For as much as I love the oldies, there are few that I come across that are up to speed with modern cinema as far as wit and smart remarks. We love the oldies because many of them are predictable but fabulous. Key To The City is one of those films that surprised me for being "hip".
Loretta Young plays Mayor Standish, with a city of 30,010 to look after and a tight stick up her a-line skirt. She heads into San Fran for a mayor's convention and meets long shore man turned playboy mayor, Steve Fisk (Gable).
They immediately hate each other but end up at a bar together where Loretta learns Steve is a bit of a ladies man and they watch one of his gal pals do her "atom dance". What a great scene! A fight breaks out and eventually they are taken in by the cops. A great part in the film is when Loretta tries to lighten the bar fight mood by jumping on the piano and playing a tune as bottles are thrown around her.
Being that they are mayors and all, the cops let them go but not before the press gets to them and covers the papers with the news. Loretta is mortified but Steve has no worries. She is so mad at him that she ignores him all the way through next morning brunch. The next evening they end up in jail again after a costume party gone wrong.
Eventually they fall in love. But as soon as they decide to get hitched, they get into an argument and Loretta runs off. Steve chases after her but gets into a pickle when he can't locate her! He hires a band to meet her at the airport and then the train station, but still no Loretta.
Steve has to track her down while at the same time try to save his city from corruption. Loretta learns to lighten her mood a little and have some fun.
15 years prior, Clark had an affair with Lorettea which resulted in a secret love child. She tried to play off an adoption, but everyone knew because their daughter was a spitting image of Clark! Loretta wanted to turn down this film, but signed on after thinking that people would be suspicious if she said no. Talk about awkward. In any case, this film is very cute with endless smart remarks and witty comebacks. My husband was cracking up out loud, which is a real seal of approval! Go find this one, it is a funny oldie!
The Atom dance...does she look like a bunch of atoms to you?
