Did Ginger Rogers Win Any Awards? Did Ginger Rogers Have Any Babys

8 /10

Ignore all the plot holes and just sit back and enjoy the fun!

Okay, at the outset I've gotta admit that if you are the type person that CAN'T suspend disbelief and just keep your brain from thinking too much, you WON'T enjoy this film. But, if you can and are willing to see this film with an open mind, then you'll find it to be a delightful and funny little romance. Some of this is due to the clever dialog, some due to the fine direction and some of this is no doubt due to the excellent acting of the three leads in the film. And when it comes to the leads, you KNOW a film with Charles Coburn must be watching, as he plays his usual gruff but lovable old rich guy--and perhaps he's just a little more likable and cuddly in this film than usual.

The plot is silly and easily could be explained away, but bear with it. Single lady Ginger Rogers is walking down the street when she sees an older lady placing a baby on the steps of a society for foundlings. However, the baby is precariously balanced and the lady just leaves the kid--and the kid might fall down the steps. So, nice lady Ginger picks up the tyke when the door opens and they assume the baby is hers. A quick visit with a doctor COULD have cleared this up but no one thought of that. Instead, after she leaves the baby (despite their protests), they decide to help this poor unfortunate lady by going to her boss and begging him to not only give her a job (she'd just been laid off) but to assist her take care of the little fella. This is how she meets young and handsome David Niven and again and again throughout the film, Niven and others insist the baby is Ginger's. Later, when Niven's father (Charles Coburn) finds out about this "bachelor mother", he is surprisingly delighted and thinks it's his son's! The film has a lot of laughs and is clever, but most of all, it's just a lot of fun as well as romantic. It's a sweet little film well worth your time and one of the better movies Rogers or Niven ever made.

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8 /10

Ginger Goes With The Flow

Bachelor Mother finds Ginger Rogers as a shopgirl working for the large department store that Charles Coburn owns. When she's let go at Christmas time she's going to have to worry where the next meal for her is coming. No position to be taking on dependents.

Which is why when she finds a baby left on her doorstep she takes it to a foundling home where everyone assumes it's her's. When she tells her story about being let go, they're moved to do something about it. She gets her job back with a raise, but Ginger's a most unwilling mother.

Of course the speculation gets going as to who the dad is and the playboy son of Charles Coburn seems a real likely possibility. Especially when you've got David Niven as the playboy.

Garson Kanin directed the Felix Jackson original story in the film that became Bachelor Mother. The original screenplay was nominated for an Oscar in that category, but lost to Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

I saw the musical remake that RKO did 17 years later with Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds and it was clear just how superior this film is to that one. Eddie was playing David Niven's part and while the man could sing, he hadn't a tenth of Niven's charm. To be perfectly fair though, there were few men as charming as David Niven, he carried more films on the strength of that charm than anyone else I can think of.

Ginger Rogers was doing a great variety of dramatic roles now at RKO in between her films with Fred Astaire. She was really kicking her career into high gear at this point and would win an Oscar next year for Kitty Foyle. Hard as she struggles in this film to convince everyone she's not the mother it gets easier to just go with the flow. When you see where the film is flowing you'll agree.

Bachelor Mother is a bright and witty comedy, not quite of the screwball variety, but still holding up quite well after more than 70 years.

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8 /10

waiting for a remake

It's the day before Christmas. Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) is getting let go from the Merlin department store job after the Christmas rush. She finds a baby left at an orphanage doorstep and mistakenly assumed to be the baby's mother. The orphanage tracks her down to her workplace. David Merlin (David Niven) is the playboy son of the store owner.

This is a fun premise and I can see it being remade into a modern movie. Of course, they would have to get around the DNA problem. Maybe, she would be forced to take in the baby for a short time while they wait for the DNA result. It's definitely doable. For her career, Rogers is more famous for her dancing shoes but she really fits the role here. She can be bitchy and that works well with her trying to take care of a kid. She has good comedic chops and David Niven is a great partner. This is loads of fun that translates well into the modern era.

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9 /10

Every man wants to be daddy.

