Never a Dull Moment ** (1950, Irene Dunne, Fred MacMurray, William Demarest, Andy Devine, Gigi Perreau, Natalie Wood) – Classic Movie Review 11,954

Director George Marshall’s 1950 RKO black and white comedy Never a Dull Moment stars Irene Dunne, Fred MacMurray, William Demarest, Andy Devine, Gigi Perreau, Natalie Wood. It is written by Lou Breslow and Doris Anderson, based on the novel Who Can Ask for Anything More? by Kay Swift. These are risky titles. Ironically there is a Dull Moment or two, and we Can Ask for Something More.

Posh New York music writer Irene Dunne weds cowboy Fred MacMurray and finds that life on the ranch with his two daughters (Gigi Perreau, Natalie Wood) takes quite a bit of adapting to. Her storm-in-a-teacup hazards include the unfortunate demise of grumpy old neighbour Demarest’s best bull.

Fred MacMurray.

Never a Dull Moment is amiable but thin formula entertainment, with Dunne, MacMurray and Andy Devine (as the comedy-relief foreman) keeping it going on sheer professionalism alone. Destry Rides Again director Marshall should have been happier with the material, but the merely moderate material lets him down. The fairly nice cast battle gamely on however.

It is based on the 1943 book, Who Can Ask for Anything More?, by Kay Swift, who also penned the film’s three dullish songs, trilled by Dunne as though her heart isn’t in it: ‘Once You Find Your Guy’, ‘The Man with the Big Felt Hat’ and ‘Sagebrush Lullaby’.

It is shot between 5 December 1949 and 1 February 1950 in Thousand Oaks, California.

The unrelated 1968 Disney film Never a Dull Moment with Dick Van Dyke and Edward G Robinson merely reused the title.

American composer Kay Swift (April 19, 1897 – January 28, 1993) was the first woman to score a hit musical completely. The Broadway show Fine and Dandy, written in 1930, includes some of her best known songs.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 11,954

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Irene Dunne.