MISS GRANT TAKES RICHMOND

US, 1949, 87 minutes, Black and white.
Lucille Ball, William Holden, Janis Carter, James Gleason, Gloria Henry, Frank McHugh?, George Cleveland.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.

Miss Grant Takes Richmond is a brief comedy which sounds like a mixture of Frank Capra's earnest social reform comedies with Damon Runyon. It is a Lucille Ball vehicle - and she enjoys herself as a failed typist, and a do-gooding receptionist and a builder of homes for the needy. She is matched by William Holden as a suave undercover bookie. There is pleasant support from James Gleason and Frank McHugh? as bookies. It is all fairly predictable - but done nicely under Lloyd Bacon's direction.

1. Pleasant comedy of the late '40s? The touch of satire? The touch of hope?

2. Black and white photography, the American city, offices? Musical score?

3. The title and its focus on Lucille Ball - and William. Holden? An engaging screen couple? (British title: Innocence is Bliss.)

4. Lucille Ball as Ellen Grant: her inept typing practice, the exam, working at home, the boyfriend? Her being chosen for the job? Assumed that she had no brains? Her earnestness about housing for those without it? her relying on her uncle, the judge? Leading people on? Getting tangled in the undercover bookie work? The clash with the wealthy gambler? Attraction towards Richmond, his kissing her to get rid of her? her determined to stay, fulfilling every request? Going ahead with the building, getting advice from the clients? The money difficulties? Her finally discovering the truth? Masquerading as a gangster? The happy ending? A Lucille Ball tour de force?

5. William Holden suave as Richmond, his friends, his bookie work, entanglement with the lady, the desperation of the $5000 bet, the people present thinking they were being helped with housing, the failure, the money, letting Ellen build the buildings, Richmond finally giving in and getting the money, the happy ending?

6. His associates - comic villains? The performance to get the money from the mean builder?

7. The lady gambler and her toughs? Lucille Ball's impersonation? Final confrontation?

8. A popular piece of Americana - law, gambling, social needs?