THE BACHELOR AND THE BOBBYSOXER
US, 1947, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple, Rudy Vallee.
Directed by Irving Reis.
The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer was a very successful comedy of 1947. It had the teaming of Cary Grant with Myrna Loy, who at this time, made another successful comedy, Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House. It also is one of the earliest adult roles for the young Shirley Temple. Crooner Rudy Vallee also appears.
The film presents Cary Grant as the fulfilment of the fantasies of the two sisters. One is the older sister, very serious, Myrna Loy, the other is the bobbysoxer of the post-World War Two period, Shirley Temple.
The film won an Oscar for best original screenplay by novelist Sidney Sheldon.
An entertaining look at the atmosphere of the United States in the mid-40s, after World War Two, the emergence of women – and the bobbysoxer freedoms of that era.
1. How successful and enjoyable a comedy? The light, touch? A late forties comedy? An Oscar for its screenplay? The appeal of the style, its impact now?
2. This kind of comedy an reflecting America? The technical side& black and white photography, the humour, the wit and the light touch. farcical situations American style? The impact of the three main stars and their working together ? successfully?
3. The universal appeal of this kind of localised comedy: romance, man-woman relationships, generation gaps, responsibilities? Happy endings?
4. The tone of the title and the reference to the two characters? The alternate British title was 'Bachelor Knight'. The reference more to the fantasy of the visions of the two women? The bachelor as the fulfilment of dream wishes and fantasies?
5. The portrayal by Cary Grant with his style of the man-about-town: lecher, accidents, responsibilities and irresponsibility, way of life, wealth? The encounter with the family, with the Judge, with her sister, with the fiance? How interesting and enjoyable a portrayal in light comedy terms of the bachelor man?
6. The presentation of the two sisters - seriously, comically? The generation gap? The younger sister and the style of the bobbysoxer of the late forties? The more serious older sister? The bonds of family, the other members, the older members and uncles, aunts? Family? Humorous American types?
7. The focus on the younger sister, her bobbysoxer style, study, moods, ranges of interests, changes of attitudes, infatuation? The humour of the presentation of the infatuation, the bachelor knight, romanticising? Romanticising love? Being serious about going around? The outings and the humour of the clashes of mood between the bachelor and the bobbysoxer? Her gradual understanding of the situation, of herself? A bit of wisdom in her growing up?
8. The older sister as judge, serious attitudes, sense of responsibility, growing infatuation with the bachelor? The effect on her, the vision of the bachelor knight? Humanizing the older sister?
9. The humour of Rudy Vallee's style as the fiance, poking fun at this kind of man? The humour of a triangle?
10. How well did the film rely on the wit of its dialogue, humour, Cary Grant's offhand remarks? The accumulated detail of the situations as the lecher, meals, the outings, restaurants, picnics, the races etc.? Why the appeal? The strengths of this kind of comedy? The ordinary values that it represents and appeal to audiences?
