Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

I have to admit, I have been preoccupied watching re run after re run of Downton Abby. Once you get up in that show it's hard to get out! I did manage to squeeze in one of my favorite Cary Grant films, "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House". My Hollywood boyfriend stars in this adorable flick with Myrna Loy and Melvin Douglas.

Cary plays Mr. Blandings, or Jim to his wife Muriel, who is played beautifully by Myrna. Jim is in the ad trade and they live with their two opinionated daughters in a tiny apartment in New York City. Oh, they also have a maid and a bird. Talk about cramped!

Love the art deco bathroom sconce!

Muriel gets the idea to redecorate which gets Jim into thinking about moving to the country. Bff Bill, who has a hand in everything and is Muriel's ex college beau, joins along. 

The house is in shambles, a real "fixer upper" but the Blandings see potential and decide without any inspections to splurge and buy the "historical" property. 

Right away Jim tells them they have made a mistake. The house needs new everything and Jim over payed. But the couple is in love with the house and hire inspectors to assess the damage. 

After the inspectors tell them to tear it down, they get to work on a new floor plan. 

They get way over excited and way over budget. Muriel insists on a flower room! Each imagine what their dream house would 

look like. 

Here is Muriel's:

A bit over the top Muriel?  Here is Jim's: 

Here is reality:

As the house progresses and Jim's check book gets thinner, problems arise involving just about everything. Jim needs a new Wham ham slogan or he is dust at work. Muriel gets friendlier with Bill, the daughters get snooty with their homework, and every possible issue comes up with building the new house. 

Finally the house is done. Or...almost done. But will their marriage survive the hassles of it all?  

Irene Dunne was set to play the female lead since Grant and her where always a blockbuster match. But she was busy. I think Myrna ended up the right choice in the end.

There are so many cute scenes in this film. The bathroom door always locking people in, the drilling for water scene, the part where Jim finds the bill for Muriel's secret add-on flower room that was vetoed due to budgets. The 1986 "remake" of this film, "The Money Pit" with Tom Hanks is also wonderful, and I rarely say that about a remake. Both films have great characters and make me laugh. But with Cary Grant in one of them, you know which one is my favorite. 

Everyday Alfred

Think of your cholesterol, Alfred!

The Bear Rug

What is it with bear rugs and leading ladies? This must have been the latest thing back in the silver screen days. So I must ask, when did the past time of lying on a bear rug and posing loose it's pizazz? 

Here are some of our favorite gals to enjoy...

Marilyn relaxing in a house of death.

Ann Sheridan on a rug on a rug.

The trend setter Jean

Jayne's cheetah is terrified he'll end up like her swimsuit

Don't mess with Lisbeth Scott and her polar bear!

Gloria Swanson on a humongous tiger rug

1950's Born Yesterday

"Born Yesterday" has quickly become a favorite. Let's take a look at this empowered film with Judy Holliday and Bill Holden.

Judy stars brilliantly in this film with Mr. Holden as her side kick. Judy plays Billie, a mobster's fiancee who follows him around, takes orders, gets yelled at, and knows nothing about nobody. Broderick Crawford plays Harry, her tough guy beau who is looking to get in with some slime ball congressmen in Washington DC. William plays Paul, a reporter who meets Harry and the gang during an interview. 

Harry wants Billie to meet some important people and act proper, but Billie isn't interested and really doesn't know how. Instead of talking politics she would rather sing and dance. She was a chorus girl at one time. She even had lines!

Harry tracks down Paul to teach Billie some manners and get her to know her way around. Paul says yes since he thinks Billie is a doll.

A very cute scene is when Paul asks Billie to read the newspaper and circle anything she doesn't understand. The next morning she has the whole paper circled, and mentions from time to time how she wants to circle Paul when he is talking!

During an early lesson, Paul and Billie kiss. Billie is keen on Paul, but Paul doesn't want to mess with a mobster's girl especially since this one is a real a-hole.

Paul takes Billie all over Washington DC and she starts to slowly learn and grow interest in all sorts of things, including Paul. 

Before you know it, Billie is on to Harry's scheming and knows he is a dirty rat. She wants no part in his business anymore. 

Tough guy Harry is so mean to Billie, that eventually Billie gets wise and is more educated than him! She begins to stand up for herself.

This is one articulate fight!

Paul is in love, but doesn't know what to do about Harry. Billie wants out but knows Harry won't let her go so easily. What to do? 

Judy starred in the Broadway version of this story and nailed it. Surprisingly, Judy was almost last on the list for playing Billie in the film, but it turned out in her favor. Judy won the Oscar for her part. 

Picture Of The Day

Buster and his mini me.

"The Philadelphia Story"

What happens when you combine Kat Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart, and George Cukor? Amazingness, that's what! This 1940 film stars Katharine as a rich divorcee ready to remarry. Cary is her ex and he is out to make her day miserable. He gets reporter James and his photographer gal pal Elizabeth (played beautifully by Ruth Hussey) to act as friends of the family and get an inside look to this private bride's special day.

We learn right away that Cary and Kat were over!

Cary's plan seems like it is going to work until he confronts Kat and tells her the truth about who James and Ruth really are. She goes along with it though and welcomes them in.

As the family plans the wedding, which is going to be held the next day, they talk about Cary and why he has suddenly shown up! But after a while the act like they don't mind that the ex is around and even include him in the festivities!

The family puts on a show especially little sister Dinah who parades around like a fool to make a good headline for James and Ruth. After a while, father has had enough. He tells them they are on to their ploy and invite them to stay! Katharine is fine with this because we see her start to have some kind moments with James. Cue in the foreshadowing. As it happens, she is never with her groom, George!

As James and Katharine start to canoodle, she learns from her friends and family that maybe she is acting like a queen. This is taken not well by Kat and she gets into a quarrel with Cary, and James, and father. Kat blows off some steam by taking a swim. Cary swoops in with a gift...a replica of the boat they sailed on during their honeymoon. Cary is laying it on thick!

Let's just take a second and drool over Kat's fabulous dress. Designed by Adrian, and one of my favorite oh his creations, this gown steals the show!

As the night progresses, James and Kat get closer while she and hubby begin to grow apart. Lots of booze is consumed which results in some late night swimming and heavy petting. Fiancee George catches James and Kat in the act as Cary watches with enjoyment.

The next morning everyone is hungover and trying to recall the events of the night. Katharine must face her fiancee and explain her actions. The wedding is nearing and us viewers must watch as she decides who to marry! Her fiancee? Her ex husband? Her new reporter boyfriend? What to do?

Nothing says "bride" like a lace up cummerbund and prairie hat with ribbon!

Katharine had the rights to this film, given to her as a gift from beau Howard Hughes. She wanted Clark Gable to play Cary's role and Spencer Tracy to play James' role, without ever meeting either of them. This film was shot without any retakes (unusual) and there are some improve scenes where you can see Cary giggling and looking down, as he was having too much fun on set. Cary gave his salary from this film to the British War efforts, and James won the Academy Award for best supporting actor.