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The Lady Takes a Sailor

  • 1949
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
508
YOUR RATING
The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949)
Jennifer Smith heads a "Consumer Reports"-type company and her reputation for honesty is her greatest asset. While out boating one day she encounters a secret prototype submarine piloted by Bill Craig. Trying to explain her absence after her boat sinks becomes very difficult as Bill and his cohorts attempt to discredit her story.
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
15 Photos
ComedyRomance

Jennifer Smith heads a "Consumer Reports"-type company and her reputation for honesty is her greatest asset. While out boating one day she encounters a secret prototype submarine piloted by ... Read allJennifer Smith heads a "Consumer Reports"-type company and her reputation for honesty is her greatest asset. While out boating one day she encounters a secret prototype submarine piloted by Bill Craig. Trying to explain her absence after her boat sinks becomes very difficult as B... Read allJennifer Smith heads a "Consumer Reports"-type company and her reputation for honesty is her greatest asset. While out boating one day she encounters a secret prototype submarine piloted by Bill Craig. Trying to explain her absence after her boat sinks becomes very difficult as Bill and his cohorts attempt to discredit her story.

  • Director
    • Michael Curtiz
  • Writers
    • Everett Freeman
    • Jerome Gruskin
  • Stars
    • Jane Wyman
    • Dennis Morgan
    • Eve Arden
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    508
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Curtiz
    • Writers
      • Everett Freeman
      • Jerome Gruskin
    • Stars
      • Jane Wyman
      • Dennis Morgan
      • Eve Arden
    • 14User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Official Trailer

    Photos15

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    Top cast47

    Edit
    Jane Wyman
    Jane Wyman
    • Jennifer Smith
    Dennis Morgan
    Dennis Morgan
    • Bill Craig
    Eve Arden
    Eve Arden
    • Susan Wayne
    Robert Douglas
    Robert Douglas
    • John Tyson
    Allyn Joslyn
    Allyn Joslyn
    • Ralph Whitcomb
    Tom Tully
    Tom Tully
    • Henry Duckworth
    Lina Romay
    Lina Romay
    • Racquel Riviera
    William Frawley
    William Frawley
    • Oliver Harker
    Jack Boyle Jr.
    Jack Boyle Jr.
    • Intern
    • (uncredited)
    Kenneth Britton
    • Davis
    • (uncredited)
    Bridget Brown
    • Hat Check Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Sonja Bryden
    • Arlette
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Cady
    Frank Cady
    • Mr. Wentworth
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Cheshire
    Harry Cheshire
    • Judge Vardon
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Clark
    Fred Clark
    • Victor Santell
    • (uncredited)
    Russ Conway
    Russ Conway
    • Constable
    • (uncredited)
    Luther Crockett
    • Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Erlenborn
    Ray Erlenborn
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Michael Curtiz
    • Writers
      • Everett Freeman
      • Jerome Gruskin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    5.9508
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    Featured reviews

    3mls4182

    Eve Arden couldn't even save it

    When Jane Dylan is good, she's amazing. She was a wonderful dramatic actress. She also had charm and appeal. Dennis Morgan was a decent actor, as well as handsome and appealing.

    Unfortunately, neither of them had a flair for comedy. I mean you really have it or you don't. They also have no chemistry whatsoever.

    Usually when this happens they go back and punch up the second lead. It has often been Eve Arden. Unfortunately, her part isn't large enough to save this stink bomb.
    9style_grrl

    A cute movie

    This is a very cute classic movie. A woman meets a guy in a very unusual circumstance, however her professional career is on the rocks soon afterwards! I noticed that William Frawley aka Fred Mertz from the "I love Lucy" show makes a quick appearance here. Anyways I would reccomend it for anyone who's into classic movies.
    4jdsuggs

    Sorry, Lady

    Romantic comedies usually involve two characters in conflict. To make it work, for starters, they need to be likable, somewhat evenly matched, and in a fun and funny situation. That's why "The Lady Takes A Sailor" doesn't work.

    Jane Wyman and Dennis Morgan are in an interesting (not fun or funny) situation: her career and personal reputation- like Aimee Semple McPherson's, a few years earlier- hinge on proving the truth of a wild story behind her brief disappearance, while Morgan's career depends on keeping that truth a military secret. Since Jane is clearly the wronged party- she's shipwrecked, kidnapped, drugged, mocked, and lied to by Morgan- we're rooting for her, but amid mixed messages that she should sacrifice everything for an ungrateful military.

    Wyman and Morgan are not equally matched. There's no cleverness (or fun) in their conflict, just a lot of confrontation, in which he effortlessly bullies, stalks, and taunts her. She's a helpless victim and he's basically a cad and a thug.

    Morgan's character is therefore totally unlikable, and the idea that he might win this fight, much less get the girl, clouds any fun that this film has to offer. With all that, it hardly matters that the film is completely unfunny, or that the message is (once again) that women don't really need careers when a man- (even a repellent one!)- comes along.

    Incidentally, nothing against Wyman, Morgan, director Michael Curtiz, or Eve Arden, who all had fine careers and did excellent work elsewhere.
    7gkarf

    Good screwball comedy

    Just stumbled on this one on TCM. Always been Dennis Morgan fan , but never really knew much about Jane Wyman other than her one time marriage to a future president. They made a really good team in this one. The love ( from his end) and hate ( from her end ) finally tilted toward him. With the always dependable Eve Arden in a supporting role , not much more is needed. But throw in Tom Tully as a private detective with much comic relief, the movie really got going. Not sure I'm buying the Jack Lemmon sighting , but it could just be me. Couldn't find him. Give this one a chance , hoping you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
    7fandomfatale

    Charming

    I'm surprised at the rating and the reviews. I found this very amusing and charming. The romance was the highlight but the comedy wasn't bad at all. I will definitely be watching it again.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A pre-production article in the Los Angeles Examiner noted Bette Davis and Robert Montgomery were to be the leads in this picture.
    • Goofs
      A man pours syrup onto the pancakes in his lap from a glass pitcher and empties it, but when he puts the pitcher back on the table it is full again, then empty again in the next shot.
    • Quotes

      John Tyson: Well, I've always thought of myself as a man's man.

      Susan Wayne: Who want's to be a man's man? Where's the fun in that?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Sinatra: All or Nothing at All: Part 1 (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Eu Não Sei
      (uncredited)

      Performed by Lina Romay

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 12, 1950 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Octopus and Miss Smith
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 39m(99 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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