Warning: Spoilers

When a recently fired department store employee (Ginger Rogers) finds an abandoned baby, she does what any good woman would do: she tries to get rid of it. But the orphanage she takes it to is sure she is lying about not being the mother and follows her home to return the baby, refusing to take no for an answer. All of a sudden, she has her job back, and every man she knows is yearning to play papa. But circumstances make it appear that the department store owner's son (David Niven) is the responsible party, and hilarious results ensue.

This delicious screwball comedy is a bit more subtle in its humor than classics like "My Man Godfrey", "Libeled Lady" and "Bringing Up Baby", but classic none the less. It focuses more on how a definitely single woman must change her life and how she handles sudden and unwanted motherhood. An amusing scene has Niven and Rogers becoming closer with Niven insisting a baby book he's reading indicates that to feed a baby, you must rub oatmeal in the infant's belly button (or "navel") and his awkward reaction to being corrected.

A cute Donald Duck toy causes all sorts of contention in the department store, much like Auntie Mame's roller skates. This duck is used as a metaphor to comment on the way adults sometimes argue, talking over each other and sounding perfectly ridiculous. The wonderful Charles Coburn has a wonderful supporting part as Niven's imperious father who gets to be a bit emotional when he learns that he may be a grandfather. Rogers is hysterically funny in pretending to be a Swedish heiress, making up ridiculous sounding words as she goes along, and finally getting a good dig in at the snooty socialite Niven has dumped for her. An intelligent and witty screenplay (by Norman Krasna, with assistance from director Garson Kanin) helps this rise above the average Hollywood comedy, making it a true classic that you won't want to miss.

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7 /10

Ha ha!

Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers), a clerk at Merlin's Department Store, is mistakenly presumed to be the mother of a foundling. Outraged at Polly's unmotherly conduct, David Merlin (David Niven) becomes determined to keep the single woman and "her" baby together.

Is this what they call a comedy of errors? It certainly is funny, as a woman is stuck trying to get rid of a baby who obviously isn't hers, even though her boss and everyone else seems to think it is. Strangely, the child's well-being is a background concern, and it is interesting that the foundling center claims it receives over 500 babies each year -- what was going on? Or was that just how adoption was done in those days? Ginger Rogers is great, and David Niven is excellent. I just love his debonair demeanor. He is always great, but the younger Niven is a special treat.

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5 /10

Great Start, But Fizzled Fast

This started off pretty well with a good first half hour, but once the romance kicked in between store clerk "Polly Parrish" (Ginger Rogers) and store owner's son "David Merlin" (David Nivens), it bogged down. Despite the romance, there was just too much disagreement between the two on how to take care of this baby.

"This baby" was an abandoned one left at a Foundling doorstep, but everyone thought it was Polly's child. That joke was fine to begin with, but got overplayed something fierce. They kept calling the baby "it," too, which is insulting and annoying.

Too bad, because the beginning showed great promise, especially when we got to see Ginger dance. That's always a treat.

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7 /10

Modest Comedy Succeeds.

Warning: Spoilers

You might expect something different from a synopsis. A baby is left on shop girl Ginger Rogers' doorstep. Everyone assumes she is the mother, including her wealthy boss, David Niven. Rogers and Niven are at odds with each other but shortly the inevitable happens. In addition to everyone's mistaken assumption that Rogers has had a (gulp) illegitimate child, there are various schemes to align her status as mother with her actual pristine character.

I had plenty of handkerchiefs handy for when the plot slowed down for the drama and sentiment -- the cute little baby doing cute things, Rogers sobbing over her undeserved shame, everyone hugging the tot and weeping with love. Actually, I don't own any handkerchiefs, so I had paper towels at the ready. I didn't need them anyway. It's pretty funny.

There are amusing incidents (a disguised Niven trying to exchange a faulty toy duck at the store he owns)and comic plot twists that end up with several men claiming to be the father.

But it's a quiet comedy -- the screenplay is by Norman Krasna and the direction by Garsin Kanin -- no pratfalls and very little shrieking. It's done in a lower key than, say, the Doris Day/ Rock Hudson comedies but it travels on the same track. Instead of an obvious wise crack, we get someone muttering an ironic, "Ha ha." Ginger Rogers is really an attractive woman. She has oversized blue eyes and she can get an emotion across with a muted moue or a flick of her gaze. Niven is good, better at comic roles than dramatic. The supporting cast is at par, with Ferike Boros great as a stereotypical cheerful and loving grandmother, nurse, or housekeeper.

