The Solid Gold Cadillac

What can you say about Judy Holliday? Her timing was always absolutely perfect. Her facial expressions frequently making speech unnecessary. In Solid Gold Cadillac she gives a magical portrayal as Laura Partridge, the supposedly, dumb blonde, part time actress with no appreciation of Shakespeare, ("You don't even get to sit down unless you're a king" - a typical Holliday line), but who is nonetheless shrewd enough to see through the corrupt shenanigans of the board of directors of a multi-national company in which she owns just ten shares. The partnering of Judy Holliday and that fine actor, Paul Douglas, as Edward L. McKeever, the upright, down to earth and totally incorruptible founder of the company, who is (according to Laura Partridge) "scared of girls", works like a dream. The film also has excellent support from Ray Collins, Arthur O'Connell, Neva Patterson, John Williams and of course Fred Clark, as Snell, the oily, slippery company treasurer, a real nasty piece of work. I defy anyone not to boo and hiss whenever he appears. In addition to being a delightful romantic comedy, this is also a tale of good fighting to overcome evil, and the little people of this world getting together and refusing to be trampled by a big faceless conglomerate. If you've never seen this picture before, or maybe never seen a Judy Holliday movie, you're in for a treat.

The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956) : Brief Review -

Judy Holliday is SOLID in this golden-hearted comedy. Judy Holliday does it again. Don't ask me how, but she did it. There was something about this woman and her persona that made her genuinely look funny. Other contemporary actresses had to do a lot other than deliver dialogues to bring laughter, but Judy was doing it effortlessly. I may be wrong or too early to state that Judy Holliday was the funniest lead actress ever to appear on the big screen. Richard Quine's comedy is about a jobless woman who gets gifted stocks by her dead neighbour, and her curious question scares the hell out of the company's management team. The best way to get rid of her questions was to get her on their side, albeit unknowingly. So, she is appointed as a stockholder manager, a meaningless position with a handsome salary for a woman of her background. She then starts work of her own and falls in love with a retired chairman. However, the management has their own plans and their own secrets that they want to hide. It all comes down to the chairman and the woman teaming up to fight against the crooks for the sake of the small shareholders of the company. The Solid Gold Cadillac has a simple story with a strong screenplay. The love story here is simply adorable. A retired, honest man and a peculiar woman-gosh, that's too much fun and too much cuteness. It lives up to the most acclaimed and universally appealing formula of generosity and positivity. That's what makes it a good and meaningful film. Judy is solid in the role of Laura Patridge. Watch her asking questions, raising hands, and adding humour of her own, and you have 24-carat entertainment made for you. Paul Douglas is excellent, and to play a role of that age, you need someone like him. Richard Quine has made a fine comedy with solid characters and an awkwardly lovable romance that you wouldn't want to miss.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

I have seen this movie about three times, and each time I am taken aback by the sweetness and honesty of the character Laura Partridge, as played by Judy Holiday. Even though the plot is predictable, I still enjoy watching a woman of character (who first comes across as a dizzy dame) as she continues to outsmart the cynical "opposition." A sweet comedy, and a good escape from the "real world."

I would run out of positive adjectives if I had to write a review. Judy Holliday gives her best performance. If you see this film, you will want to see her other classics. Paul Douglas shines as a scrupulous businessman.

I taped it several years ago from my local PBS station and several times a year I run it again. It's as fresh today as it was when first viewed. Judy Holliday was a gem. She died much too early. Her fans missed a lot because of her untimely passing. Also, her pairing with Paul Douglas in this movie was inspired