The Captain Is a Lady

I made sure to watch this film on TCM recently because I love seeing Charles Coburn in films. He was such a wonderful character actor that I couldn't resist. Surprisingly enough, he did not play the usual Coburn role of the cranky rich gentleman (like he did to perfection in THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES). Instead, he played a cranky old sea captain dreading his retirement. The cranky part was very true to type, but at first it was hard to imagine him as a captain as well as a dreadfully poor one. However, this change was really appreciated--he was wonderful as the likable curmudgeon.

In addition, he was very ably supported by a ton of wonderful characters--most of which were residents of the ladies rest home who invited the Captain to live there!! Beulah Bondi played a sweet wife for Coburn and Marjorie Main and the other residents were wonderful and colorful.

The plot itself is pretty silly, but that's not the reason to see the film. Instead, the acting is so great and the characters are written so well that you can't help but love them. It's a sweet and wonderful film--the type they just don't make any more (what a pity).