If you get into it, you'll probably enjoy it.

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8 /10

A pure delight

Ginger Rogers is young, single, and unemployed when, as the result of doing a good deed, she gets stuck with a baby in "Bachelor Mother," a 1939 film also starring David Niven and Charles Coburn.

Rogers plays Polly Parrish, who on her way home from her last day at the department store she worked for over Christmas, sees an old woman leaving a baby on the steps of an orphanage. Fearful the child will fall down the steps, she is kneeling over him when someone from the orphanage opens the door and mistakes Rogers for the baby's mother. Polly gives the place her name and place of employment before she realizes they think she's the mother. When she runs away and leaves the baby, the orphanage gets busy contacting her employer. She gets the baby and her job back, plus a raise. No one will listen to her, so she gives in and makes up a story. Complications arise with a date who wants to move up in the store to floorwalker and believes the son of the owner (David Niven) is the baby's father. Eventually the store's irascible owner (Coburn) thinks Polly has given birth to his grandchild and insists that his son marry her.

This is a charming little film with wonderful performances. Niven in that stuffed shirt way of his is very elegant and likable, Coburn is great as his demanding father who breaks down and cries as he holds the baby. "I'd know that chin anywhere," he sobs. Rogers is fantastic. She looks gorgeous and even has a chance to dance without Fred around.

Highly recommended. Wonderful entertainment.

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9 /10

First class romantic comedy!

Warning: Spoilers

Director: GARSON KANIN. Screenplay: Norman Krasna. Story: Felix Jackson. Film editors: Henry Berman, Robert Wise. Photography: Robert de Grasse. Art directors: Van Nest Polglase and Carroll Clark. Set decorator: Darrell Silvera. Miss Rogers' costumes designed by Irene. Make-up: Mel Berns. Music: Roy Webb. Music orchestrated by George Parrish. Choreographer: Hermes Pan. Stills: John Miehle. Special effects: Vernon L. Walker. Publicity: Nan Blake. Assistant director: Edward Killy. Sound recording: Richard Van Hessen. RCA Sound System. Producer: Buddy G. DeSylva. A Pandro S. Berman Production.

Copyright 6 July 1939 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 29 June 1939 (ran two weeks). U.S. release: 4 August 1939. U.K. release: 31 August 1939. Australian release: 19 October 1939. 82 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: On the day before Christmas, a department store salesgirl innocently picks up a baby on the steps of a foundling home.

NOTES: Hollywood obviously thought there was something especially catchy about the word bachelor, for it is used in the title of a whole heap of movies including Bachelor Father, Father Is a Bachelor, Bachelor Daddy, The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, Bachelor Apartment, Bachelor Bait, Bachelor in Paradise, The Bachelor Girl, Bachelor Party, The Bachelor's Affairs, The Bachelor's Daughters, Bachelor's Folly, Bachelor Flat, etc. There's even another movie called Bachelor Mother. Produced and released in 1932 by Hollywood Pictures, it starred Evelyn Knapp, James Murray, Maragret Seddon, Paul Page, and Astrid Allwyn. The screenplay by Paul Gangelin, Jack Natteford, Luther Reed and Jack Townley was based on a story by Al Boasberg. The movie was directed by Charles Hutchison.

Felix Jackson, who penned the story for this one, was nominated for the year's top writing award, but lost out to Lewis R. Foster's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington".

COMMENT: Although disguised by a typical exploitation picture title, "Bachelor Mother" actually turns out to be a very classy "A" romantic comedy with a top cast and high production values.

Mind you, there are no comedic belly laughs but plenty of chuckles and lots of charm. The story no doubt deserved its award nomination, but Krasna's ingenious screenplay adds many piquant details to take the fun much further and even manages to weave Donald Duck into playing a key role in the proceedings.

Indeed the whole business with Mr. Duck is quite funny, including a clever montage and a brilliantly satiric scene in which Niven attempts to get a faulty Donald exchanged. We love the reprimand: "You're a disgrace to the Toy Department!"

