Louise

Though future president Ronald Reagan is top billed in Louisa the accent is Hollywood's senior citizens as we are treated to golden age romantic triangle involving Edmund Gwenn, Charles Coburn, and Spring Byington. Love is lovelier the second time around as the song goes at least for two of them.

Reagan is a successful executive who has landed a big promotion from his boss Charles Coburn and he's married to Ruth Hussey with kids Piper Laurie and Jimmy Hunt. Spring is his mother and she lives with them. I know how that is because I had a paternal grandmother living with me and believe me she wasn't as nice as Spring Byington.

Still Spring is made to feel like a fifth wheel in the household and so she starts looking for some companionship and she finds it with Edmund Gwenn who owns a grocery store and has an interesting background. One night Coburn comes over in the middle of family dinner and he shows an interest in Spring.

That has to be exciting for one of Spring's age and now my age to be the love object in a romantic triangle. She's got a new lease on life and the girl just struts her stuff.

Louisa got some Oscar consideration when it received a nomination for Best Sound recording. It's a pleasant enough family comedy and it holds up well because it has some forever themes about it.

... and I don't mean the 1960s. Spring Byington is in the title role living with son Ronald Reagan and his family. Louisa is urged to get some interests outside the family, but be careful what you ask for.

Louisa ends up getting fought over romantically by charming grocer Henry Hammond (Edmund Gwenn) and Type-A tycoon (and Ronnie's boss) Abel Burnside (Charles Coburn). This puts Ronnie in a delicate dilemma. The guys are wonderful as immature cut-ups and Louisa's teen-aged granddaughter, Cathy (Piper Laurie, in her screen debut) and her brilliant geek boyfriend Jimmy,(Scotty Beckett) are a great contrast in young love. It all takes place in a town ironically called Pleasantville. Watch for the charming bit of Americana with the Community Square Dance and the 'dancing under the bar' competition. It's a hoot!

When Louisa finally picks one of the guys, the other one investigates and finds out that the winner has been married four times! And never divorced! Is this feel good film about to turn into a film noir? Watch and find out.

Recommended as a great film that proves some good things happened at Universal after the Laemmles lost the studio in 1936, and before Rock Hudson and Douglas Sirk showed up, besides just Abbott and Costello.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started watching. Soon I was literally laughing out loud. Ronald Reagan is married (Ruth Hussey) with two children, one a teenage daughter the other a twelve yr old son. They all live together with his mother, who starts dating the towns grocer. Ronald Reagan starts behaving like a typical child who doesn't approve of his mother dating anyone but his deceased father of ten years. Oh, but wait...a love triangle ensues between this grandmother, the grocer and Ronald Reagan's boss. Their antics and jealous behavior is simply outrageous and hilarious. This love triangle between Spring Byington, Edmund Gwenn and Charles Coburn is so charmingly funny, being they're all in their sixties and behaving like teenagers in love. All of the actors are perfect in their roles and play their parts quite believable. I've seen them all in so many movies, yet I can't forget that Edmund Gwenn is really Santa....lol (Miracle on 34th Street).

This movie is in black and white, which I think ads to its charm. I highly suggest you watch this one.

This film about falling in love after 60 could have easily descended into sentimental sappiness, but its intelligently funny script and fine comedic acting by its principals keeps it light and heartwarming. Spring Byington is charmingly vivacious without losing her dignity; Edmund Gwenn is cherubic and wise as the grocer suitor, and Charles Coburn as his tycoon rival reveals once again why he was one of the best character actors in the business. Stars Ronald Reagan and Ruth Hussey do well with what is essentially strong supporting roles as Byington's put-upon son and daughter-in-law. All in all, an entertaining hour and a half.

There is an unfair urban legend about the late 40th President of the United States that all his films were awful except for "Knute Rockne, All American" and "King's Row". Actually Ronald Reagan did more good films than most people realize - he was in supporting roles in "Boy Meets Girl" and "Dark Victory", he did nicely in "Brother Rat", "The Voice Of The Turtle" and (surprise!) "Bedtime For Bonzo", and he again gave good support to the trio of old troopers who star in this film.

"Louisa" is that rarity - a romantic comedy about the loves of elderly people. Spring Byington is the mother of Ronald Reagan, and she meets his new employer, Charles Coburn. Byington is perky and intelligent and graceful, and she captivates Coburn. So far so good. Unfortunately she already has met Edmund Gwenn, a poorer man than Coburn but just as smitten. Both men proceed to pursue her, and to try to derail each other's campaign for her. Coburn, being richer (and Reagan's employer) is in a better position - especially after he finds a secret regarding Gwenn's past that can blast his chances. Or will it boomerang and make Gwenn more sympathetic?

The three old pros carry this film - one of the two best films for elderly performers (with Monty Wooley's "As Young As You Feel") made in the 1950s. Both reaffirm that there is plenty of life in the older set than we usually think. And Reagan does well, upset to see his mother Byington not acting...well as a mother should. He is also jittery about his business future every time Coburn sees Gwenn visiting. A nice little comedy. Ronnie was in some good ones you know.