"Margie" is a popular 1946 comedy romance movie about family and teens coming of age in the late 1920s. It also gives a glimpse of such family life in the first year after World War II. The film is also billed as a musical, mostly because of some of the songs of the period that are played on records, over the radio and by the band at a high school prom.
The film opens in 1946 with a teenage Joyce Fontayne and her mother, Margie, in the attic of their home. Margie is going through a trunk of old clothes and Joyce is playing records on a hand-cranked Victrola record player. As they listen to music and talk, Joyce opens a scrapbook her mother kept and asks questions about various photos. This leads to Margie telling her about her last teen year at Central High School. Among the fads of the time, mostly by college boys, were flagpole sitting and goldfish swallowing. When Joyce asks her mom about Rudy Vallee, Margie says, "He was the Frank Sinatra of that time."
The movie segues to 1928 and Margie now looks very much like a teenage Jean Crain. She is a bright but impetuous young lady being raised by her grandma on her mother's side. Her mother died when she was born. Her father is a mortician who supports grandma and Margie, and comes to visit her on Wednesdays.
This is a good comedy and slice of life of the times. The bulk of the film takes place in 1928. It's Margie's senior year in high school. A campaign float touting Herbert Hoover for president drives past Central High School. Margie MacDuff has had a crush on Johnny Green who dates her neighbor and friend, Marybelle Tenor (played by Barbara Lawrence). But now she has a crush on the new French teacher, Professor Ralph Fontayne. He's in his late 20s and had been living in France where he studied. Margie has trouble keeping her bloomers pinned up, and that causes a few situations that provide some of the comedy. The comedy is mostly light and situational, with occasional funny lines.
The cast all are very good. Aside from Jeanne Crain though, the only supporting cast likely to be recognized are Lynn Bari as Miss Isabel Palmer, Esther Dale as Grandma McSweeney, and Hattie McDaniel as Cynthia. The four leading males all had substantial film careers, but with no memorable roles or films. Glenn Langan plays Prof. Fontayne, Alan Young is Roy Hornsdale, Conrad Janis is Johnny Green and Hobart Cavanaugh is Margie's dad, Angus MacDuff.
Among some of the songs heard in the film are "Margie," "Charleston," "Three O'Clock in The Morning," "My Time is Your Time," and "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You."
This film was a big hit in 1946 - the first year after the end of World War II. It might seem very mild and forgettable to audiences in the 21st century. But for those interested in history, sociology, and anything to do with customs, people and past times in America, "Margie" should be very interesting and enjoyable.
Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Joyce, listening to the hand-crank Victrola record player, "Can you imagine, mother? It actually still works." Margie, "Well, you could hardly call it an antique. It was a wedding present, and a very lovely one, too." Joyce, "No kidding? Gee, when I get married I hope people don't give me a lot of old junk."
Joyce, "What I want is a mink coat." Margie, "Yes, dear, we'll make a note of that."
Joyce, "Oh, please, mother. Tell me about the crazy and idiotic things you did when you were my age."
Margie, "So many wonderful things happened today." Grandma McSweeney, "At your age, Margie, wonderful things happen every day."
Marybelle Tenor, "Gee, he must have lots of money. That's a gorgeous car." Johnny Green, "I'll bet he uses it in funerals."
Grandma McSweeney, "Margie, 20 years from now you'll look back at Johnny Green and you'll wonder what you ever saw in him." Margie MacDuff, "Twenty years from now, I'll be an old woman and it won't matter what I think."
Grandma McSweeney, "There now, honey, don't cry any more." Margie, "I wish I was dead." Grandma, "Were dead." Margie, "All right - were dead, then. I'll never be able to face anyone again - ever."
Roy Hornsdale, "Well, I came here to read poetry to her. Who am I gonna read poetry to now?" Cynthia, closing the door to the kitchen, "Not me."
Football Coach (Robert Ford), taps Professor Fontayne on the shoulder as he's dancing with Miss Palmer, "May I cut in?" Professor Fontayne, "You don't want to dance with him, do you?" Miss Isabel Palmer, "He's the football coach. If I don't he might try to tackle you." Football Coach, "You look beautiful tonight, Miss Palmer."
