The Housekeeper's Daughter

Unworldly professor's son John Hubbard returns to his father's house, ambitious to become a newspaper. He's encouraged in this by The Housekeeper's Daughter (1939), Joan Bennett, who has just quit Marc Lawrence's mob in disgust. Newspaper editor Donald Meek wants a story on Lilian Bond's death, apparently form falling off a houseboat, and after a night of drinking with ace reporter Adolphe Menjou, Hubbard writes a story claiming he knows who did it and falls soddenly asleep. Lawrence thinks he's going to be framed, so he continually sends henchman Victor Mature (in his screen debut) to beat up Hubbard, failing because he is a wimp.

Hal Roach not only produced this movie, he directed it, and it's pretty uneven: best when Menjou, Lawrence or Miss Bennett is about, while Hubbard is uninteresting as the mild-as-water lead. At least part of the problem with this movie seems to lie with the editing by William Ziegler, which introduced a couple of plot points which it then ignores, or has people do things simply to set up a gag. But the comedy keeps this one continually interesting.

In some ways an odd mix, "The Housekeep's Daughter" is generally well done and extremely well acted.

Joan Bennett looks more beautiful than ever, but doesn't have much to do, except look beautiful.

Adolph Menjou is simply always great, although his character makes a change that doesn't really ring true -- but so what?

Some of the finest of Hollywood's character actors make this just so much fun to watch, and seeing Victor Mature in an early role additionally makes "The Housekeeper's Daughter" a joy.

John Hubbard gives a good portrayal of a rather spacey character, but for some reason never did become the star he probably deserved to be, though he did keep busy most of the rest of his life.

I can recommend "The Housekeeper's Daughter" despite its minor flaws. Those flaws are vastly outnumbered by the joys.

The sultry Joan Bennett adds some class to this tame comedy about a rookie reporter who stumbles upon a murder involving a mentally challenged serial killer and gangsters (one of whom is a debuting Victor Mature). It's slow to start and doesn't quite seem to know where it's going, but builds up to a decent finale.

"The Housekeeper's Daughter" is supposed to be based on a 1938 novel of the same title by Donald Henderson Clarke. The book is a romance about a reporter who has roommates in a boarding house, and all of them fall for the daughter of the housekeeper. But, after watching this film, one might wager that this was a common Hollywood project regarding the purchase of a book's film rights. It's just to use a theme or part of the story on which to build a completely different plot on film. And Hal Roach did this by piling on the sub-plots, different characters, lots of slapstick, and mixture of crime and a scathing put-down of the press and crime films of the day. It's a great farce for satire of the news media, but that might be lost for some amidst the slapstick and mayhem.

The cast are all very good in this comedy, drama, romance, satire, crime, and spoof of newspaper films of the golden age of Hollywood. John Hubbard isn't a name that springs to mind for actors of the past. But he was a very good supporting actor and occasional leading man during the war years. He's superb here as Robert Randall. Joan Bennett has a very good role as Hilda, a daughter who strayed into some bad company before being fed up and getting out. Adolph Menjou is ace reporter of the big time newspaper, but his Deakon Maxwell is a shyster, womanizer and con man whom Randall says is a genius in making up the news. His sidekick, and competitor when it comes to "dames," is William Gargan as ace photographer, Ed O'Malley.

When these guys move into the Randall home, while John's parents are off on their usual summer excursions, anything might happen, and does. Hilda's mom, housekeeper Olga, is played wonderfully by Peggy Wood. She gets laughs out of all of the guests at the Randall home. That is, until the hooligans begin to show up. The gangsters are all good, and Donald Meek, as the newspaper editor, Wilson, is very good in an a-typical role for the usually very meek Meek. One of the funniest scenes is when Deakon goes to see a caller who asked for the reporter from the Randall house. It's not shown on the screen, but the thud is loud and clear when Victor Mature's Lefty punches Deakon. Then with Deakon in bed and Olga caring for him, there are some very funny moments. And, toward the end, the Randalls return home early only to walk in on the mayhem. Leila McIntyre's Mrs. Randall passes out a couple times and scurries around on the floor behind the furniture to keep away the crime boss, Floyd (played by Marc Lawrence) and all his thugs.

What a zany film. Besides all the slapstick, there are a few faints and poisoning deaths. The later is the work of George Stone's Benny, who just can't seem to get the right wrong people to drink his coffee. What a good hoot and lot of fun all around.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Ed O'Malley, "Did anyone ever tell you you had beautiful eyes?" Hilda, "Mm, the wrong people always do."

Deakon Maxwell, "This guy throws money around like it was water." Ed O'Malley, "So what?" Deakon, "So, I wanna be around when the tide comes in."

Ed O'Malley, "Say, do you snore?" Deakon Maxwell, "Only when I'm asleep."

Robert Randall, "You don't understand. They're going to shoot me. They even threatened to cut my throat."

Editor Wilson, "Shoot you? I defy them to shoot you."

Editor Wilson, "We're going to build him up till he has to kneel down to pat the flagpole on the Empire State Building."

Deakon Maxwell, to Hilda, "She looked at him suspiciously - just as you're looking at me now."

Deakon Maxwell, to Olga, "Oh, I know I'm a little wild, and, uh, I've been around a lot. Think of the fun you'd have reforming me."

Floyd, "What are you tryin' to do, make a monkey outta me?"

Editor Wilson, "Are you a gun mol?" Mrs. Randal, shaking her head, "I just live here."

Joan Bennett is tempting as "The Housekeeper's Daughter". Ms. Bennett is given some great lines, fine direction (Hal Roach), and neat things to do - like putting those thigh bells on! She has a past, which comes back to haunt... she was involved with Victor Mature and a bunch of gangsters. Bennett desires the son in the house she tends, and he is a reporter working on a crime which begins to involve Bennett's past life. There is an interesting accidental "Houseboat Murder" to solve. Adolphe Menjou and William Gargan are okay as a couple of reporters. Overall, I found the "slapstick" is often more annoying than enjoying.

"Benny" makes a mean cup of coffee.

**** The Housekeeper's Daughter (10/26/39) Hal Roach ~ Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou, William Gargan