It Had to Be You

This film opens with the funniest "Preston Sturges" sequence not written or directed by Preston Sturges (unless anyone knows otherwise?) It's a montage of lavish high society wedding ceremonies at which, over several years, Ginger Rogers jilts a series of different grooms at the altar, the comic tension and perspiration mounting as each of her "I do" moments approaches.

Sadly, after that, the Panama-Frank screenplay switches to the sub-genre of psychological or fantasy comedy, already attempted by Ginger in Lady in the Dark (1944). Here, she conjures up a physical incarnation of her ideal man, which turns out to be Cornel Wilde dressed as an (American) "Indian" complete with feathered headband - an erotic fantasy unlikely to be shared by many viewers. He's more irritating than amusing, especially as Wilde's idea of playing comedy is to wear a perpetual grin, and when he crashes through a window to reach Ginger he reminded me of Walter Pidgeon's Id monster in Forbidden Planet.

The much-delayed explanation for his appearance arrives with Ginger's viewing of an old home movie showing a childhood sweetheart who wore the same "Indian" costume. It certainly suggests arrested development in her character, supposedly aged 26, though Rogers herself was around 36 at the time. She then searches for the "real" adult embodiment of the boy in the home movie, who unfortunately is also played by Cornel Wilde (without so much grinning, so we can tell them apart). With the fictional and real Wilde running around like identical twins, more complications ensue and I wondered if it inspired Woody Allen in The Purple Rose of Cairo, especially given the movie-within-movie angle.

Ginger Rogers stars as a pending bride who's noted for leaving her suitor(s) at the altar. But this time, she's sure of her decision...until a new suitor, literally, shows up in her dreams.

Although I don't believe something like this could REALLY happen, I was in the mood for something light and I ended up watching this. I've never been a big fan of the old movies, but I saw "Chicago" with Gere, Zellweger, and Zeta-Jones and then saw the film "Roxie Hart" (1927) with Ginger Rogers, and kind of liked the campy comedy that this film portrayed, so I keep an eye out for her on TCM and whenever I stumble across one of her films, I try and watch them. As I said, I don't believe the premise of the film could ever happen, but the way Ginger looks at Cornel Wilde is believable and, although it's probably with more infatuation than love, I know every guy wishes for a girl to look at him that way.

The story won't necessarily keep you enthralled, but your wondering how they're gonna get out of this predicament will! 8 out of 10 stars!

This was a great movie and was a lot of fun. Ginger Rogers was fantastic as usual and Cornel Wilde was a hunk!. I would like them to make this film available on video. I want to add it to my collection. If only the movie stations would play these classics more often!

It's a loss not to find this flick in video. It's a hoot with decent acting (well, for Ginger it's ok) by the cast and a humorous plot. If I could find it on some TV late show, like I did when I first saw it before there was VHS, I'd tape it myself.

I also saw this movie "It Had To be You" when I was 8 or 9 .... I would love to see it again .... does anyone know if it is available? I tried Turner Classic Movies and did not get a hit .... are there any archives that one might be able to look into? .... one of the things I remember vividly is that there was an Indian in the movie, looked like Tonto from the Lone Ranger, and seem to remember a staircase and a train ..... interestingly enough I saw this movie on a ship when my family was going back to South America on one of the "Grace" line ships, the "Santa Isabel" of course at the time there was no movie room on the ship but it was shown on a screen hung probably on the stern of the ship and we sat on chairs on the deck. I would like to add that after I wrote the above comment, I did find a DVD in England. Comes in the European format so you need a player or PC that has that option. Have to say that it was great to be able to see watch it again.