The film opens in 1946 with a teenage Joyce Fontayne and her mother, Margie, in the attic of their home. Margie is going through a trunk of old clothes and Joyce is playing records on a hand-cranked Victrola record player. As they listen to music and talk, Joyce opens a scrapbook her mother kept and asks questions about various photos. This leads to Margie telling her about her last teen year at Central High School. Among the fads of the time, mostly by college boys, were flagpole sitting and goldfish swallowing. When Joyce asks her mom about Rudy Vallee, Margie says, "He was the Frank Sinatra of that time."
The movie segues to 1928 and Margie now looks very much like a teenage Jean Crain. She is a bright but impetuous young lady being raised by her grandma on her mother's side. Her mother died when she was born. Her father is a mortician who supports grandma and Margie, and comes to visit her on Wednesdays.
This is a good comedy and slice of life of the times. The bulk of the film takes place in 1928. It's Margie's senior year in high school. A campaign float touting Herbert Hoover for president drives past Central High School. Margie MacDuff has had a crush on Johnny Green who dates her neighbor and friend, Marybelle Tenor (played by Barbara Lawrence). But now she has a crush on the new French teacher, Professor Ralph Fontayne. He's in his late 20s and had been living in France where he studied. Margie has trouble keeping her bloomers pinned up, and that causes a few situations that provide some of the comedy. The comedy is mostly light and situational, with occasional funny lines.
The cast all are very good. Aside from Jeanne Crain though, the only supporting cast likely to be recognized are Lynn Bari as Miss Isabel Palmer, Esther Dale as Grandma McSweeney, and Hattie McDaniel as Cynthia. The four leading males all had substantial film careers, but with no memorable roles or films. Glenn Langan plays Prof. Fontayne, Alan Young is Roy Hornsdale, Conrad Janis is Johnny Green and Hobart Cavanaugh is Margie's dad, Angus MacDuff.
Among some of the songs heard in the film are "Margie," "Charleston," "Three O'Clock in The Morning," "My Time is Your Time," and "A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich and You."
This film was a big hit in 1946 - the first year after the end of World War II. It might seem very mild and forgettable to audiences in the 21st century. But for those interested in history, sociology, and anything to do with customs, people and past times in America, "Margie" should be very interesting and enjoyable.
Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Joyce, listening to the hand-crank Victrola record player, "Can you imagine, mother? It actually still works." Margie, "Well, you could hardly call it an antique. It was a wedding present, and a very lovely one, too." Joyce, "No kidding? Gee, when I get married I hope people don't give me a lot of old junk."
Joyce, "What I want is a mink coat." Margie, "Yes, dear, we'll make a note of that."
Joyce, "Oh, please, mother. Tell me about the crazy and idiotic things you did when you were my age."
Margie, "So many wonderful things happened today." Grandma McSweeney, "At your age, Margie, wonderful things happen every day."
Marybelle Tenor, "Gee, he must have lots of money. That's a gorgeous car." Johnny Green, "I'll bet he uses it in funerals."
Grandma McSweeney, "Margie, 20 years from now you'll look back at Johnny Green and you'll wonder what you ever saw in him." Margie MacDuff, "Twenty years from now, I'll be an old woman and it won't matter what I think."
Grandma McSweeney, "There now, honey, don't cry any more." Margie, "I wish I was dead." Grandma, "Were dead." Margie, "All right - were dead, then. I'll never be able to face anyone again - ever."
Roy Hornsdale, "Well, I came here to read poetry to her. Who am I gonna read poetry to now?" Cynthia, closing the door to the kitchen, "Not me."
Football Coach (Robert Ford), taps Professor Fontayne on the shoulder as he's dancing with Miss Palmer, "May I cut in?" Professor Fontayne, "You don't want to dance with him, do you?" Miss Isabel Palmer, "He's the football coach. If I don't he might try to tackle you." Football Coach, "You look beautiful tonight, Miss Palmer."