All the players are faultlessly cast, from stars down to the smallest bits. Krasna even provides some nice bits of business for favorite character actors like Chester Clute (as the little man at the water fountain in the park), Horace McMahon (as a tuxedo-suited bouncer), Barbara Pepper (as Niven's willing/unwilling dance partner), Alec Craig (as a mink-coat-gathering night watchman), and above all, June Wilkins, the snooty society girl who stands Niven up and is then neatly put into her place by a delightfully acerbic Ginger Rogers.

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9 /10

Bachelor Mother- The Farce That Makes You Laugh ****

I vividly remember the remake of this funny film with Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds entitled "Bundle of Joy."

As was the case with the remake, the original "Bachelor Mother" is in fine form due to a great cast of characters.

David Niven and Ginger Rogers were never better as two people-the son of a department store owner and a worker who are drawn to love by accident.

Witnessing a baby being left at a home begins an odyssey of hilarity when no one will believe Rogers that she is not the mother of the baby. She takes the baby in and when the investigator (Ernest Truex) talks to the son of the boss (Niven), he gives her her job back.

Frank Albertson is effective as the disgruntled employee who really sets things in motion by sending the boss (a wonderful Charles Coburn) a note stating that Niven (Coburn's son) fathered the child.

This film is well paced and an absolute joy to watch.

It just shows how two people from wealth and poverty can join forces.

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A Lot of Chuckles from Unlikely Material

Slick romantic comedy that toys with tricky premise—unwed motherhood. Polly's a dutiful salesgirl in a big New York department store. Through a mix-up, she becomes the reluctant mother of a foundling infant. Trouble is nobody believes she's not the real mother, so complications ensue, particularly with her wealthy employer's son (Niven). After all, if she's the mother, then who's the father. So, can she keep her job, her reputation, and the baby since it's 1938 and times are tough. No doubt about it-- Polly's in a real pickle.

Rogers handles her difficult role in expert style. The movie's humor comes mostly from touchy situations and character reactions, rather than bounce and gags. As Polly, Rogers is fairly low-key letting her facial expressions speak humorously for her. I love that packed jitterbug ballroom where, as expected, Rogers gets to show her fast-stepping chops. Niven's also good, in a more animated role than usual as he tries to figure out his feelings about Polly and the baby. But really, how did director Kanin get the perfect reactions from infant John who deserves a chubby Oscar for his charming performance. Also, I don't know how they got that massed New Year's Eve crowd, but I think they recruited all of New York City into one small space. Anyway, it's quite a visual effect.

All in all, it's a beguiling movie, slickly done all around. And considering the touchy premise, that's a genuine Hollywood accomplishment.

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6 /10

Amusing mishaps of a young woman and a foundling baby...

GINGER ROGERS had a flair for light comedy that is evident here as a department store clerk who is mistakenly believed to be the mother of a foundling baby. David NIVEN is the philandering son of rich man CHARLES COBURN and both of them think Rogers is the baby's mother.

That about sums up the plot, out of which Norman Krasna makes the most out of a situation which could easily have been explained if someone just told the truth. Apparently, RKO thought the story was so cute that it deserved a remake and in '57 it was remade as BUNDLE OF JOY with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. Unfortunately, it lacked the sparkle of the original and included some forgettable songs.

David NIVEN is every bit as charming as Ginger in the sort of role you might expect CARY GRANT to fill and CHARLES COBURN, FRANK ALBERTSON and ERNEST TRUEX add to the fun. The New Year's Eve party scene is a standout among a series of amusing capers.

Summing up: Nothing special, but passes the time pleasantly.

