Susan Slept Here (1954)

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

It's Christmas and two tough police officers think that juvenile delinquent Debby Reynolds deserves a chance to spend the holiday in a milieu more pleasant than "The Farm" towards which they're taking her. They drop her instead at the fulsomely decorated New York apartment of wealthy screenwriter Dick Powell. Powell is trying to write a story about misguided youth and the police reckon that they're doing both Powell and Reynolds a favor. They're not too worried about the couple playing doctor for the next day or two because Powell is 35 and a man of principle, while Reynolds is a seventeen-year-old, man-hating wildcat, introduced wearing a Sou'wester and by a loud and lingering ululation from off stage.Her howl shatters an ornamental bulb on the overdone white Christmas tree in Powell's apartment, and that's about the level of the story, as far as I saw it. I missed the last half hour or so.It was a play before it became a movie and its origins are on display. Everything takes place in Powell's modern and spacious flat. Powell has a male secretary, an old Navy buddy, Alvy Moore, who wears a goofy crew cut and whose presence allows for sardonic wisecracks about the shenanigans. People of all kinds run into the apartment shouting questions or orders. It's a madhouse, except for the imperturbable black maid, Maidie Norman, always cheerful and supportive. She'll scramble your eggs for you, despite Norman's own Master's degree from Columbia. She rather pretty too, in an exotic way -- my kind of woman.Dick Powell is okay as he slowly yields to the crush on him that Debby Reynold's develops. Given some old clothes, she quickly sheds her raincoat and sailor's cap and becomes the attractive, sensitive, and sassy woman we always knew she would be.But, man, this is one bland comedy, although the writer and the director, Frank Tashlin, give it everything they've got. Tashlin did just fine on "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter," where he had an effective script that knew where it was going. I suppose this script knows where it's headed too, but then so does the viewer after the first fifteen minutes. Every conceivable gag is milked dry. The machine-processed gags, the wisecracks, the awkward situations, the slapstick aren't really very funny. Yet people laughed at all this, which explains why democracy can never be a success.There's no edge to the comedy. The notion that anything of substance may happen can't be taken seriously. It's a movie about two people who gradually discover that the other isn't as bad as he or she thought at first. (Wow.) Powell seems to walk through the part as if he knew this was his last film appearance and, as a lame duck, he had nothing much to lose. The movie is almost saved by Debby Reynold's buoyant performance. If she was never a great actress she was always a spirited screen presence and she is attractive, even if she was twenty-one at the time, rather than seventeen.

This is a weird one. It's an older man/very young woman kind of story but it's not played that way until the very end. When they finally get around to it it's handled well but only too briefly. During the whole film you can't but notice the really obvious age difference. Dick Powell was 50 and Debbie Reynolds 22. He was old enough to be her father. He was old enough to be Anne Francis' father who was 26 at the time. The story is actually pretty good. The downside is that it's really just a comedy but occasionally it takes itself too seriously.The cast was excellent. It was great to see Glenda Farrell in a more mature part. I love her brassy style. Dick Powell was pretty good too in, as someone else noted, his last film. Red Skelton was a surprise. He pops up for the blink of an eye and then disappears. Anne Francis was a knockout, as always. She dominated every scene and some of her lines had real zing. Thanks to TCM for running her out of circulation movies. The difference with Debbie Reynolds couldn't be more pronounced at all levels but I guess that was the point.Then there's the dream sequence, one of the coolest fantasy segments I've seen in a long time. Francis appears as a spider woman, spinning her web around Powell while the child-woman, Reynolds, attempts to keep that from happening. Again, the difference between them couldn't be more pronounced. The tall, curvaceous Francis was like a cool drink on a hot summer day. Reynolds was no match. She couldn't hope to compete but gave it a good try anyway. Too spunky for my taste.Bottom line, it's worth watching for the actors more than anything else. You shouldn't take the story too seriously and the lines sometimes get in the way when they're just plain silly. But hey, Anne Francis is in it, that alone is worth a look.

Susan Slept Here is considered a Holiday classic in our household. With an exceptional plot and great acting, it's a definite must see. After the movie, I find myself humming "Hold My Hand" for days. Debbie Reynolds plays innocent very well and William Powell is just the person to grow up for. I must admit to not being a fan of Mr. Christopher's girlfriend but then, that's all to the good. Susan impacts the lives of everyone she meets and I always get a chuckle at Maude's dear Oswald. The repartee between Susan and Mr. Christopher is snappy and clever, especially in the climax of the film. This is definitely a romantic favorite and a Holiday classic.

I saw this film for the first time on the Classic Film Network only by chance. I missed about 20 minutes of it. I have been searching for it ever since. Where can I find it for purchase? If not available,why? It was an amusing and imaginative film. Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds were delightful to watch. I really enjoyed watching all of the cast, some of whom when on to do sitcoms in the 60's and 70's. If anyone can send me information on purchasing this film, I would greatly appreciate it. Is there a website link I could go to or film company I could contact? Please email me a response or respond to this thread. Much appreciated!