‘BACHELOR MOTHER’ IS A YESTERYEAR TITLE SURE TO CHARM
A film many would now consider outdated (and perhaps under the surface it deeply is), Bachelor Mother is a title that beautifully accomplishes it goal, which is to entertain.
Bachelor Mother (1939) Film Review
Getting her walking papers after the holidays isn’t something Polly (Ginger Rogers) expects, but her work being seasonal, it’s the tradition of the department store to cut staff after their busy season. Finding a job prior to the season was difficult, and now she isn’t sure how she’ll find her next one. Things get more complicated when on a walk home, she sees a small baby left on the doorstep of a foundling home. Comforting the crying child, she ends up being mistaken for the mother.
The whole thing spirals out of control when the son of her boss (David Niven) becomes involved, the baby is left on her doorstep and no one believes her that this isn’t her child!
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‘BACHELOR MOTHER’ IS A YESTERYEAR TITLE SURE TO CHARM. Review of the vintage comedy centering on the holidays and has a #NewYearsEve scene, too! #GingerRogers Share on XIn my cinematic life, I go through periods where I watch classic or films considered vintage more often than not. Right now, I’m watching them a little more often. From 1939, this one has one of its brightest stars in the lead, Ginger Rogers, and is exceptionally delightful. From its stars to its premise to the sense of adventure, it’s a lovely time.
Like almost anything else of this era (thinking of things like You Can’t Take it With You or Vivacious Lady), this one has a sense of madcap comedy that makes for a different type adventure. Minus the action that comes with most adventure titles. Surprisingly, I did love David Niven in his role, which I think he plays well, and does a nice job with. I do also enjoy, though I haven’t seen many of her films, Ginger Rogers.
A film that also would later inspire a musical remake, Bachelor Mother is thoroughly entertaining. It’s delightful and charming, and just good fun to see. It has fabulous humor and is the type we don’t really see nowadays. If you aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to the season, this one also covers the week between Christmas and New Year, but isn’t overtly Christmas if you want something a little more subtle. It’s also easily a movie that entertains which I think is its goal, and we, as the viewer, should let it do that job.
Stream, at publication, Bachelor Mother with Tubi; or digitally purchase the film on places like Prime Video
Photos: Alamy
Content: this one references an out-of-wedlock mother often (she isn’t), which is kind of era taboo. There are some winking innuendoes as a result and an entire thing is made up about who the father is which again, is improper (the idea a child resulting outside of marriage) in this time frame. The movie is the typical PG / G rating of this era and is all very innocent.
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