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9 /10

BACHELOR MOTHER (Garson Kanin, 1939) ***1/2

Apart from its originality (the somewhat risqué story, involving the various misunderstandings which arise over an abandoned baby, was even nominated for an Oscar) and reputation as a comedy classic (from an era crammed with them), this film is notable as a touchstone in the careers of all three protagonists – Ginger Rogers (her musical partnership with Fred Astaire now firmly behind her), David Niven (tackling his first starring role) and Charles Coburn (who practically spent the rest of his life playing wealthy and big-hearted eccentrics) – as well as marking perhaps director Kanin's most satisfying effort in this capacity (he is still best-known as a scriptwriter); incidentally, Rogers and Kanin would soon be re-united for the almost-as-good TOM, DICK AND HARRY (1941; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034299/usercomments-11). Given the Christmas back-drop, BACHELOR MOTHER makes for ideal festive fare – adding to the already warm glow (but thankfully eschewing sentimentality) of its subject matter. The two leads exude a wonderful chemistry (they would be reteamed two more times over the course of almost 20 years) which lends conviction to their budding romance and, likewise, a greater sense of involvement to their wacky antics (particularly Niven's attempt to exchange a defective toy in his own establishment incognito, during a marathon dance contest and a New Year's Eve dinner in which department-store clerk Rogers is passed off before Niven's high-society peers as a Swedish heiress). When Coburn, playing Niven's tycoon dad, gets wind of his son's supposed parenthood (via an anonymous note, actually from vindictive employee and romantic rival Frank Albertson), he is overjoyed at the prospect of finally having a grandson – even after both Rogers and Niven produce alternative fathers (including Albertson himself)!; the ending, then, with the leads getting hitched with a ready-made child in tow (a common occurrence today but not back then I suppose), is pure Hollywood. For the record, the film was remade – in color and widescreen – as BUNDLE OF JOY in 1956...which, given the casting of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher (then a real-life couple), not to mention the addition of musical numbers, provided a distinctly unappetizing 'alternative' scenario for this viewer.

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8 /10

If The Slipper Fits ...

Warning: Spoilers

This is yet another Depression Era take on Cinderella - not for nothing is is the David Niven character named Merlin - designed to take people's minds off both the recent austerity and the global war waiting in the wings. What comes across strongly is the sheer professionalism from all Departments, Script, Directing, Acting, that almost succeeds in preventing awkward questions - the film begins on what Americans insist on referring to as 'the day before Christmas', known to the rest of the world as Christmas Eve, with Ginger Rogers being made redundant from her temporary salesperson position at Merlin's Department Store; due to plot machinations the son of the owner of the store (David Niven) is moved to reinstate her and the continuity implies that she goes back to work the next day (Christmas) - etc. The character played by the reliable and prolific Frank Albertson (so memorable in It's A Wonderful Life) fluctuates between up and down like a dysfunctional yo-yo but it's a safe bet that no one in 1939 noticed any of this and were content to bask in the high Enjoyment factor. Even today it holds up pretty well if only perhaps for one first-time viewing.

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7 /10

Wonderful

Department store clerk Polly (Ginger Rogers) is mistakenly believed to be the mother of an abandoned baby. She has to go along with it to keep her job. David Merlin (David Niven), the son of department store owner J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn) takes a special interest in Polly's situation. Gradually the two fall in love but things are further complicated when J.B. is led to believe David is the father of Polly's baby.

Delightful romantic comedy with wonderful performances from Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. Special mention for Frank Albertson in one of his better roles outside of playing Sam "Hee Haw" Wainwright in It's a Wonderful Life. Donald Duck also figures into things in an amusing way. I actually heard the radio version of this before I saw the movie. I heard it on satellite radio several years ago. It featured Ginger and David reprising their film roles. This is a fun, nicely-paced movie with an immensely likable cast that seems to be having a great time. Ginger fans certainly won't want to miss it as it's one of her best.

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7 /10

Would the Baby's True Mother Please Step Forward

Ginger Rogers is adorable, and she has a ton of chemistry with David Niven in this comedy about a woman who's mistaken for the mother of an abandoned baby and for various reasons plays along with the ruse.

The film is pretty racy stuff for its time, frankly acknowledging illegitimate children, not to mention the fact that Niven's character falls in love with Rogers and willingly begins a relationship with her all the while believing that she is the true mother of the child. There's little in the film that's outright hilarious but much that induces humorous chuckles, and much worse could be said for many a movie.

One of my favorite character actors, Charles Coburn, is on hand to play the child's "grandfather" who goes on a crusade to take custody of it.

Grade: A-

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Bachelor Mother review

An amiable enough comedy that revolves around the nonsensical premise that Ginger Rogers is unable to return a baby the authorities mistakenly believe to be hers. Rogers was just as good a comedienne as dancer, and is provided able support from a young David Niven and a sadly under-used (in the film's first hour) Charles Coburn.

