Editorial Review

One of the lesser holiday movies, this 1949 comedy stars Janet Leigh as a war widow who can't afford to buy her son a toy train for Christmas. A veteran (Robert Mitchum) who happens to be standing by in a department store overhears her plight and offers to purchase the toy, thus setting into motion a series of funny complications. Wendell Corey plays Leigh's suspicious, condescending boyfriend, whose jealousy compounds Mitchum's problems, and Harry Morgan is very good as a night-court judge trying to make sense of everything that happens. The movie didn't do so well at the box office at the time of its release, but it has gained an affectionate fan base over the years. Don't expect Read more

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Reviews (15)

A HIDDEN GEM
I discovered this movie on cable in the middle of late afternoon and it turned out to be a real gem and had to buy it. The story takes place during the Christmas season and involves a widow who must chose between a well to do sensible gentlemen, or a dreamer and romantic whose a bit down on his luck. A lot of fun and so much better than the Christmas movies made today which are neither fun nor as entertaining as this little known romantic Christmas classic.

Holiday Affairclassic Christmas film
The editorial review of this film is incorrect in its plot summary. Janet Leigh plays a widowed mother working as a "secret shopper" purchasing items from rival department stores to make comparisons. Robert Mitchum plays the clerk in the toy department where Janet Leigh purchases a train set. From there things get delightfully complicated when she brings home the train set where her son sneaks a forbidden peek at a gift he hopes is for him. Wendel Corey plays the condescending fiance who turns out OK considering his outcome. Without giving too much more away, this is a really great film for the Christmas season.

A HOLIDAY GEM!
I love this story of a widowed working mother post WW II with a small son, who must learn to let go of the past and trust love again.It should be put right up there with the other Christmas classics.I JUST WISH IT WAS ON DVD!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas / Chanukkah    2. Feature Film-drama    3. Movie   

Features

• Color
• HiFi Sound
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Reviews (22)

Waiting for DVD / ease up on the "stalker" posts:(
I too, am waiting for DVD release. I guess there is a page on Turner Classic Movies (.com) where you can vote for the next movies you want to be re-released. Help me in the fight! Vote for it! You know you love this movie, and want it on DVD so the pets can't chew it up, or so it won't matter if you set it in front of the heating vent! Well, O.K. neither would be good for a DVD either, but you get the point, right?
Cute way to spend an hour...
...but don't expect a masterpiece.In this move you have Cary Grant, who is wonderful in anything at all, and Betsy Drake, his future wife who makes her zany character seem adorable.True, this girl could be a Mountie--she always gets her man!--but she is actually likable once you get used to her.There is a great supporting cast, and they manage to pull off even this semi-shabby material.It is a nice diversion, but don't spend too much on it, because it is basically forgettable.A side note: stay away from the colorized version!Cary Grant especially suffers under the sub-par treatment; his gorgeous face is so badly shaded that the poor man actually looks sick at some points!

Dated, but cute.
At the very least "Every Girl Should Get Married" is extremely dated.In fact, the sentiments and values it extols were probably considered dated and quaint at the time it was released.(It was released just a few short years after the end of World War II.A war which saw huge numbers of women enter the work force or join the military to support the war effort.)At worst, this movie could be considered highly offensive to some people.If the National Organization for Women had a list (similar to what the Catholic Church used to have) of "morally objectionable" movies then this film would probably be near the top of the list.Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Feature Film-comedy    3. Movie   

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

The flop that Lana Turner was ashamed of!
To begin with, no one can claim to be a bigger fan of Lana Turner than me. I usually love her films but in this case I was majorly disappointed. In Lana Turner's autobiography she wrote, "I thought the script was stupid. It was the story of a European prince who falls in love with an American nightclub singer. I fought against doing the picture but I lost." Lana also wrote that her co-star, Ezio Pinza, was arrogant, had bad breath, and tried unsuccessfuly to seduce every woman in sight when not working on "Mr. Imperium". Even though I knew what Lana thought of the movie, I still bought the movie (for a dollar), refusing to believe that such a glamorous star could make a flop. I was wrong.
Pleasant Surprise
This lesser-known MGM musical turned out to be a pleasant surprise, for a couple of reasons.First, although this edition is from the comparatively low-budget VCI Home Video, the picture quality is excellent.It doesn't compare to DVD, of course, but this print is at least as good as some of the other "official" MGM/UA/Warner releases of vintage musicals I've seen on VHS.Secondly, the movie itself is quite entertaining, with a delightful performance by a young Debbie Reynolds and Lana Turner looking beautiful as always.The story, if not remarkable, is typical of the musical comedy-dramas that were being produced in that era.If you're a fan of Jane Powell and Esther Williams movies, you're bound to enjoy this one.

