THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR
US, 1942, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Ray Milland, Ginger Rogers, Rita Johnson, Robert Benchley, Diana Lynn.
Directed by Billy Wilder.
The Major and the Minor was an enjoyable war comedy, featuring Ray Milland and Ginger Rogers. The play on the name indicates that part of the comedy came from a mix up of ages, but in a military setting. It was one of the earliest films written and directed by veteran Billy Wilder, who man to go an and make such films as The Lost Weekend and The Apartment for which he won Oscars.
The comic ingredients wore successful during the war. They were also popular after the war and Paramount who own the story adapted it as a vehicle for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. This was You’re Never Too Young. The military situation went. The play on ages remained. This time Jerry Lewis took the Ginger Rogers role and the Ray Milland role was divided between Dean Martin and Diana Lynn. You’re Never Too Young is clearly for Martin and Lewis humour and does not have the subtlety of the original. However it is quite enjoyable in itself. And it shows what can be done in adapting an original story, The same thing was down for Martin and Lewis in the adaptation of Nothing Sacred into Living It Up.
1. The tone of the title, its wit? Themes?
2. The atmosphere of 1941, the times, New York, war, fashions, etc.?
3. The film was Billy Wilder's first film as director. His later qualities and reputation? The style of humour, irony, farce? Critical comment and satire on the times and characters?
4. How credible was the structure of the film? Character, behaviour? Was this important or not?
5. How did the themes of men and women, love, power, war etc. come out via the humour?
6. The comedy of the opening, indications of sex comedy especially with Mr Osbourne and the lift driver, Susanne and her reaction? To Mr Osbourne and the lift driver? The girl who came from the country dissatisfied with the city and wanting to return home? The critique of the artificiality and predatory nature of the
7. The humour of her not being able to pay her way, the decision to be a little girl, the openings for farce? How well and humorously were these handled? The picture of Ginger Rogers posing as a twelve year old? The ambiguities of her behaviour? Her needing to be innocent while knowing? Why does this kind of disguise appeal to audiences?
8. What kind of person was Susan, the qualities of her character? The motivation for her decision, her hiring a daddy who swindled her of the money, her behaviour on the train, trying to outwit the guards, with her smoking etc? Her throwing herself at the Major and her not realising that she was a minor?
9. The portrayal of the academy? The background of war, yet the satire on the cadets and their wolfish behaviour, their strategy of the line? The satire?
10. The portrayal of Pamela: her initial jealousy, motherliness, hostility to Susan? The revelation of how selfish she was in manipulating Philip's life? Her deserving to lose Philip and being exposed? The satire on the greedy and powerful American woman?
11. The contrast with Lucy, the real child who saw the truth? The reason for her helping Susan?
12. How credible a character was Ray Milland and his style, his desire to be in action, his benevolent teasing of the cadets with Susan's presence? His inability to see through Pamela? His falling in love with Susan? His visiting her at the end? Did he deserve the happy ending? The American male?
13. The quality of the farce for e.g. Susan's attacking the switchboard, the dance, Mr Osborne pursuing her identity?
14. How well handled was the revelation of the truth? Pamela's blackmail? Mr Osborne's story? (satire with Mrs Osborne?)
15. The change of tone as Susan was at home with her mother, breaking off with her potential fiancee? How well did Susan portray her own mother when Philip visited?
16. How satisfying was the happy ending? How valuable is this type of comedy in its time, now?