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9 /10

Sophisticated, smart, hilarious, and adorable

In the year that brought sweeping dramas Gone With the Wind, The Four Feathers, Wuthering Heights, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Rains Came, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, and several others, it sure is refreshing to see a 1939 comedy. Bachelor Mother is side-splittingly, hilariously funny. If you've been shying away from it because you think it'll be silly, rent it. It's surprisingly sophisticated and smart.

Ginger Rogers works in a department store toy department, but since she was only hired on for the holiday rush, she knows she'll be let go in January. On the street, she sees a woman drop off a baby on the steps of an orphanage; Ginger picks up the baby to run after the woman, but the orphanage leaders think she's the mother. Soon, the rumor mill gets out of control, and everyone thinks Ginger is an unwed mother-including the department store head, who feels guilty about firing a struggling single mother during Christmas and immediately gives her back her job.

Where does David Niven come in, you ask? Charles Coburn is the owner of the department store, and The Niv is his spoiled, suave son. Do you think The Niv will meet Ginger? Do you think he'll court her even though he thinks she's a bachelor mother? Do you think the witty comedy will make for countless quips and chemistry-building funny and romantic scenes? You won't get to see much of Ginger dancing in this one, but you'll get to see plenty of The Niv in his comedic specialty. He's stubborn, charming, handsome, funny, frazzled, classy, and adorable. When he and Ginger spend New Year's Eve together, he kisses her goodnight at her door at one a.m. "Happy New Year, Chicago," he smiles. "You wouldn't want to stay up and see the New Year in Los Angeles, would you?" he asks after their kiss. Isn't that darling? Who wouldn't fall for him after that?

Charles Coburn also gets to shine in this movie, with his numerous comedic scenes and an extra special role in Ginger Rogers's baby fiasco. He's hilarious and gets to utter one of the funniest lines to come out of the '30s. With so many different types of humor in one movie, and with a Christmas setting, how can you go wrong? Thankfully, you can't; Bachelor Mother will quickly become one of your annual favorites.

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7 /10

Common early comedy setting with a nice plot twist

Warning: Spoilers

"Bachelor Mother" is a very good, light comedy-romance. The setting is a familiar one for comedies and dramas of the early to mid-20th century. Working people in department stores try to keep their heads above water, while hoping for a break or something better down the line. The store owners are of the upper crust and live in a whole world away from these folks. But, dreams are fulfilled in the Hollywood versions where working girl meets boy – usually the son of the owner.

Such is the case in this movie. But this one has a different and uncommon twist. It brings another social issue into play – the raising of children given up by single mothers or poor, who drop their babies off at children's homes or public places (police, fire stations, libraries, etc.). It provides for a different, warm-hearted, gentle comedy that leads to romance. But in this film, the working girl heroine, Polly Parrish, is not a mother who drops off her baby, but someone who comes across another woman leaving a baby. Much of the humor is in the foundling home people "knowing" that she is the mother, because all other deny that the baby is theirs as well.

All of this leads to much fun as the department store keeps Polly on after the Christmas holiday rush for which she had been hired, and then one things lead to another. It's a nice story with a good cast. David Niven is department store owner's son, David Merlin. Charles Coburn is the patriarch who wants his son to settle down and start a family. That, translated, means giving him a grandchild or more for heirs.

One of the funniest segments is David Merlin's visit to Polly at home when she's feeding the baby. He has bought the latest expert advice book for her – on raising children, and insists that she pay attention to the proper way to feed a baby. The dialog, with his reading from the book, is so dumb that it's funny. See the IMDb Quotes section on the film Web page here for that dialog.

The plot is different enough to keep one's interest. The screenplay is simple. It's a nice story with some funny segments.

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8 /10

"I don't care who the father is - I'm the Grandfather!!!!"

Warning: Spoilers

Ginger Rogers almost made the mistake of her career, when she flatly refused to appear in "Bachelor Mother". Pandro S. Berman forced her to do it and when released she was at last recognised as one of Hollywood's top comediennes. I love this film!!!!!

