Fifth Avenue Girl

After a stressful business meeting, "Amalgamated Pump" millionaire Walter Connolly (as Timothy Borden) returns to his upper fifth avenue Manhattan mansion expecting to receive some "Happy Birthday" wishes. His spoiled, disinterested family has forgotten Mr. Connolly's birthday, however. Connolly goes to Central Park alone and meets sullen, disinterested Ginger Rogers (as Mary Grey). He learns the beautiful apple-chomping woman is homeless and invites Ms. Rogers to dinner. When she spends the night in his guest room, Connolly's family suddenly become interested in the old provider. Connolly invites Rogers to stay and shake up the household...

Produced and directed by Gregory La Cava, this story is similar to his "My Man Godfrey" (1936). When Connolly goes to the park, you know he's either going to be mistaken or a bum or find one; after which, we might poke fun at the idle rich and admire the hard-working poor. For good measure, handsome family chauffeur James Ellison (as Michael "Mike" Farnsbother) dabbles in Communism...

This is a good film, but it should be much better. The production looks great, the situation is fun and several one-liners work. Sadly, the top-billed cast doesn't really click. Rogers appears too elegant and serious; also, she displays little chemistry with her supporting cast, especially leading men Connolly and Tim Holt (as "Tim" Borden). La Cava should have re-cut Rogers' "kitchen knife scene" and added some romance. Rogers should have toned down her movie star looks and added more playfulness to her homeless character.

***** 5th Ave Girl (8/25/39) Gregory La Cava ~ Ginger Rogers, Walter Connolly, Tim Holt, James Ellison

but still a nifty comedy, boasting solid performances by Ginger Rogers (as always), Walter Connolly, Verree Teasdale, Tim Holt, Jack Carson, Franklin Pangborn, and Louis Calhern. James Ellison as the chauffeur and Kathryn Adams as the spoiled daughter are annoying. But Rogers and Connolly (in a rare starring role) take top honors as the working girl and the baffled millionaire who meet on a bench at the zoo. Lots of social commentary by director/producer Gregory La Cava, one of Hollywood's forgotten directors who was, nevertheless, a big name in the 1930s. What's missing from this film, compared to La Cava's My Man Godfrey, is a sense of zaniness among the rich. Here they are petty, nagging people while in the other, they are unrelentingly silly. Plus no one could play a fluttery matron like Alice Brady (well, maybe Billie Burke). Teasdale is OK, but this kind of part was not her forte; she seems too smart to be playing this kind of brainless twit. This is one of Connolly's best roles and he is wonderful. He died the following year. Rogers seems almost to be in an audition for 1940's Kitty Foyle. The acting style she uses in both films is similar. But Rogers was always worth watching. She has a style that allows her to get very quiet and contained, and it's very effective. While the political issues are very much the same today, it's laid on a bit thick here with the spoutings of Ellison's chauffeur and the mooning daughter. Adams strikes me as being an especially bad actress. Anyway it's worth a look. The house is incredibly cavernous and ugly. Charles Lane, Harlan Briggs, Florence Lake, Ferike Boros, Bess Flowers (as the Civil War debutante), and Alex D'Arcy co-star.

It's obvious when you watch this film that it was strongly inspired by the wonderful comedy "My Man Godfrey", though it never comes close to the quality or zaniness of this earlier hit. This isn't to say I didn't like "5th Avenue Girl"--it just isn't in the same league as "Godfrey".

The film begins with a rich industrialist (Walter Connelly) meeting Ginger Rogers on a park bench. It's his birthday, yet no one in his family cares or took notice. On a lark, he invites this total stranger to go out partying with him. At first, she's hesitant. However, he can afford it and she's not used to this sort of life, so she agrees.

The next day, Connelly awakens with little recollection of all the details of the night before, as he had gotten quite drunk. He's surprised, however, when Rogers turns up in his home--it seems he invited her to stay in the guest room. Now you'd think this would cause a huge problem with Connelly's wife...a strange woman in the house. However, that's the crux of the problem--his family doesn't really care. So, on a lark, he decides to take this to the next step--and pay Rogers to stay and pretend to be his mistress--though there is absolutely nothing between them. He just wants to make his no-good family take notice! As for Connelly and Rogers, they are both excellent in this film. I especially love Connelly, as he was a delightful supporting actor and here he gets a chance to play the leading man--with nice results. However, after these two, the film's cast and writing really falls short. In "Godfrey", the family was kooky--filled with eccentrics and oddballs. However, here in "5th Avenue Girl", the family just seems selfish and a bit despicable--a major problem for the film. The wife and son were just selfish jerks, while the daughter, to put it bluntly, is an annoying idiot--who's in love with a really, really annoying young communist. As a result, the film rests solely on Rogers and Connelly--with no real support from anyone. If this had been worked out, the film would have been more than a pleasant comedy--it could have been something exceptional. Still, it is charming and fun to watch--plus I'd watch Connelly in anything--he's that good.

By the way, listen up for a great final line by Ginger--it's a doozy.

This film is one of my favorites, with a charming cast and fabulous characters. Ginger Rogers plays her trademark sassy and street-smart heroine effortlessly. Other standout performances are by the hapless and bewildered Walter Connolly and the often hysterical Verree Teasdale. Their children are well portrayed also, and Tim Holt has become one of my favorite actors, though he was largely undervalued throughout his career. A refreshing comedy about life and success, no matter what side of the tracks you come from.

Ginger Rogers seemed to mumble listlessly through a part she didn't like. Tim Holt seemed too immature for the romantic lead and has no chemistry with Ginger. These items detracted from the good screenplay, which has Ginger hired by millionaire Walter Connolly to stay at his house and sort of straighten out his family. It was almost like "My Man Godfrey" (also directed by Gregory La Cava) with the sex roles interchanged, but it was not nearly as good, and certainly did not come close to the pairing of William Powell and Carole Lombard.

Preview comments played a big part in studio decisions in those days. The ending in the film was changed to the one you see after preview audiences panned the original, less happy ending.