So This Is New York

Radio humorist Henry Morgan probably best known today as one of the panelists from I've Got A Secret produced and starred in this independent film released from United Artists, So This Is New York. For a film about Ne York it sure looked like Morgan didn't do much shooting there i any.

Based on a Ring Lardner story the plot takes place post World War I as the returning doughboy Morgan has found he's got a windfall. The wife has always wanted to go to New York so Morgan, Virginia Grey, and Dona Drake their daughter head for the Big Apple.

Where in this episodic film they encounter all sorts of New York type folks. And the supporting cast is loaded with familiar character players. Can you get more New York than Leo Gorcey, a jockey not so on the up and up?

My favorite was Bill Goodwin playing a vaudeville comedian who rooks these country folks out of their money to produce a bad play. The scenes with Goodwin and Drake in this bad play with Drake's fake bad acting are the best.

Morgan was never quite able to translate his radio popularity to the screen. The film has some good moments, but they're in fits and starts.

Still it's an interesting view of New York circa 1919 as seen from 1948.

one of my favorite films, first seen when i was twelve, in 1948. in my opinion, it was the signature film of all those in it...henry morgan, leo gorcey, rudy vallee, bill goodwin, dona drake, virginia grey, jerome cowan. i'm tempted to say that goodwin's jimmy ralston character was the best; but then, all the performances were so great. i spotted it on tv some ten years ago, on a weak station and taped it. so, bad copy and all, i do watch it a few times a year.

A funny funny film! Definitely a "missing" gem. The play performed within the film ("Bridget Sees a Ghost") makes "Springtime for Hitler" look like Shakespeare! Morgan's voice overs are marvelous and the use of Rossini's "Barber of Seville Overture" to punctuate the closing moments of each act is masterful. Clever and innovative in its photography with outstanding performances by Henry Morgan and Leo Gorcey. The rest of the cast certainly holds its own in this lunatic story about a family's visit to New York City. This should definitely be released on DVD. It was shown on television years ago, but seems to have vanished from the airwaves. Definitely worth watching - if it ever reappears.

Henry Morgan (the lead) was a radio comedian in the 30s. He had a daily show on which he did a monologue of his own whimsical and sardonic observations--better than most stand up comedians. I remember a "weather report" in which he predicted "snow, followed by little boys on sleds".

He made very few films. In this one, he is a salesman in a two-employee cigar store in Indianapolis, bullied by the owner who is always complaining that business has never been so bad. Henry's wife has just inherited some money and has decided to use it to move to New York City (at least temporarily) and "make a big splash" so that her younger sister can marry a rich man more suitable than her present beau who is a small-town butcher's helper. Henry is certain no good will come of this so he accompanies them on the train, making his trademark sarcastic wisecracks and keeping a record to the penny (without being requested) of everything they spend. Arriving at the station in New York, they ask a cab driver to take them to a hotel. He replies sullenly, semi-literately, in a heavy New York accent, something like "Where duh yuh wanna go?". A subtitle appears, "Where may I take you, sir?"

The direction is altogether superb. There is a device used that I have never seen used that way again. Today, on TV, it would be called a freeze frame, but the way it is used makes all the difference. It brings out, and emphasizes, character and prepares the audience for the action to follow. For example, in the dining car on the train, a con man (the audience knows this because he looks exactly like a movie con man of the 30s-- sort of good looking, dandyish dress, pencil mustache, slicked-back greasy hair, big- city villainous, elaborate speech, yet a blow hard) tries to pick up the younger sister. The foolish wife is immediately deceived (though not Henry). As the scene is playing, one particular frame is frozen; one that shows him at his absolute worst, artificial, phony, slimy. It propels the action forward. It is completely different from the meaningless modern TV freeze of the last frame in a scene. (Though I'll bet they all copied it from this movie.)

It is cynical, sophisticated comedy, though completely accessible. Not to be missed.

Mr. And Mrs Finch (Henry Morgan* and Virginia Grey) live in small South Bend, Indiana and Mr. Finch thinks life is grand. After all, the wife recently received a modest inheritance and WWI just ended. However, the missus and her sister are NOT happy and shethe wife announces that they are moving to New York City...and poor Mr. Finch doesn't seem to have any choice! However, he hates the notion of moving and the film is shown from his viewpoint...and nearly everything in the big city annoys or disappoints him. Are the Finches destined to remain in New York or will Mr. Finch be right...it's NOT a great place for anyone to live...especially the Finches.

In many ways, this comedy's plot is like the very serious drama "Dodsworth". Both are about men who are reluctant to leave home but despite this agree to a move in order to make the pretentious family happy....and with unintended consequences. Of course, "Dodsworth" is a classic and "So This is New York" isn't...it's more a low-budget comedy.

So is this film any good? Well, it flopped at the box office...so at least folks back in 1948 didn't think so. When seen today, the story isn't bad but it suffers from being overlong (I think it would have been better at B-movie length...about 60-65 minutes) and a few of the laughs were tired and annoying...especially Rudy Vallee's howling at the race track as well as the many demands of Mrs. Finch. As a result, it's a watchable film but certainly not one to rush to see.

*It's easy to mix up this Henry Morgan with Harry Morgan (of "MASH" and "Dragnet" fame). This is because Harry's real first name was Henry and he changed it because folks kept mixing him up with the other Henry Morgan.