Polly Parrish (Ginger Rogers) has just been given a pink slip from Merlin's Department Store. After being forced to listen to quacking toy Donald Ducks all day the last thing she needs is a baby!!!! While on lunch she finds a woman abandoning a baby at a foundling home. When Polly is caught holding the baby she can convince no-one that the baby isn't hers. The foundling officers contact her boss David Merlin (David Niven) and she is given her job back plus a bonus. She still can't convince anybody that the baby isn't hers.

One of the funniest sequences is when she and Freddie (Frank Albertson) enter a dance competition and David comes to the night club with the baby in tow. Another funny sequence is when Niven tries to return a faulty Donald Duck (ha!ha!) incognito and finds the staff less than helpful. Then there is the part where he takes Polly out to party with his rich friends and she impersonates a Swedish girl who can't speak English.

When "a friend" sends a note to David's father (Charles Coburn) implying that David is the father then the shoe is on the other foot.

Charles Coburn is wonderful as the grandfather (he thinks!!!) "I don't care who the father is - I'm the Grandfather!!!" It is a very funny film and at the end a few men stand up to claim paternity.

Ginger was never better than in these type of working girl roles.

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8 /10

A Wonderful Holiday Comedy

In the career of Ginger Rogers, "Bachelor Mother" came on the heels of "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle", her last pairing with Fred Astaire. She was always looking for roles that focused on more than dancing. It would not take her long to establish her credentials as one of the premier actresses on the big screen

Garson Kanin wrote this excellent comedy and the tightness of the script shows it. The story moves along without an extraneous moment, punctuated by great lines and, of course, Ginger's comedic flair.

She plays Polly Parrish, a department store salesgirl hired for the holiday season, who receives her termination notice. When she leaves the store, she sees a woman abandoning a baby at the door of an adoption agency. The clever script ties a case of mistaken identity with the foundling, Polly's employer, and an attractive bachelor (David Niven).

It would be a mistake to reveal much about the trajectory of the story or the amusing scenes that play out. But Ms. Rogers plays rom and com as well as any actress ever has. David Niven is, of course, the epitome of affable sophistication. The strong supporting cast features Charles Coburn as David Niven's father and the owner of the department store.

Put this one on your list of holiday favorites.

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7 /10

Bright fluff with well-paired Niven and Rogers

Warning: Spoilers

While I never particularly liked David Niven, I never disliked him either. Here, however, he turns in a very entertaining portrayal of a socially dense department store heir. Through all his density, he eventually becomes rather likable.

For years I avoided Ginger Rogers, thinking of her as "that dancer". In recent years I've discovered she was quite a good actress, and she shines here as the woman with the foundling...which doesn't really belong to her. Of course, she works for David Niven's department store.

The big disappointment here is Charles Coburn's role. As one of the finest character actors of that era, he was terribly wasted here as the father/owner of the department store. He could have been so good had the role been fleshed out a bit more.

I'm not sure Frank Albertson was up to the role of the sorta-protagonist here.

The plot line is entertaining. Polly (Ginger Rogers) is walking along the street one day and sees an older lady leave a baby on the steps of an orphanage. Fearing for the baby's safety, Polly picks up the baby and is assumed to be the baby's mother. Although she has just lost her job as a clerk at a department store, the store's owner's son (David Niven) is brought into the situation, and also assumes Polly is the mother. He gives her her job back, but Polly has to start raising the child (BTW, this part of the story -- what ultimately happens to the baby -- is never resolved in the film). Of course, Ginger and Niven fall in love, although it is a bit of a rocky road for a while. Niven's father (Charles Coburn) wants a grandson, even if it was born out of wedlock, and in a screwball finale all live happily ever after...presumably the baby, too.

It's light, but charming and funny. Recommended.

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7 /10

A swell romance, sweet comedy and that cute little thing as a contrary to that evergreen formula of Bachelor Father.

