The Lady Is Willing

This is one of those escapist, nonsensical, utterly unrealistic and yes, downright silly movies from a time when the world was anxious. Europe was under Nazi occupation and the US was contemplating its own role in the conflict. Hollywood had become very good at giving Americans just this kind of comic relief. So why should anyone bother with it? Because despite all the silliness the four leads manage to pull it off with great aplomb. Marlene Dietrich is just as exotic and glamorous as she was in 'The Blue Angel' if not more so. She was forty and a show-stopper without compare. How could Fred MacMurray help himself but fall for her. His role here is an early version of his absent-minded professor. And the supporting leads, Aline MacMahon and Stanley Ridges, are equally good and fun to watch. So sit back and enjoy the show!

Marlene Dietrich is the lady in "The Lady is Willing," a 1942 film also starring Fred MacMurray and Arline Judge. The beautiful Dietrich plays a musical star, Liza Madden, who walks off with an abandoned baby and takes him home. Though Liza lives well, she owes a fortune to the IRS and gives all of her money away, and she won't be able to adopt the child unless she's either married or solvent. She convinces a pediatrician (MacMurray) to marry her. He does, and they adopt the baby, now called Corey. The marriage is supposed to be in name only, but you know how those things go.

"The Lady is Willing" is not much of a story or a movie, but Dietrich is just stunning, and her acting is charming. She creates a very lovable character. MacMurray, as the doctor who falls in love with her, turns in a good performance. He's part of a dumb subplot involving rabbits that is dropped along the way. Dietrich's assistant is played by Arline Judge and her maid by Marietta Canty and they are both excellent in their roles. It's just too bad all of these good people had to be in this particular story.

Obviously, the baby in question (David James) is unaware that the story is weak; he laughs and plays with telephone cords, Dietrich's hats and smiles at everyone. Just adorable.

Definitely worth it for Dietrich and her fashions, and if you like kids, little Corey. Interestingly, one of Dietrich's famous legs was in a cast for part of the film, though it's not noticeable.

Engaging comedy with Fred and Marlene well matched and looking glamorous and gorgeous. As was her usual state Marlene is gowned in one eye popping creation after another with some extraordinary hats. She's loaded with gossamer charm as an actress who longs for motherhood and is suddenly presented with answered prayers. Endearing in her befuddlement of the simplest basics of children, including finding out whether the baby she's taken under her wing is a boy or a girl!, she still comes across as a sincerely sweet and loving person. Fred is all gruff exterior at first but his innate joviality soon shows through. The picture takes an unnecessary detour into melodrama towards the end but snaps out of it for a proper ending. A cute and frothy film with Aline MacMahon contributing a fun performance as Marlene's right hand woman.

Part of the premise of The Lady Is Willing is that the famous can get away with anything. Picture if you will yourself who while the police are investigating reports of a baby abandoned in a boardinghouse, just up and taking the infant. That would probably land you in jail for a stretch. But for Marlene Dietrich, famous musical comedy star, everyone is just forgiving as all heck and let's her keep the little tyke.

Everyone except the IRS who is insistence that she be solvent. Unmarried or not doesn't seem to be the issue. She owes a lot in income tax. So she persuades pediatrician Fred MacMurray to marry her. That would certainly save on doctor bills.

As for Fred who wouldn't want to marry Marlene? But when they enlarge their living quarters it's for cages for rabbits. MacMurray is doing research and needs them for experiments. He's also got an ex-wife sniffing around in the person of Arline Judge. She's more trouble than the rabbits.

The Lady Is Willing just will never be ranked as one of the 10 best for either Fred or Marlene. It makes so little use of MacMurray's comic talents which I find very strange. As for Marlene, there are times in the film when she comes across more like Doris Day.

Best in the film might possibly Marlene's girl Friday Aline McMahon. She has the film's best lines.

But fans of Fred and Marlene should like it well enough.

for the self irony of Dietrich performance. for the nice story and air of far age of cinema. for inspired cast. and, sure, for the respect for recipes of romantic comedy. it is not a link from chain of fashion of art. few sparkles, a seductive Dietrich, mixture of love balloons and fine humor, the dramatic small slice and the touching solutions to create identity in a ocean of clones, all is good reason to see it and, in a measure or other, to love it. because it is almost magic like many films from that period. because the acting is smart and the game of nuances not uninspired. because, after war of blockbusters, this film has the gift to be comfortable. and for occasion to travel in time. and discover than life is beautiful.