Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-28
Films in Review
By CHARLES GENTRY
Dietrich
Comedy
Fox

IF GOOD intentions paved tn,
way 10 excellent comedy. "Th,
Lady Is Willing" would undoubt
eddy be one of the top attraction:
of the year.
Marlene Dietrich Is most affa.
BILE about lending herself TO a
certain amount OF slaps-stick
Fred MacMurray is perfectly
agreeable about playing a pretty
silly character and every one con-
nected with the picture undoubt.
eddy loved doing just what tho
director wanted, cooperating with
the title suggestion.
Unfortunately. the cemen
tpoured into this welt meant pave
ment doesn't harden.
We can't quite tell which Of the
ingredients is wrong. When we
put our finger on Marlene-wha'
fun--we And that she has certainly
relaxed from that stiffly posec
glamour position she has always
maintained. You can't find fault
with genial Fred MacMurray. who
has always seemed like mos,
tlikable chap There Is darling
baby and a fine supporting cast
and even The story is well written
A SERIOUS TURN
But, altogether, the Aim some.
how misses.
II gets off 10 a fairly funny
start and then almost turns into
tragedy, causing some misguided
patron sitting next 10 us 10 laugh
in exactly the wrong spots.
Martene rs fflghty actress who
blithely comes home one day with
A chortling infant tucked under
her jeweled arm.
Her manager. Stanley Ridges,
and her secretary. Aline Mac
Mahon finally worm the facts out
Of her about how she found a
founding and because il looked
lonely, she brought il home.
THE WOMAN DOESN'T PAY
She is anxious 10 keep Il. but
finally has 10 admit that unless
she can change her extravagant
way Of life or produce a husband
she will have 70 relinquish baby
TO the authorities.
Prcferring not TO give up her
square cut emeralds - and who
can blame her-she decides on a
marriage Of convenience with Fred
MacMurray, the child's doctor. as
victim.
After some slight protest. Mac
Murray is the lamb led TO the
Sacrificial altar. because il seems
he has always wanted TO raise
rabbits and the apartment next
door can easily be converted into
a very scientific hutch. early
Directoire.
THE DEALS OFF
His first wife shows up Mar
lene goes off 20 Boston in fit
Of temper.
II isn't until the baby becomes
sick that Marlene sobers up and
settles down 10 some nice. fearful
acting, while MacMurray. still
daZed, operates with steady hand
on baby.
The crisis which the child pulls
through with great aplomb brings
the quarreling lovers back to-
gether again.
Director Mitchell Lessen has
struggled 10 make IL as light as
possible but the final chapters OF
the script have proven little too
much for him.
The baby is well behaved
little rascal who gurgles in just
the right places, while Aline Mac
Mahon provides most OF the adult
laughs.
GRIM MELODRAMA
There are few laughs 10 be had
in the companion picture. The
Adventures OF Martin Eden" out
this Jack London tale has enough
melodrama TO keep you in stock
for months.
Glenn Ford is seen as the heroic
Young seaman who tries TO absolve
his friend. Stuart Erwin. from
conviction of mutiny.
He forces the author friend TO
read his account OF the brutalities
which the crew suffered on the
death wagon" they sailed. and a
CORY account il is.
A TOUGH TIME
The author who might have
helped him. commits suicide and
the militant young literary sailor
has 10 60 through kidnapping.
hrawls and many other tempestu-
Gus adventures before he wins
recognition for himself and vindi-
cation for his friend.
Claire Trevor is the girl who