Bachelor Mother (1939) : Brief Review -

A swell romance, sweet comedy and that cute little thing as a contrary to that evergreen formula of Bachelor Father. Thank god this film came in 1930s decade because maybe in 40s it might have gone unnoticed. The other reason is that 30s was the best decade of Ginger Rogers' career. I don't remember many of her great films from 40s but in 30s she definitely had 10 favourites at least. Rogers was more suitable for Romantic Comedies than any other genre and of course i am taking musical as a sub-genre into account. Well, Bachelor Mother isn't a musical but it is romantic comedy alright. You know that famous formula of bachelor father or fathers who get a child to live with and i have seen it in Hollywood, Bollywood and Marathi movies too. In this film its contrary. An unemployed woman discovers an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage, and accepts an offer to take responsibility for the child in return for a job. Her boss offers her a job security and she just can't let it go only to follow a typical romance with him but this time it was a sweet one. The romance between Rogers and Niven isn't rushed. I have seen like in 70% Hollywood movies the romance is too quick to look sensible and real. Just one date and the man and the woman gets into intimate kissing and suddenly they are in love. Well, this film takes its time for these things and for good i guess. Niven plays quite a generous character so I was happy to see this stable romance which grows by the time. I would have hated to see him behaving like a rich playboy. Charles Coburn was in perfect shoes of his size, that's why he does so well and that's what he gets. Overall, an enjoyable romantic comedy by Garson Kanin which does not really have any moments that can be hated. A fine, relaxing entertainer as well.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

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10 /10

Hilarious!

This is a comedy of errors that escalates to the point of ridiculousness, and I love it. I have never seen David Niven play a comedy role as well as this. The way he plays it is very reminiscent of Cary Grant... His body movements, his tone of voice, and that makes me wonder if the part of Merlin was written with Cary Grant in mind. But Niven does not disappoint... And it is a refreshing change from his Wuthering Heights type serious, pole stuck up his rear acting in other films. Niven' crack about the baby being able to recite the first line of Gunga Din may be a direct jab (or reference) to Cary Grant.

Ginger is not dancing, well, we get to see her dance for a couple of minutes in this... But this film shows us that she is an actress of superb quality, she can play dramatic as well as comedic roles.

Of course the cast included Charles Coburn who was just about everywhere you looked in the 30's.

Little chunks of one-liner humour spread throughout the picture spice it up. I wonder if Disney had to grant special permission so that Niven could break the head off of a Donald Duck toy? Also, there is a part in the flick where Donald Duck (or at least a Donald Duck Toy) plays a very important role. I wonder if it was because RKO also distributed Disney or something like that?

If you have time to burn and they are showing this on TCM it is worthwhile to watch, once, twice maybe even three times. And why not, anyone should watch a few movies directed by Garson Kanin, who also directed "My Favourite Wife" with Grant and Dunne in 1940.

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7 /10

ROGERS & NIVEN & BABY MAKE THREE...?

A Ginger Rogers screwball comedy from 1939. Rogers works at a Macy's like concern diligently selling toys (of the Donald Duck quacking kind) around the holidays. What does the company do to reward its employees; pink-slips to some w/Rogers being one of the recipients. Things seem to be looking up when a co-worker invites her to a dance contest (w/cash prizes) later the same night but on the way home she sees a woman leaving a baby on the doorstep of an orphanage which causes her to intervene but when the establishment browbeats her on why she's leaving the babe behind, she protests telling them the truth & hurrying away. The powers that be track her down to her place of employment & speak to her supervisor who decides to take advantage of the free PR by letting Rogers keep her job & raining gifts on her for the toddler (which to be fair, Rogers has an immediate rapport with) w/full approval by the store's owner's, played by Charles Coburn, & his son, played by David Niven, but since Rogers still wants to hit the dancefloor that night, she decides to drop the baby off at her bosses w/Niven getting an armful of baby for his troubles. What follows is a typically, joyous comedy romp (w/some romance thrown in) as Rogers & Niven soon fall in love w/each other (at a New Year's Eve party Niven takes Rogers to, he runs into a jilted ex & pretends Rogers is Swedish so she can avoid dealing w/his empty friends) w/a last dash effort of various suitors stepping up to claim the baby (Coburn thinks Niven is the father & will have none of it until Niven confesses ownership). Delightful, short & tempered w/comic performances that had me laughing from frame 1, this is one Rogers' best.

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Did Ginger Rogers Win Any Awards? Did Ginger Rogers Have Any Babys

Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031067/reviews

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