Bachelor Mother

Plot synopsis:
Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) is a salesgirl at the department store John B. Merlin and Son in New York City. Hired as temporary help for the Christmas season, she receives her dismissal notice as the season comes to a close. During her lunch break, she sees a stranger leaving a baby on the steps of an orphanage. Fearing the baby will roll down the steps, Polly picks it up. An attendant opens the door and mistakenly believes that Polly is the baby's mother.
David Merlin (David Niven), the playboy son of the store's owner J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn), is sympathetic to the "unwed mother" and arranges for her to get her job back. Mrs. Weiss (Ferike Boros), Polly's landlady, offers to take care of the boy when Polly is at work. Unable to convince anyone that she is not the mother, and threatened by David with loss of her job if she doesn't assume that role, Polly gives up and starts raising the child.
David's involvement with Polly gradually turns into love, but he keeps the relationship a secret from his father, fearing his reaction. When he finds that New Year's Eve has arrived and he has no date, David turns to Polly. He orders clothes to be sent from the store and takes her to a party. Although David is falling for Polly, he does not relish the idea of a "ready-made family".
When J.B. learns about the child, he assumes that David is the father. His suspicions are reinforced when, in a bit of bad timing, Polly and David each produce a different man whom they claim is the father. To his son's surprise, J.B. is delighted (he had been impatiently waiting for David to settle down and provide him with a grandson). In the end, David decides that he is in love with Polly and baby John. He tells his father that he is the father of the child and plans to marry Polly, all the while believing Polly is the child's mother.

Tags: comedy, romantic

Review:
For some reason that completely baffles me, TCM rarely broadcasts this wonderful, romantic comedy of errors, but frequently shows the lame musical remake, Bundle of Joy. Which cast would you rather watch - Debbie Reynolds, Eddie Fisher and Adolphe Menjou, or Ginger Rogers, David Niven and Charles Coburn?
The original cast delivers a film with risqué overtones (with a wink to the Hays Office), while Reynolds and (especially) Fisher turn the remake into 1950's milk and cookies.In Bachelor Mother a beautiful, young Ginger Rogers is at her peak.
And I always love to see Charles Coburn - in top form here as the blustery, but good-hearted department store magnate who desperately wants a grandson.I like Debbie Reynolds fine, but Debbie doesn't deliver as nuanced a performance as Ginger Rogers.
Following a comedy of errors reminiscent of a Shakespeare play these two are thrown together and Niven is then assumed to be the baby's father by his own father, the inimitable Charles Coburn.
The movies dances dizzyingly from one comic scenario to another, including a scene where Niven misdirects Rodgers to rub baby food into the baby's navel, and the cathartic comic moment where Niven, the store manager disguised a customer, demands to have his Donald Duck toy returned, to no avail.Niven: "What is wrong with our Sales Return desk?"Rodgers: "They don't return anything!"Filled with scintillating wit, bubbling chemistry and a feel-good plot it is the perfect comedy to enjoy over and over again..
it is both hilariously funny and touchingly romantic (in the old-fashion boy sweeps girl off her feet even though she can give as good as she gets kind of way).I totally loved the New Year Party scene, and the complications with the other boyfriend were great fun.
Ginger Rogers, David Niven and Charles Coburn achieve intense comic chemistry under the direction of Garson Kanin.
Ginger Rogers is young, single, and unemployed when, as the result of doing a good deed, she gets stuck with a baby in "Bachelor Mother," a 1939 film also starring David Niven and Charles Coburn.Rogers plays Polly Parrish, who on her way home from her last day at the department store she worked for over Christmas, sees an old woman leaving a baby on the steps of an orphanage.
Complications arise with a date who wants to move up in the store to floorwalker and believes the son of the owner (David Niven) is the baby's father.
Eventually the store's irascible owner (Coburn) thinks Polly has given birth to his grandchild and insists that his son marry her.This is a charming little film with wonderful performances.
(I'm used to films veering way too far into the slapstick so that I'm just rolling my eyes and suspending my belief -- here I was just chuckling away.)Ginger Rodgers and David Niven give fabulous performances, and the head of the Foundling Home plays his part without flaw.
