Charlie's Home Invasion

Aloysius T. McKeever (Victor Moore) has just arrived at his winter home in New York City - the mansion of multi-millionaire Michael J. O'Connor (Charles Ruggles), who is currently in Virginia at his winter home. Mr. McKeever, it seems, has been inhabiting the O'Connor home for several winters now, all unknown to the home's owner. When McKeever happens upon Jim Bullock (Don DeFore), a homeless vet, he invites Jim to stay at the house as well. But things get out of control when Trudy O'Connor (Gale Storm) arrives at the house, and Jim invites his buddies Whitey Temple (Alan Hale, Jr.) and Hank (Edward Ryan, Jr) and their wives (and a baby) to stay at the O'Connor home. It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947).

Victor Moore and Charles Ruggles walk away with this movie as the opposing force and the immovable object, with the dynamic of servant and master completely reversed. The two men bicker and argue throughout the film, but the audience watches as O'Connor grows to like McKeever, despite his laissez-faire attitude towards life and work. 

Victor Moore's Broadway career began in 1906 - he would ultimately appear in 23 Broadway productions, through 1957 (when he appeared as the Starkeeper in Carousel). His film career began in 1915, and continued until 1955. He's probably best remembered as Fred Astaire's pal, Pop in Swing Time (1936) and as the husband being forced to separate from his wife of 50 years in Make Way for Tomorrow (1937). The Victor Moore Bus Terminal in Queens was named for him - he'd funded construction on a bus station there to help local performers get into Manhattan more quickly.  Mr. Moore died in 1962 at the age of 86. 

Frank Capra had originally planned to direct the film, but he eventually passed on it, and the director role was passed onto Roy Del Ruth. Gale Storm found working with Mr. Del Ruth to be somewhat of a problem, as he refused to allow her to sing, even though she was a trained singer (TCM article). Regardless of the lack of her real singing voice, she's enjoyable as Trudy, a plucky young woman who is willing to leave her luxurious life style and take on a job in a music store. Ms. Storm is best remembered today for her television series, My Little Margie and The Gale Storm Show (originally called Oh, Susanna). Later in her career, she would guest star in an episode of The Love Boat, which likely took some of its inspiration from The Gale Storm Show.

Like Gale Storm, Don DeFore (Jim Bullock) is remembered today primarily for his television work - specifically Hazel, in which he played the harried husband. This is one of the few film lead roles he got the opportunity to play, and he's earnest as the young veteran intent on making a better life for himself and his colleagues. His scenes with Ms. Storm are very nice; they make an appealing couple.

Ann Harding (Mary O'Connor), as always, is excellent as the rejected wife who is trying to reconnect with her husband. She'd not been appearing in a lot of movies by this point in her career (mostly appearing in one or a two film a year), but she makes the most of her limited screen time in this film.

Some extra footage was shot in New York City, which adds a verisimilitude to the film (AFI Catalog). We noticed that the house (which you can see is located on the corner of 79th Street and 5th Avenue) looks very much like the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (which was originally the home of Andrew Carnegie). The location of the O’Connor home is currently the site of the Ukrainian Institute of America (and was the home of Harry F. Sinclair).

The New York Times review by Bosley Crowther was positive - most of his praise centered on Victor Moore.  The story was aired on the Lux Radio Theatre in May 1947 with Mr. Moore, Mr. DeFore, and Mr. Ruggles reprizing their roles.

With Christmas coming, this is a delightful film that deserves to be included in the season's festivities.  We'll leave you with Victor Moore arriving at his winter home. However you celebrate, have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season!

Wayne and Colbert

Again, we had a bit of a break in our meetings, but we are back together, and decided to follow up The Searchers with another (and very different John Wayne movie.  This time, we saw Without Reservations, a light comedy feature Claudette Colbert as hit writer Christopher "Kit" Madden (think of her as Margaret Mitchell crossed with Ayn Rand), whose best-seller is about to be turned into a motion picture.  En route to the west coast, Kit meets two fliers, Rusty Thomas (John Wayne) and Dink Watson (Don DeFore). A few seconds with Rusty, and Kit is convinced that he is the embodiment of her lead character, Mark Winston.  She attaches herself to him, in hopes that he will portray her character in the upcoming movie. 

We found it a bit disconcerting to see Claudette Colbert going so totally gaga over a man as to be downright silly.  She doesn't want to tell Wayne her real name, so she adopts the pseudonym Kit - short for Kitty - Klotch.  Klotch?? She is a writer; one would think she could write herself a better character. And then she gets on a train without a ticket (because the boys are going on the less expensive train. She has first class accommodations on the SuperChief). Of course, hijinks  ensue, and love - eventually - follows.  Here's a scene on the train, in which Rusty discusses Kit's book:


On the plus side was a cameo by Cary Grant (always welcome), and Don DeFore as Dink was quite fun.  We spoke at some length about DeFore, an actor who we felt was highly underrated, and probably should have had a more extensive career.  But John Wayne making eyes at Dona Drake (as Dolores Ortega) just made no sense when the lovely Claudette was there.  We kinda wondered why Kit would stand around doing dishes while the men flirt with Dolores. The car they are in belongs to Kit. If WE were Kit, we would have left them behind!! (And gone looking for Cary Grant).

Okay, so not our favorite movie, but we didn't hate it. It's tongue is mostly in its cheek, and it does seem to know how totally silly it all is.  With the second World War over, this lighthearted look at a couple of fliers must have been a welcome relief.

We will be back soon. We'll be spending some time with the glorious Carole Lombard.