mark.waltz
Two Warner Brothers contractees from the 1930's are reunited in this typical idea of younger girl/older man, and unfortunately, the female of the two old chums is not the young woman. She is, however, the shining supporting star of this colorful but unbelievable comedy where the male lead seems to think he's the cats meow for Hollywood's sweetheart, and it isn't a perfect match. Debbie Reynolds is miscast as a supposed juvenile delinquent, while 30's singing heartthrob Dick Powell plays the Oscar winning screenwriter who takes darling Debbie in as part of his research project. It is set over Christmas, so the holly and tinsel are colorfully aplenty, as are some campy costumes and even some songs.The other old Warners star who ends up being the scene stealer is the former Torchy Blane, Glenda Farrell, who once paired up as a Laverne and Shirley style comic duo with Powell's ex-wife, Joan Blondell. Farrell is a delightfully funny dipso, mixing a martini with everything but vermouth and complains about the problems of sobriety. Powell's unfortunate sidekick (for the audience that is) is the unfunny Alvy Moore who slowed down the laughs on "Green Acres" and is dreadfully unfunny here. While Debbie scored with the older Gene Kelly, the chemistry with Powell is null.A patronizing segment concerning the Academy Awards seems terribly forced. Anne Francis, pre-Forbidden Planet, is a scream (and screams a lot) as Powell's harpy girlfriend. But it gets pretty dull at times, suddenly livened by a wisecrack from Farrell, such as when Powell hands her a tiny Christmas present, to which she dryly replies, "I always wanted a mink coat." Debbie, supposedly 17 here, is closer to her real age than Powell is, claiming to be 35, which would have made him 13 when he made his film debut. It's cute in spots, but mostly corny, although some supporting players such as Maidie Norman, Ellen Corby, Les Tremayne and Lela Bliss (very funny in a bit as a drunk society matron) help speed things up. A surprise cameo is a nice touch, but it's not enough to elevate this overall.
JLRMovieReviews
Dick Powell is a struggling Hollywood writer, struggling, you see, to write serious material when he's known for writing froth for Jane Russell and such actors such as her. And, he's won an Oscar, too! In fact, the Oscar narrates the beginning of the film! When a female juvenile delinquent is arrested just before Christmas, she is brought to him, because the cop, who's a friend of Dick Powell's, thinks he is a nice enough guy to keep her for a few days, because you can't throw the book at her just before Christmas. Enter Debbie Reynolds, who was really 21 at the time, playing the 17-year-old juvenile delinquent, 6 months before turning 18. Dick Powell was 49 at the time, playing a 35-year-old in the movie. And, what do you think happens! In an intro to the movie, Robert Osbourne from TCM said considering the premise and the situation that Dick's thrown in in the film, you'd think there would have been outraged viewers and groups boycotting the movie. But there was barely much made of it at all, at the time this film came out in the movie theaters. It is a pleasant, fun little film with charming actors. But for some reason, I found myself losing interest in the last 30 minutes or so. I think that, after the novelty of the film wears off the viewer, it's just not that captivating. There's not enough zip to it, despite the presence of Debbie Reynolds, and Dick Powell never looking more handsome. This would be his last acting role in a film; he would only direct films from then on until his premature death. Glenda Farrell gives good support and livens up the picture to a point. After watching this, you'll probably be glad you did, but will wind up thinking it wasn't as good as you thought it would be considering the stars involved.
macpet49-1
OK, the costumes, scenery, dance routines etc are all great Hollywood Silver or Golden Era blah, blah, blah.Doesn't anyone else think it is abominable that a middle-aged man takes a teenager for a wife besides me? Even if he was doing her an immense favor by getting her off the streets, c'mon! This is, I think, every forty-fiftyish male's daydream (To rescue a wench and have them be devoted to you and btw recapture your youth!)however it is difficult to condone! This is folly. Why doesn't the elder woman in the plot take some responsibility and say "OK, enough is enough. This girl still needs parents and ought to be allowed to grow up before she's having babies and keeping house for strangers." But in the typical Hollywood fashion, nobody does a thing and ends up thinking it's great because this street urchin is going to 'fix' this confused elderly man. It's still going on--Clint Eastwood et al. They trade in wives like used cars.Shame on Hollywood, once again!
Michael O'Keefe
SUSAN SLEPT HERE is a cute comedy about a Hollywood scriptwriter Mark Christopher(Dick Powell), a former Oscar winner, having trouble scripting another smash. His hardworking typist Maude(Glenda Farrell)is about to her wits end as well. Christopher has had an idea of writing a script about juvenile delinquency and on Christmas Eve he is given custody of a spunky 18 year old troubled teen off the street...Susan Landis(Debby Reynolds). This is really not appreciated by Mark's gofer Virgil(Alvy Moore)and his fiancé Isabella(Anne Francis)is in a slow boil with the lid ready blow. The situation is all quit innocent until it seems Mark decides to marry the young girl to keep her out of jail. Now he really has material for a new script. Also in the cast: Horace McMahon, Herb Vigran, Les Tremayne and Maidie Norman.
AD
