La avenida de la tentación

After a stressful business meeting, "Amalgamated Pump" millionaire Walter Connolly (as Timothy Borden) returns to his upper fifth avenue Manhattan mansion expecting to receive some "Happy Birthday" wishes. His spoiled, disinterested family has forgotten Mr. Connolly's birthday, however. Connolly goes to Central Park alone and meets sullen, disinterested Ginger Rogers (as Mary Grey). He learns the beautiful apple-chomping woman is homeless and invites Ms. Rogers to dinner. When she spends the night in his guest room, Connolly's family suddenly become interested in the old provider. Connolly invites Rogers to stay and shake up the household...

Produced and directed by Gregory La Cava, this story is similar to his "My Man Godfrey" (1936). When Connolly goes to the park, you know he's either going to be mistaken or a bum or find one; after which, we might poke fun at the idle rich and admire the hard-working poor. For good measure, handsome family chauffeur James Ellison (as Michael "Mike" Farnsbother) dabbles in Communism...

This is a good film, but it should be much better. The production looks great, the situation is fun and several one-liners work. Sadly, the top-billed cast doesn't really click. Rogers appears too elegant and serious; also, she displays little chemistry with her supporting cast, especially leading men Connolly and Tim Holt (as "Tim" Borden). La Cava should have re-cut Rogers' "kitchen knife scene" and added some romance. Rogers should have toned down her movie star looks and added more playfulness to her homeless character.

***** 5th Ave Girl (8/25/39) Gregory La Cava ~ Ginger Rogers, Walter Connolly, Tim Holt, James Ellison

Ginger Rogers was good at doing this kind of roles and this is one of her best performances. The plot,an attack on the social strata of society; both the rich and the poor and the consequences that bereave who they are. Without a doubt, the star of the movie is the script. It's so good, it's basically impossible to muck up. Gregory La Cava, that serious and more respected directors of his time who is much forgotten today shoots and directs so wonderfully emphasizing every nuance of the script with style and wit improves on his NY critics winning direction in Stage door. Just a wondeful movie.

The ridiculously rich (look at that mansion) and the perfectly groomed poor. Ginger Rogers proves that she was one of the best comedic, deadpan actresses of her time, even without dancing. The bratty kids, the wise ass chauffeur, the horse faced butler. The clothes, love that 1930-40's look. it must have been a real ego trip to be stinking rich during a time of world wide depression, which made the rich even richer. Great writing, acting and directing. As good as "It happened One Night". There were many movies made in 1939, a couple of them like GWTW and TW of Oz, get all the press but this movie is a gem. Walter Connolly and Verre Teasdale as high society husband and wife are great.

Know Ginger Rogers best from her legendary partnership with another dancing legend Fred Astaire, but she did show numerous times that she fared very well in the acting department as well in comedy and drama. She was my main reason in seeing 'Fifth Avenue Girl'. Have also liked some of Gregory La Cava's other films, namely the wonderful 'Stage Door'. Really liked comedy and romance and they have been known to blend very well together, especially in the golden age of film history.

'Fifth Avenue Girl' is one of those many films from the golden age, but sadly to me it is not one of the classics. Have seen better from Rogers, films and performances, and from La Cava, as well as better blendings of comedy and romance and both elements done better individually in other films. That is not saying that 'Fifth Avenue Girl' is terrible as it isn't, it just wasn't my definition of great and the potential for it to be great was absolutely there.

There are definitely good, even great, things. 'Fifth Avenue Girl' looks great, beautifully photographed that is never too elaborate or too much of a filmed play. The costumes are also suitably distinguished and one of the film's most striking things was that magnificent staircase and the clever way it's used throughout. The music is pleasant, not too chirpy and also not too serious. La Cava has some stylish direction evident.

Although the script is not perfect, it does amuse frequently, intrigues and can be witty and sophisticated. Same goes for the story. Rogers looks lovely and her sass and elegance shines often. Walter Connolly is amusing and Veree Teasdale has fun in her role.

Sadly there are debits. Tim Holt is bland from playing his part too seriously and his chemistry with Rogers always looks stiff and under-rehearsed. Something of a big problem when it plays a sizeable part in the film. Rogers has good moments, but sometimes she is too low-key and some parts are less engaged-looking than others.

Do agree that the script is too talky and too heavy on heavy-handed and of the time social commentary. Some of the pace is sluggish and the ending is rushed and silly.

In conclusion, not bad at all. Just not great. 6/10

Ginger Rogers is out of work and Walter Connolly has just the job for her in "5th Ave Girl," also starring Verree Teasdale and Tim Holt.

Connolly is a pump manufacturer (not shoes, the other kind) who is filthy rich and, though he lives with his family, is estranged from them. His two brat kids pay no attention to him, and his wife is always making the gossip columns for running around - with someone and without her husband.

So he hires Ginger to shake things up and make them think he's got a life without them, too. It's a cavernous, ugly house of the kind seen in "Holiday" and so many '30s films, and it's filled with malcontents.

The daughter is in love with the chauffeur who spouts Communist propaganda and hates the rich, the wife panics when she sees Ginger, and the son, against his will, has to take over the family company because his father is so distracted with his new young girlfriend.

Rogers plays this role in an offhanded manner, with sardonic line delivery. It works fairly well but it's a little too one-note. However, you definitely catch the character's underlying fear and vulnerability. She takes life as it comes - but when it's not what she expected, she's unnerved.

Walter Connolly is excellent - I especially loved him practicing the rumba in the doorway. Verree Teasdale does a good job as the wife - attractive, imperious, and vain. Unfortunately, while Tim Holt is good as the son, he and Rogers have no chemistry, so their connection seems to come out of left field.

This is an enjoyable film but somehow it lacks spark. A little variation in Rogers' performance might have helped, and more development of the relationship between Holt and Rogers.