Molly and Me

Rather obscure comedy of manners from TCF. It's not a knee-slapper, but the situation's amusing enough along with a very capable cast. In fact I agree with another reviewer that the material is strong enough to warrant a longer film. Coming from moneyed studio TCF, I wonder why the oversight. Maybe it was because of the British cast and lack of a marquee name.

An unemployed crew of stage performers pretends to be household servants so they can become a rich stuffy old man's household help. The trouble is can they bring off the impersonation even as their amusing staginess keeps interfering with their act? The comedic potential between clashing personality types remains a rich one

The first part is a fairly mild set-up, comedy-wise, but the last reaches a level of madcap as the crew's real identities begin to show though-- they just can't help themselves. The latter furnishes a lot of chuckles, especially Gardiner's ditzy mugging. On the whole, Fields makes a persuasive chief conniver, while Gardiner and Schaefer get most of the laughs. Wooley, of course, makes a grandiose rich guy, stuffy and superior, a perfect foil for the stagy cut-ups. Then too, McDowall's estranged teen-age son adds a note of poignancy to the proceedings.

Anyway, the premise and cast are a compelling one even if the overall results add up to an under-achiever.

An out of work troop of actors take over running a proper English gentleman home. They show the rather harsh man there should be more compassion for the only son he has.

While a lot of the humor is very deadpan, it's an interesting look at how simple the rich life was in the 30's and 40's.

The son Jimmy is played by a very young Roddy McDowall

You don't like this, I don't like you. Recommended for old TCM fans and new generations exploring classic Hollywood fables. Gracie Fields, Monty Wooley and yes, that's Lovey Howell from Gilligan's Island.

Here is a whimsical tale of an out-of-work actress and her other also-situated actors and actresses. Tired of playing the starving artist, she lands the role of maid in a house over-running with thieving employees. She single-handedly cleans up the household, and begins to work on her unloving boss. She soon begins to melt his icy heart, and teaches him the value of things (not money, which he knows too well already).

Her actor friends soon must take on the role of fellow servants, and the rest is hilarious. They over-act their positions, and confuse and confound their new boss.

What a wonderful and thoroughly entertaining film this is, this is my first experience of Gracie Fields and purchased this due to Monty Woolley being in this, suffice to say not only am I a fan Of Monty's, but Gracie's, too.

There's a good mixture of fun, laughter, slapstick, farce, singing and a terrific, entertaining cast, as well as Monty and Gracie the main cast members to stand out for me are a very young Roddy McDowall (as Monty's son) and Reginald Gardner (as the Butler), the rest of the cast are all excellent and together with me the cast were clearly having a ball too!! My one and only problem with the film is that I wish it were longer, it's only 76 minutes long and just wish it'd been at least another 10-15 minutes more, but it's always a sure sign just how much you've enjoyed a film when you think this way I guess, If you enjoyed Monty Woolley in this then please check out The Man who came to dinner with Bette Davis, it's a terrific comedy, sadly only available on Region 1 at the moment.

Good sound and picture too, I've purchased this film in the Gracie Field's silver screen collection and that version at least has no subtitles whatsoever.