the two primary writers on the project.
Ernest Truex is somewhat interesting as the butler.
As I said, if you're a Charles Coburn fan, you can still enjoy this film. He was a gem!
Big Problem #1: James Craig is horrible. It's one of the rare times when I can honestly say, "What the heck did Hollywood see in this guy?" I've yet to see him in a single film where I thought he was at least "good". He was sort of adequate in "THe Human Comedy". But adequate isn't good enough to make me want to watch any James Craig film.
Big Problem #2: The plot is just plain weak, sometimes confusing -- well, actually too dumb to even be confusing. This script appears to have been slapped together despite being the product of And here we come back to James Craig...although this time the character he plays. Why in heck would Anne Shirley fall in love with a fool like Craig's character? That makes no sense at all. It's surprising that Delmer Daves was one of the two primary writers on the project.
Ernest Truex is somewhat interesting as the butler.
As I said, if you're a Charles Coburn fan, you can still enjoy this film. He was a gem!
Why is this movie so good?
benoit-321 October 2009
Basically, because of its great writers (Delmer Daves and Noel Langley), two names who appear in unexpected places all through the forties, fifties and sixties. They were obviously trying to emulate the comedies of Preston Sturges with a mix of horse sense, common touch, slapstick and profound truths about the human condition and social classes in America. The result is a film that should be seen more often. A big Thank You to TCM (as usual) for unearthing this genuine masterpiece. Almost every line of the script is a well-crafted witticism that would do Oscar Wilde proud, delivered by a cast of experts. Of particular note is the fine development of James Craig's screen persona as a testosterone-laden Prince Charming.
Very misguided effort and waste.
rebekahrox29 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Very bad romance starring the lovely Anne Shirley, the very handsome James Craig, and the always delightful Charles Coburn. The problem is that Craig plays a spoiled and entitled alcoholic whom Anne falls head over heals for. I don't know why, because when he is not trying to control and manipulate her he rudely ignores her and is mean to her. He treats her like crap. Instead of Coburn, The Unexpected Uncle, talking some sense into her and finding her a sweet humble boy for her to love, he actually helps him get her back when she finally sees the light and leaves him. Turrible.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
