Margie (1946)

Wonderfully offbeat film!

Excellent, smart action film.

Excellent, a Must See

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Jeanne Crain and Gene Tierney, two of the most beautiful stars of the 1940s, were both at the same studio, 20th Century Fox, but now while Tierney has achieved almost cult status, Crain is just a glamorous footnote. Even in the film they made together, "Leave Her to Heaven", while Tierney received an Oscar nomination, Crain was merely beautiful decoration. "Margie" was exactly what fans wanted to see Jeanne in and she was pushed to the top of stardom - her fan mail was second only to Betty Grable's and she received over 2,000 letters a week. The critics praised her freshness and wistfulness, she earned a cover on Life magazine and the movie, a charmingly sentimental journey down memory lane grossed 4.1 million.Tidying up the attic with her daughter (Ann E. Todd) Margie remembers Central High when she was an eager teenager. It was a time of Rudy Vallee, raccoon coats - and bloomers with broken elastic!! Falling bloomers and Margie were constant companions, she was always having to excuse herself and armed with a safety pin find a very quiet corner - until she finds the easiest solution is to just faint!!! It is during one of these "accidents" that she happens to meet the new French teacher Mr. Fontaine (Glen Langan - the "Amazing Colossal Man") in the library. Another of Margie's trials and tribulations (along with her nervous stutter) is her outspoken grandmother (Esther Dale) who keeps chains by the fireside that she used when, many years before, she chained herself to the White House in order to make sure women got the vote. With her bluntness and her oft expressed wish that Margie will someday be President is it any wonder that Margie doesn't get many visitors!!!That leaves Margie lots of time to be champion debator and top of her French class. One of the year's highlights is the Senior debate. It is a deadly affair, as one of the students says "It's like "Old Man River" - it just keeps rolling along" but Margie's inspirational speech on "Why Soldiers Should Keep Out of Nicaragua" is the hit of the evening, especially with her father who eventually makes Nicaragua his life's work!!! The prom provides the dramatic part of the movie. When her faithful beau Roy (Alan Young of "Mr. Ed" fame) finds he can't take her, her grandmother organises that her father will escort her as a surprise. Then Mr. Fontaine arrives with her test results but Margie mistakenly thinks he is her date. Being a 1940s 20th Century Fox Technicolor movie you know what to expect. Margie is pleased as punch to go with her father and after being the Belle of the Ball and yet another fainting fit, is taken home by - her future husband!!!!Barbara Lawrence, better known for "The Street With No Name" played Margie's "friend" Maybelle. There are plenty of old time songs played throughout the movie - "A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich and You", "Avalon", "My Time is Your Time", "I'll See You in My Dreams", "Collegiate", "April Showers" etc often sung by Jeanne Crain although her voice was dubbed by Louanna Hogan.

I've seen this movie a number of times over the last 40 years (though it's rarely shown on TV). It can only be described as "Enchanting". Beautiful Technicolor photography by Charles Clarke with very unusual use of lighting and shadows. Some scenes are almost exclusively shot in silhouette. You won't see more beautiful color effects. The story is very light but truly enjoyable. Filled with music, it's almost a musical. The music very effectively highlights the story and sets the period (1920s). Excellent performances all around. Direction by the great Henry King is sensitive and touching. It's the overall effect that is so delightful. If I recall from an old AMC showing, the outdoor scenes were shot in Reno, Nevada (you can see the Sierra Nevada's in the background). Also, this was a short-lived TV show in the late 1950's--early 1960'S. This is one of my favorites movies and hopefully yours. Enjoy!

I too loved this movie. I saw it on television as a kid and fell in love with it, but always thought the movie title was April Showers... I knew Jeanne Crain starred in it. I've seen it played on classic movie channels on occasion, but not often enough. It is very nostalgic and fun loving and I think it is great for young girls to see - let them compare it with the struggles they have in finding true romance today. It also portrait a good mother/daughter relationship where they share their feelings - pretty good for not having seen the movie for about 5 or 6 years, right. I would love to buy the movie, but have never been able to find it on VHS or DVD. Does anyone know if they will ever put it out on DVD?

I first saw the movie "Margie" back in 1994 and have been wishing to see it again and again! Such a sweet, light-hearted movie that really puts a smile on your face. There's only one problem ... how can I obtain a copy of this movie?? I would love to have my children enjoy this movie with me someday.