But this film shows us that she is an actress of superb quality, she can play dramatic as well as comedic roles.Of course the cast included Charles Coburn who was just about everywhere you looked in the 30's.Little chunks of one-liner humour spread throughout the picture spice it up.
Ginger Rogers plays a young woman named Polly who "inherits" a baby.
Ginger Rogers (Polly) is adorable when paired with the ever humorous David Niven as her boss (David).
There's wonderful chemistry between Ginger Rogers and David Niven in this movie.
I especially enjoyed the New Year's Eve scene, where David realizes the shallow company he's been keeping before he met Polly."Bachelor Mother" is a wonderful family movie, with the incurable romantic in mind..
Bachelor Mother finds Ginger Rogers as a shopgirl working for the large department store that Charles Coburn owns.
She gets her job back with a raise, but Ginger's a most unwilling mother.Of course the speculation gets going as to who the dad is and the playboy son of Charles Coburn seems a real likely possibility.
To be perfectly fair though, there were few men as charming as David Niven, he carried more films on the strength of that charm than anyone else I can think of.Ginger Rogers was doing a great variety of dramatic roles now at RKO in between her films with Fred Astaire.
When you see where the film is flowing you'll agree.Bachelor Mother is a bright and witty comedy, not quite of the screwball variety, but still holding up quite well after more than 70 years..
Wish I had it on DVD.David Niven is one of my favorites of all time, and Ginger Rogers is just so adorable.
Having seen most of GR's movies (both solo & with Fred Astaire), I must admit that I much prefer her "solo" (as opposed to merely a "dancing partner") & "Bachelor Mother" is, without a doubt, her funniest film!There are many great comedic "bits" in this film -- her pretending not to speak English at a New Year's Eve party, the dancehall sequence, David Niven's run-in with a toy "Donald Duck" (and many more), that make this film an absolute JOY!The only other GR film that comes close to it is "Vivacious Lady".
Apart from its originality (the somewhat risqué story, involving the various misunderstandings which arise over an abandoned baby, was even nominated for an Oscar) and reputation as a comedy classic (from an era crammed with them), this film is notable as a touchstone in the careers of all three protagonists – Ginger Rogers (her musical partnership with Fred Astaire now firmly behind her), David Niven (tackling his first starring role) and Charles Coburn (who practically spent the rest of his life playing wealthy and big-hearted eccentrics) – as well as marking perhaps director Kanin's most satisfying effort in this capacity (he is still best-known as a scriptwriter); incidentally, Rogers and Kanin would soon be re-united for the almost-as-good TOM, DICK AND HARRY (1941; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034299/usercomments-11).
The two leads exude a wonderful chemistry (they would be reteamed two more times over the course of almost 20 years) which lends conviction to their budding romance and, likewise, a greater sense of involvement to their wacky antics (particularly Niven's attempt to exchange a defective toy in his own establishment incognito, during a marathon dance contest and a New Year's Eve dinner in which department-store clerk Rogers is passed off before Niven's high-society peers as a Swedish heiress).
When Coburn, playing Niven's tycoon dad, gets wind of his son's supposed parenthood (via an anonymous note, actually from vindictive employee and romantic rival Frank Albertson), he is overjoyed at the prospect of finally having a grandson – even after both Rogers and Niven produce alternative fathers (including Albertson himself)!; the ending, then, with the leads getting hitched with a ready-made child in tow (a common occurrence today but not back then I suppose), is pure Hollywood.
I vividly remember the remake of this funny film with Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds entitled "Bundle of Joy."As was the case with the remake, the original "Bachelor Mother" is in fine form due to a great cast of characters.David Niven and Ginger Rogers were never better as two people-the son of a department store owner and a worker who are drawn to love by accident.Witnessing a baby being left at a home begins an odyssey of hilarity when no one will believe Rogers that she is not the mother of the baby.
She takes the baby in and when the investigator (Ernest Truex) talks to the son of the boss (Niven), he gives her her job back.Frank Albertson is effective as the disgruntled employee who really sets things in motion by sending the boss (a wonderful Charles Coburn) a note stating that Niven (Coburn's son) fathered the child.This film is well paced and an absolute joy to watch.It just shows how two people from wealth and poverty can join forces..