Nicely Done Romance Musical !!
This 1952 movie starts out with a romantic encounter in Italy between Fredda Barlo(Lana Turner),a rising singing starlet and Mr. Imperium(Ezio Pinza),an heir to a throne.Twelve years later they meet again and Mr. Imperium is forced to choose between his love for Fredda or his country.Also,co-starring Debbie Reynolds,Barry Sullivan,Cedric Hardwicke and Majorie Main,it's a nicely done romance musical!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Drama    3. Feature Film-drama    4. Movie   

Features

• NTSC

Reviews (22)

Waiting for DVD / ease up on the "stalker" posts:(
I too, am waiting for DVD release. I guess there is a page on Turner Classic Movies (.com) where you can vote for the next movies you want to be re-released. Help me in the fight! Vote for it! You know you love this movie, and want it on DVD so the pets can't chew it up, or so it won't matter if you set it in front of the heating vent! Well, O.K. neither would be good for a DVD either, but you get the point, right?
Cute way to spend an hour...
...but don't expect a masterpiece.In this move you have Cary Grant, who is wonderful in anything at all, and Betsy Drake, his future wife who makes her zany character seem adorable.True, this girl could be a Mountie--she always gets her man!--but she is actually likable once you get used to her.There is a great supporting cast, and they manage to pull off even this semi-shabby material.It is a nice diversion, but don't spend too much on it, because it is basically forgettable.A side note: stay away from the colorized version!Cary Grant especially suffers under the sub-par treatment; his gorgeous face is so badly shaded that the poor man actually looks sick at some points!

Dated, but cute.
At the very least "Every Girl Should Get Married" is extremely dated.In fact, the sentiments and values it extols were probably considered dated and quaint at the time it was released.(It was released just a few short years after the end of World War II.A war which saw huge numbers of women enter the work force or join the military to support the war effort.)At worst, this movie could be considered highly offensive to some people.If the National Organization for Women had a list (similar to what the Catholic Church used to have) of "morally objectionable" movies then this film would probably be near the top of the list.Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedies    2. Movie   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

The flop that Lana Turner was ashamed of!
To begin with, no one can claim to be a bigger fan of Lana Turner than me. I usually love her films but in this case I was majorly disappointed. In Lana Turner's autobiography she wrote, "I thought the script was stupid. It was the story of a European prince who falls in love with an American nightclub singer. I fought against doing the picture but I lost." Lana also wrote that her co-star, Ezio Pinza, was arrogant, had bad breath, and tried unsuccessfuly to seduce every woman in sight when not working on "Mr. Imperium". Even though I knew what Lana thought of the movie, I still bought the movie (for a dollar), refusing to believe that such a glamorous star could make a flop. I was wrong.
Pleasant Surprise
This lesser-known MGM musical turned out to be a pleasant surprise, for a couple of reasons.First, although this edition is from the comparatively low-budget VCI Home Video, the picture quality is excellent.It doesn't compare to DVD, of course, but this print is at least as good as some of the other "official" MGM/UA/Warner releases of vintage musicals I've seen on VHS.Secondly, the movie itself is quite entertaining, with a delightful performance by a young Debbie Reynolds and Lana Turner looking beautiful as always.The story, if not remarkable, is typical of the musical comedy-dramas that were being produced in that era.If you're a fan of Jane Powell and Esther Williams movies, you're bound to enjoy this one.

Nicely Done Romance Musical !!
This 1952 movie starts out with a romantic encounter in Italy between Fredda Barlo(Lana Turner),a rising singing starlet and Mr. Imperium(Ezio Pinza),an heir to a throne.Twelve years later they meet again and Mr. Imperium is forced to choose between his love for Fredda or his country.Also,co-starring Debbie Reynolds,Barry Sullivan,Cedric Hardwicke and Majorie Main,it's a nicely done romance musical!! ... Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

The flop that Lana Turner was ashamed of!
To begin with, no one can claim to be a bigger fan of Lana Turner than me. I usually love her films but in this case I was majorly disappointed. In Lana Turner's autobiography she wrote, "I thought the script was stupid. It was the story of a European prince who falls in love with an American nightclub singer. I fought against doing the picture but I lost." Lana also wrote that her co-star, Ezio Pinza, was arrogant, had bad breath, and tried unsuccessfuly to seduce every woman in sight when not working on "Mr. Imperium". Even though I knew what Lana thought of the movie, I still bought the movie (for a dollar), refusing to believe that such a glamorous star could make a flop. I was wrong.
Pleasant Surprise
This lesser-known MGM musical turned out to be a pleasant surprise, for a couple of reasons.First, although this edition is from the comparatively low-budget VCI Home Video, the picture quality is excellent.It doesn't compare to DVD, of course, but this print is at least as good as some of the other "official" MGM/UA/Warner releases of vintage musicals I've seen on VHS.Secondly, the movie itself is quite entertaining, with a delightful performance by a young Debbie Reynolds and Lana Turner looking beautiful as always.The story, if not remarkable, is typical of the musical comedy-dramas that were being produced in that era.If you're a fan of Jane Powell and Esther Williams movies, you're bound to enjoy this one.

Nicely Done Romance Musical !!
This 1952 movie starts out with a romantic encounter in Italy between Fredda Barlo(Lana Turner),a rising singing starlet and Mr. Imperium(Ezio Pinza),an heir to a throne.Twelve years later they meet again and Mr. Imperium is forced to choose between his love for Fredda or his country.Also,co-starring Debbie Reynolds,Barry Sullivan,Cedric Hardwicke and Majorie Main,it's a nicely done romance musical!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama