Hard to Get (1938)

Perfectly adorable

Did you people see the same film I saw?

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I don't think I've ever watched more than one film starring Dick Powell, and I don't even remember which one that was, but finding him in this film was a delight. And throw in Olivia deHavilland, and you have a darned entertaining pairing in a pleasant romantic comedy. This is a solid "7".Powell has 2 musical numbers that are quite good. He plays it straight with "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" -- one of the better renditions of the song I've heard. But hams it up a la Al Jolson with "Sonny Boy", and yes, in blackface; I know we're not supposed to like blackface, but this is a hoot.The story is not that unique -- rich society girl (deHavilland) is put in her place was one of the common folk (Powell). But, she soon discovers that he has the potential to get involved in big business, begins to fall in love with him, and influences her father to help him. But there are some distinguishing elements here -- petrol stations, motor courts, building skyscrapers, and a crazy business bet between rivals. SO while the basic story line is not that different, there are some unique aspects of the story that help elevate it beyond many period pieces.As already mentioned, Dick Powell and Olivia de Havilland at the top of the cast are top notch here, although in re screen time, this is very much Powell's picture. Charles Winninger, as the high society father, is interesting here; in his exercise scenes he does his own stunts, and at the age of 54, that was not too shabby. Allen Jenkins was always pleasant to see on screen, usually (as here) in a "buddy" role; Melville Cooper similarly makes the most of his butler role here. Bonita Granville wasn't very impressive as the high society younger sister, nor was Isabel Jeans as the high society mother (although I have the idea she played the role as directed). Grady Sutton was one of those character actors who just seemed made for certain types of roles, as here. Thurston Hall player the other big businessman well.If you're at all attracted to romantic comedies, give this one a watch. I think you'll enjoy it.

Dick Powell works at an old-fashioned auto court (motel with gas station) when Olivia de Havilland stops for gas. When she says she can get the check (for $3.48) to him tomorrow, he doesn't believe her and makes her work it out, in making the beds and cleaning the rooms. She vows to get even. That is the basic premise in this lightweight fun-filled movie. Her father is Charles Winninger (who incidentally made a career of being Judy Garland's father in movies,) is indeed wealthy, but who passes the time wrestling and dueling with his manservant, Melville Cooper (who is excellent as always with his straight-faced delivery.) This subplot of their rivalry is very fun to watch and is reminiscent of Peter Sellers and his manservant fighting it out.Olivia goes to her father to get Dick fired, but, when he refuses and tells her to grow up and handle it herself, she says she'll find a way. Just how you'll have to see for yourself, but I can say Dick's rump must have stung pretty bad.For all those who've seen Olivia in her melodramas, you have to see this one. It's probably her best comedy, and this movie is the one that introduced the song "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" to the world. The ending is a bit awkward somehow, a little forced or manipulated; it didn't come off completely smooth. But, by then you've laughed yourself silly and it shouldn't hinder your enjoyment and true satisfaction of a great film. Can't anyone today make a truly funny (and clean) movie like this one anymore? That's the only thing "hard to get."

Hard To Get casts two of Jack Warner's most unhappy players on his lot in their second film together. Both Dick Powell and Olivia DeHavilland were begging Jack for more dramatic material to do and he was refusing both of them. Powell didn't get his first break in that department until years after he left Warner Brothers. As for Olivia, her salvation was coming next year when she loaned out to David O. Selznick for Gone With The Wind.Olivia is a rich girl coming from a family that looks suspiciously like the Bullochs from My Man Godfrey with mother Isabel Jeans, younger sister Bonita Granville and father Charles Winninger. Olivia's the rebellious one who just doesn't want to go to Newport again with mom and sis. She takes the car and stops at a gas station owned by Dick Powell and Allen Jenkins. The gas station is also a small motel and when Olivia forgets to bring her purse and Powell doesn't believe she's rich, he forces her to turn down the beds for her gasoline.That starts the usual sparring between the rich girl and the poor, but ambitious young man who has a plan for a chain of motel/filling station establishments across the country. If he can only get a rich backer.I think anyone who's seen enough Thirties screwball comedies knows exactly how this is going to end up. The film isn't quite on the level as My Man Godfrey or Libeled Lady, but it certainly is amusing enough. Especially when you consider both the leads were begging their boss not to keep giving them light stuff to do.Most amusing performance however is that of Penny Singleton as the maid in the Winninger household. Powell's got the idea DeHavilland is the maid there, mainly because she gave it to him and to keep the act up, Singleton impersonates DeHavilland at dinner. She's got the best moments in the film because of that. Second best are Powell trying in various disguises to see Thurston Hall, an associate of Winninger.The film is best known for Dick Powell introducing You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby on the screen, singing it to Olivia while rowing on Central Park Lake. For reasons unknown Powell never recorded this one. Bing Crosby has a primo version done for Decca in 1938.Hard To Get today is remembered for the song that came from it and for the fact that two frustrated stars did some pleasant work here.

A delightful comedy about a very ambitious gas station attendant that meets a spoiled rich girl...and her quirky father. Olivia de Haviland is the gorgeous gal. You may recognize a familiar voice in "Hattie", played by Penny Singleton, who went on to play "Blondie" in the first film of the series that same year(1938), and later was the voice of Jane Jetson. Fast-paced and original.