Ginger Rogers (my favorite actress of all time) and David Niven team up in Garson Kanin's superbly, cleverly directed film.
The look of smug know-it-all on the foundling homes character's faces when they are sure that Polly Parrish is the mother of the orphaned baby is perfect and incredibly funny.
This is how she meets young and handsome David Niven and again and again throughout the film, Niven and others insist the baby is Ginger's.
Later, when Niven's father (Charles Coburn) finds out about this "bachelor mother", he is surprisingly delighted and thinks it's his son's!
It's a sweet little film well worth your time and one of the better movies Rogers or Niven ever made..
When I (at age 16) first saw "Bachelor Mother" at Radio City Music Hall in its 1939 original release in New York, I had only heard of Clara Bow as the "It" girl, but had not seen "It" (the title of her very popular 1927 silent movie).
This started off pretty well with a good first half hour, but once the romance kicked in between store clerk "Polly Parrish" (Ginger Rogers) and store owner's son "David Merlin" (David Nivens), it bogged down.
Department store clerk Polly (Ginger Rogers) is mistakenly believed to be the mother of an abandoned baby.
David Merlin (David Niven), the son of department store owner J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn) takes a special interest in Polly's situation.
Gradually the two fall in love but things are further complicated when J.B. is led to believe David is the father of Polly's baby.Delightful romantic comedy with wonderful performances from Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn.
Soon, the rumor mill gets out of control, and everyone thinks Ginger is an unwed mother-including the department store head, who feels guilty about firing a struggling single mother during Christmas and immediately gives her back her job.Where does David Niven come in, you ask?
Who wouldn't fall for him after that?Charles Coburn also gets to shine in this movie, with his numerous comedic scenes and an extra special role in Ginger Rogers's baby fiasco.
Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers), a clerk at Merlin's Department Store, is mistakenly presumed to be the mother of a foundling.
Outraged at Polly's unmotherly conduct, David Merlin (David Niven) becomes determined to keep the single woman and "her" baby together.Is this what they call a comedy of errors?
Ginger Rogers is great, and David Niven is excellent.
Ginger Rogers is adorable, and she has a ton of chemistry with David Niven in this comedy about a woman who's mistaken for the mother of an abandoned baby and for various reasons plays along with the ruse.The film is pretty racy stuff for its time, frankly acknowledging illegitimate children, not to mention the fact that Niven's character falls in love with Rogers and willingly begins a relationship with her all the while believing that she is the true mother of the child.
There's little in the film that's outright hilarious but much that induces humorous chuckles, and much worse could be said for many a movie.One of my favorite character actors, Charles Coburn, is on hand to play the child's "grandfather" who goes on a crusade to take custody of it.Grade: A-.
David Niven is OK as the philandering son of Charles Coburn, who owns the store where Rogers works.
GINGER ROGERS had a flair for light comedy that is evident here as a department store clerk who is mistakenly believed to be the mother of a foundling baby.
David NIVEN is the philandering son of rich man CHARLES COBURN and both of them think Rogers is the baby's mother.That about sums up the plot, out of which Norman Krasna makes the most out of a situation which could easily have been explained if someone just told the truth.
Unfortunately, it lacked the sparkle of the original and included some forgettable songs.David NIVEN is every bit as charming as Ginger in the sort of role you might expect CARY GRANT to fill and CHARLES COBURN, FRANK ALBERTSON and ERNEST TRUEX add to the fun.
And I think it is just fine to call a baby it- plus it shows the awkward relationship the single, childless characters have with the baby that suddenly shows up in their life.If I had to say what it was that was so great about this film, other than seeing Ginger Rogers and David Niven, those two remarkable warm and generous personalities, playing off each other, it would be that the film seems to be filled with love and kindness.
It's pretty funny.There are amusing incidents (a disguised Niven trying to exchange a faulty toy duck at the store he owns)and comic plot twists that end up with several men claiming to be the father.But it's a quiet comedy -- the screenplay is by Norman Krasna and the direction by Garsin Kanin -- no pratfalls and very little shrieking.
David Niven is the rich shop-owner's son who both foists a child on Ginger that's not hers, and then falls in love with her and it, the adorable little "Johnny".
