Molly and Me *** (1945, Monty Woolley, Gracie Fields, Roddy McDowall, Reginald Gardiner) – Classic Movie Review 12,110

Director Lewis Seiler’s 1945 20th Century Fox American comedy film Molly and Me stars Gracie Fields and Monty Woolley, reunited after their 1943 hit Holy Matrimony. The screenplay by Leonard Praskins is based on the 1937 novel Molly, Bless Her by Frances Marion, adapted by Roger Burford.

Two oddly assorted personalities not easily cast turned out to be a hit pairing again as struggling English vaudeville actress singer Molly Barry (Fields) can’t find showbiz work and applies for a job as housekeeper for tetchy upper-class gentleman John Graham (Woolley) in 1937 London.

Our Gracie repairs Monty’s relationship with his son (Roddy McDowall), fends off his wily ex-wife (Doris Lloyd) and helps along his political ambitions.

This domestic sitcom is nicely done all round, with plenty of room for both stars’ engaging personalities.

Also in the cast are Roddy McDowall, Reginald Gardiner, Natalie Schafer, Edith Barrett, Clifford Brooke, Aminta Dyne, Queenie Leonard, Doris Lloyd, Patrick O’Moore, Ethel Griffies, and Leyland Hodgson.

It runs 76 minutes.

It was released on 25 May 1945.

Molly and Me is Fields’s 14th and penultimate film, followed by Paris Underground [Madame Pimpernel], released on 19 October 1945.

the cast are Monty Woolley as John Graham, Gracie Fields as Molly Barry, Roddy McDowall as Jimmy Graham, Reginald Gardiner as Harry Phillips/ Peabody, Natalie Schafer as Kitty Goode-Burroughs, Edith Barrett as Julia, Clifford Brooke as Pops, Aminta Dyne as Musette, Queenie Leonard as Lily, Doris Lloyd as Mrs Graham, Patrick O’Moore as Ronnie, Lewis L. Russell as Sir Arthur Burroughs, David Clyde as gardener Angus, Matthew Boulton as Sergeant, Gordon Richards as Jamie McDougall, Ethel Griffies, and Leyland Hodgson.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,110

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