MY DEAR MISS ALDRICH
US, 1937, 74 minutes. Black and white.
Edna May Oliver, Maureen O’ Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, Rita Johnson, Paul Harvey.
Directed by George B. Seitz.
My Dear Miss Aldrich is a brief newspaper comedy in the vein of The Front Page/His Girl Friday.
Walter Pidgeon is the editor of a paper, not keen on advancing women in the newspaper world. Maureen O’ Sullivan is the heiress to the paper, an uncle who dies intestate. Pidgeon thinks that the owner, coming from Nebraska, will be an ignorant old lady. However, she is a vivacious young teacher. She comes with her aunt, played by Edna May Oliver.
The film is very much an Edna May Oliver vehicle. She had appeared to advantage as Miss Pross in A Tale of Two Cities, had appeared in David Copperfield and was to be Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice. Her appearance looks eccentric, she is able to play on that and offer all kinds of sardonic comments. She obviously relishes the opportunity for this kind of comedy.
Maureen O’ Sullivan is a feisty feminist of the 1930s, wants to be a reporter, gets some scoops, clashes with her editor – even though she is in love with him.
There is a subplot concerning a queen who is pregnant – with Pidgeon going to all kinds of lengths to find out the truth while O’ Sullivan simply phones and asks her. There is also a subplot about a strike, two rival groups, O’ Sullivan getting the story but being kept incommunicado. The rescue includes people being knocked out, Edna May Oliver with a gun, a pretence that there is a smallpox epidemic – and the newspaper able to get the story before anyone else.
This is a very entertaining reminder of the stories of the 1930s and the sharp dialogue – as well as anticipating women’s issues of several decades later.
1. Entertaining comedy drama? The cast? The newspaper background? Scoops – and spin?
2. New York setting, the contrast with Nebraska? Black and white photography, musical score? The sharp dialogue? By Herman Mankiewicz who was later to win an Oscar for Citizen Kane.
3. The opening with the newspaper, Ken Morley as the editor, his relationship with Governor Warfield? The owner dying without a will? The search for an heir? The discovery of Martha Aldrich? The phone call and Ken’s presumption that she was an old woman?
4. Mrs Atherton, with Martha, their life in Nebraska? Martha and her teaching? The news about the newspaper? The decision to go to New York? The character of Mrs Atherton, her appearance, manner, her remarks, double-takes? An entertaining character – her interventions? Confronting Ken? With the governor? Her going into action when Martha was detained? The finale with the smallpox?
5. Maureen O’ Sullivan as Martha, attractive, in New York, the talks with Ken, the meals, the discussions, her wanting to be a reporter? His antagonism? Her phoning the queen and getting the information? Her meeting with Mrs Warfield? Missing the wedding? Resigning? The story about the strike, her making contact, in the dumbwaiter, overhearing the discussions, her being detained? Her getting the scoop – collaborating with Mrs Atherton about the smallpox? Her success? The romantic ending?
6. Ken, Walter Pidgeon’s style, his work, success with the paper? Yet wanting scoops? Spinning stories? His journalists? The disguises? His being kicked out by the queen’s attendants? The story of the strike? Antagonism towards Martha? His being caught up, Mrs Atherton knocking him out? His being detained? The finale with the story?
7. The Warfields, the collaboration of the governor, friendship with Ken, support of Martha?
8. The strike story? The Sinclairs? Their double-dealings? Detaining Martha? The escape? The guard at the inn? His being deceived? The tough guy?
9. Popular ingredients for a 1930s entertainment?