And the always-great Charles Coburn is just marvellous as the "grandfather" who thinks that Niven and Rogers have produced his longed-for grandson.This is pretty much a perfect romantic comedy, with Rogers giving a terrific performance.
When a film contains a major plot gag involving Donald Duck, has Ginger pretending to be Swedish and David Niven trying to rub oatmeal into a baby's stomach, you really can't go wrong!.
I love this film!!!!!Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) has just been given a pink slip from Merlin's Department Store.
Then there is the part where he takes Polly out to party with his rich friends and she impersonates a Swedish girl who can't speak English.When "a friend" sends a note to David's father (Charles Coburn) implying that David is the father then the shoe is on the other foot.Charles Coburn is wonderful as the grandfather (he thinks!!!) "I don't care who the father is - I'm the Grandfather!!!" It is a very funny film and at the end a few men stand up to claim paternity.Ginger was never better than in these type of working girl roles..
Of course, she works for David Niven's department store.The big disappointment here is Charles Coburn's role.
Polly (Ginger Rogers) is walking along the street one day and sees an older lady leave a baby on the steps of an orphanage.
Although she has just lost her job as a clerk at a department store, the store's owner's son (David Niven) is brought into the situation, and also assumes Polly is the mother.
He gives her her job back, but Polly has to start raising the child (BTW, this part of the story -- what ultimately happens to the baby -- is never resolved in the film).
Niven's father (Charles Coburn) wants a grandson, even if it was born out of wedlock, and in a screwball finale all live happily ever after...presumably the baby, too.It's light, but charming and funny.
Charming Film w/Ginger Rogers and David Niven.
When I first saw it a few months ago, I was wondering how this story would play out being that it was filmed in the 30s, but it worked out wonderfully.All of the actors had great comedic timing and the chemistry was perfect.
When a recently fired department store employee (Ginger Rogers) finds an abandoned baby, she does what any good woman would do: she tries to get rid of it.
But circumstances make it appear that the department store owner's son (David Niven) is the responsible party, and hilarious results ensue.This delicious screwball comedy is a bit more subtle in its humor than classics like "My Man Godfrey", "Libeled Lady" and "Bringing Up Baby", but classic none the less.
But in this film, the working girl heroine, Polly Parrish, is not a mother who drops off her baby, but someone who comes across another woman leaving a baby.
What comes across strongly is the sheer professionalism from all Departments, Script, Directing, Acting, that almost succeeds in preventing awkward questions - the film begins on what Americans insist on referring to as 'the day before Christmas', known to the rest of the world as Christmas Eve, with Ginger Rogers being made redundant from her temporary salesperson position at Merlin's Department Store; due to plot machinations the son of the owner of the store (David Niven) is moved to reinstate her and the continuity implies that she goes back to work the next day (Christmas) - etc.
The story begins on Christmas Eve and ends on New Year's Day and includes the most charming and funny and touching New Year's Eve sequence that you could ever imagine.1937-38 had brought on a second leg of the Depression with unemployment again breaching the 20% mark, so Polly Parrish's (Ginger Rogers') predicament at the beginning of the film (ironically laid off immediately after being wished a "very Merry Christmas" by the big boss, Charles Coburn) was an all-too-realistic plot device for its audience.
And if anything, BACHELOR MOTHER was an even more important film for David Niven, for though he wasn't the one to carry the movie, this was probably his most important role to date.
For Charles Coburn, BACHELOR MOTHER was simply one more triumph in what was still relatively early in his brilliant movie career.Ironically, Ginger Rogers didn't like the script and producer Pandro Berman, who must have had plenty of confidence in the project, literally had to force her to do the picture.
Oscar nominated romantic comedy story featuring Ginger Rogers and David Niven.
Directed by Garson Kanin, with a screenplay by Norman Krasna, this above average romantic comedy earned Felix Jackson his only Oscar nomination (Original Story).Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) was hired as a seasonal employee by the (John) Merlin (Charles Coburn) department store.
Ginger Rogers does well in this domestic romantic comedy as does David Niven.
Doesn't the David Niven character care that Ginger was never married and is supposed to have had the baby out of "wedlock"?