5th AVENUE GIRL

US, 1939, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Ginger Rogers, Walter Connolly, Veree Teasdale, Tim Holt, James Ellison, Louis Calhern.
Directed by Gregory La Cava.

5th Avenue Girl was directed by Gregory La Cava, a former cartoonist, director of many short films in the 1920s, moving into features in the 1930s including, at this time, My Man Godfrey and Stage Door. He made a number of the screwball comedies of the 1930s including this film – but it has some more serious overtones.

Ginger Rogers is very good (though a bit too much the same throughout) as the unemployed young woman who encounters a rich company executive and agrees to go to his home with a contract to work for him, for a possible reconciliation with his alienated family. The executive is played by Walter Connolly, effective and this kind of role. Veree Teasdale is his somewhat snobbish wife. Tim Holt is his young son – too young for this role and not the least bit convincing in falling in love with Ginger Rogers. There is support from Franklin Pangborn in a typical role as a butler and Louis Calhern in a brief role as the doctor.

The film comes at the time of the New Deal, the aftermath of the Depression, and a time when people toyed with socialist ideas. A film of its time but quite entertaining to watch in retrospect.

1. The screwball comedy traditions of the 1930s? The style, the characters, the issues, interactions? This screenplay with a bit more seriousness in tone?

2. 1939, the black-and-white photography, the atmosphere of New York City? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the girl, the nature of 5th Avenue and wealth, contrasting with unemployment? The sub-text with the chauffeur spouting communist ideas?

4. The introduction to Mr Borden, his company, the making of pumps, the board meeting, his frustrations, plans? his leaving, the birthday gift of the tie, some brightness?

5. The press information about his wife, going to Reno, her companions?

6. His going to the park, contemplating the tree, the advice from the butler, people staring at the tree? The encounter with Mary, following her, the park bench? The conversations? His inviting her home, the dinner, his birthday, seeing his wife and her companion, dancing, the champagne, waking up at home? Mary in the house? His black eye, the taxi driver, the butler’s black eye?

7. His contract with Mary, the family assuming that he wanted to marry her? Her playing the part?

8. Mary and her character, Ginger Rogers style, rather one-note in her sardonic remarks, support of Mr Borden?

9. The tradition of stories were a stranger comes into the house, interacts with everyone, transforms them? Mary and her fulfilment of this role?

10. The wife, her exasperation with her husband, falling out of love, her companions, the gossip, the prospect of a divorce? At home, the wealth, her tantrums? With her children and controlling them? The reaction to Mary, advising them to be friendly towards her? Discussions with her, not fearing her, Mary and her common sense, her preparing the beef stew for her husband, the meal, the reconciliation?

11. Tim, young, irresponsible, antagonism towards Mary, his going to the office, getting some sense of the business, discussions with his father? The attraction to Mary – but few scenes to show his transition to falling in love with her, antagonism on the park bench, reconciliation on the porch?

12. Katherine, young, in love with the chauffeur, getting Mary’s help, later attacking her, her concern for Michael, his communist principles, annoying everyone in the kitchen, his finally succumbing, Mary slapping him, the hasty wedding?

13. The butler, his observations, the kitchen staff? Interactions with Michael?

14. A happy family – and a new romance?