Just Watched: Young Man of Manhattan
...Well, have been a bit busy the last few days, but have gotten in a
few more movies - figured I would run through my take on 'Young Man of
Manhattan' - Ginger's FIRST role in a 'major' movie, at the ripe old age
of eighteen (not far from most of y'all, LOL!). Overall, Ginger's
character (Puff Randolph) is basically a 'third wheel' to newlyweds Toby
McLean (Norman Foster) and Ann Vaughn (Claudette Colbert), who are both
newspaper writers.
Ginger, circa 1930...
Puff basically 'shoehorns' her way into Toby's life and coerces him to go 'partying' with her on several occasions, even though she is aware he is married (hmmm...not a 'typical' Ginger role...) Strangely enough, Ann and Puff have a few conversations, and Ann seems to not only be OK with Toby accompanying Puff around town, but even seems to encourage it... well, in the beginning, anyway...
Meanwhile, Ann has been advancing quite nicely in her profession (which is quite the contrary to Toby, who is just ekeing out a living), but as a result, she has to spend more time at work, thus more time with her boss, who obviously has designs on her.
Well, that's probably as far as I will go - keep the loose ends for whoever hasn't seen this one yet...
While Ginger is in a 'peripheral' role in this one, she did get in what would be now called a 'catch phrase': "Cigarette me, big boy!" Ironically, she notes in her book that she did not smoke - other than 'trying' it once as a child - and thus had to 'learn' on the set, and of course she became "sick as a dog."
She also had a cute song scene, "I Got It, But It Don't Do Me No Good", where she sits at the piano singing, but really not sure if she is playing or not... that would be a nice 'confirmation' if anyone knows...
Ginger is just so CUTE in this one - as a 'flighty flapper', quite the 'spoiled' type, but somehow still likeable...
Overall, this movie is pretty cute, and has some memorable moments for Ginger's 'debut'... thus, this is one every VKM fan should have, if only for that reason!
Ginger, circa 1930... Puff basically 'shoehorns' her way into Toby's life and coerces him to go 'partying' with her on several occasions, even though she is aware he is married (hmmm...not a 'typical' Ginger role...) Strangely enough, Ann and Puff have a few conversations, and Ann seems to not only be OK with Toby accompanying Puff around town, but even seems to encourage it... well, in the beginning, anyway...
Meanwhile, Ann has been advancing quite nicely in her profession (which is quite the contrary to Toby, who is just ekeing out a living), but as a result, she has to spend more time at work, thus more time with her boss, who obviously has designs on her.
Well, that's probably as far as I will go - keep the loose ends for whoever hasn't seen this one yet...
While Ginger is in a 'peripheral' role in this one, she did get in what would be now called a 'catch phrase': "Cigarette me, big boy!" Ironically, she notes in her book that she did not smoke - other than 'trying' it once as a child - and thus had to 'learn' on the set, and of course she became "sick as a dog."
She also had a cute song scene, "I Got It, But It Don't Do Me No Good", where she sits at the piano singing, but really not sure if she is playing or not... that would be a nice 'confirmation' if anyone knows...
Ginger is just so CUTE in this one - as a 'flighty flapper', quite the 'spoiled' type, but somehow still likeable...
Overall, this movie is pretty cute, and has some memorable moments for Ginger's 'debut'... thus, this is one every VKM fan should have, if only for that reason!
3 comments:
...I would not doubt it at all...she of course wrote a few tunes, like 'Used to be You' - so she definitely had some decent musical background, be it 'professional', or just 'picked up' over time...
Yes, I was asking Lauren about 'The Sap'...haven't seen any evidence of that one, but she said she knew of someone who had a copy...
And, while I am thinking about it, on 'G', I cannot find '5th Avenue Girl' - it is noted in the 'Ginger list', but not in the torrent section...
As for the poll idea, that would be a tough list to narrow down to one! I mean, looking at those movies with respect to 'Gingerness', which one would you be able to just 'toss out'? 5th Ave Girl is the only one in that time frame I haven't seen, but I know it is a good one, since Ginger has top billing, and La Cava is the Director / Producer.
Maybe we could just rank them #1 to #whatever... even THAT would involve much wailing and gnashing of teeth!!!
I'm at a loss for the next poll, I'm considering best just Ginger flick, 1938-42. Runing essentially from Vivacious Lady through the Major and the Minor.