It Had to Be You

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 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.

As a single 20-something I've had to watch seemingly hundreds of romantic comedies with girlfriends. "It Had to Be You" is probably the only one I would consider watching again.

I was half asleep when this movie came on Turner Classic Movies this afternoon. I've been trashcan-by-the-couch sick all week, so what's been on the TV is a complete blur.

Before I could cycle through what was on the DVR, the movie had gotten its hooks in me. When I got up and ran urgently to the bathroom I did something I never do: I hit 'pause.' I'm probably a dream subject for people marketing to the 21- to 35-year-old bracket. I like violence, video games, electric guitars and scantily-clad women. None of these things are in "It Had to Be You," but it kept me entertained anyway.

It's not a classic by any means, but this movie is solid. Its humor carries through 60 years later and the actors felt right for their roles. Also, the story is believable in its unbelievability - I still like to think my kindergarten-crush will pop up and be right for me.

The movie also has that post-war wholesomeness that's hard to describe. There are a lot things left unsaid in the film that would be brought up in a modernized version, mainly about a live-in male friend who is not the fiancé. As it stands it feels fresh compared to the last half-dozen romantic-comedies I begrudgingly saw in theaters.

If you want to see a quality, lighthearted, funny and fantastic 40s-era movie, then check this one out next time it's on TCM.

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!

GINGER ROGERS plays another one of her fluttery sapheads with a little girl voice and manner that becomes irritating after the first ten minutes. She's caught in a script full of trouble--because none of it makes a good deal of sense. Supposedly, her crush as a girl on a boy who played Indian games with her, has her fantasizing that this boy--now a man in her dreams--is the one she was destined to marry.

So, in a prologue to the nonsense, she shows up at the altar several times with a man she cannot exchange the wedding vows with--even up until the ending where she and RON RANDELL are about to be wed.

It's tiresome stuff, but is somewhat salvaged by a couple of bright performances from CORNEL WILDE as the Indian incarnation (in her dreams) and RON RANDELL as the stuffy suitor who has the best command of all the comic lines and situations. Indeed, it's Randell who gives the most polished, professional job in the whole film. And CORNEL WILDE, in a dual role as the Indian and the fireman Ginger eventually meets, lends charm and physical presence to his part.

SPRING BYINGTON is properly befuddled (as usual) as Rogers' dithery mother but the whole story fizzles long before it reaches a rather predictable ending.

Ginger mugs her way through most of it but it's her little girl voice that is the most irritating factor in her portrayal of the daffy heroine.