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Some viewers may view this film as just another old-fashioned movie. To me, this was very clean, fresh, and genuinely funny and entertaining film. There are no complicated gimmicks or special effects, but it exemplifies the best traits of human beings; optimism, good humor, romantic love, and the kind of respect that a decent human being would show, in all of their relationships. If anything, it would be nice if we could seriously ponder these values as being worthy, instead of dismissing them, as being old fashion or downright sappy. Hedy was the personification of regal elegance, but with a warm heart; Robert Walker, was very likable and funny; June Allyson, Rags Ragland, were as warmly effective as the two leads. A very positive and sensitive film. Too bad these qualities make this a 'chick flick' in today's world. I know there was a time, when a family could enjoy a movie like this, without feeling weird, because their adrenaline drives were not being satisfied by glorified violence, and a general disrespect for anything decent or human.

Robert Walker plays Jimmy, the nice-guy bellboy from the film's title. He works at a hotel and spends most of his free time hanging out with Leslie, a disabled lady who has some weird disease. According to the Doc, she didn't get enough love as a child and as a result she apparently can't walk!! Sounds like she could use a good psychotherapist! Regardless, through the course of the film Leslie's heart is broken as Jimmy begins to spend less and less time with her and more with a beautiful Princess staying at the hotel (Hedy Lamarr). The Princess likes Jimmy and has asked the manager that he be assigned as her personal aid. However, through the course of the film, Jimmy overhears a conversation and thinks the Princess is in love with him! She IS in love with a commoner...but it sure ain't Jimmy! What's to happen with poor Leslie...and poor Jimmy...and the poor Princess...when she gets arrested?!

Most of this film is very nice, though occasionally the film drops the ball. First, there's the bizarre illness which can only happen in a Hollywood flick! Second, there's a very long and irrelevant dream sequence which just would have been better left out of the movie. Despite these complaints, the film is generally very nice-- sort of like a modern fairy tale and with some nice performances. Well worth seeing even with its flaws.

Never realized that Robert Walker, "Strangers On A Train", ever played the role as a bellhop named Jimmy Dobson who gets involved with a Princess Veronica played by Hedy Lamarr who was so very beautiful and charming in 1945. Jimmy Dobson escorts Princess Veronica around the hotel and through out New York City and introduces her to Frankfurter's in Central Park. However, the Princess is really looking for a man in New York City after being divorced from another man. June Allyson,(Leslie Odell) is a young sweet charming girl who is bed ridden and is very much in love with Jimmy Dobson and there is a conflict between these two woman. This is a very cute film and the entire cast did a great job in their acting and comedy acts. Enjoy.

WARNING: This review may reveal portions of the film plot.

If you are a fan of old films simply for the sake of their age, then this might be a film you would enjoy. Most others would not be impressed with this film.

Unfortunately, the storyline is obvious, although I'll admit at the end of the film you aren't sure if the two people in love will figure it out in time. The movie seems to run a bit long as well, dragging out the inevitable ending.

If all that sounds like this is a bad film, it isn't. It is a typical love story of the 40s film genre, however there really aren't any "bad guys" in this film, which might account for some of where the film seems to run long. You want to cheer for the hero, but there is no villain for the hero to fight against.

All in all, the film is sweet, definitely what would be referred to as a "chick flick." If you catch it, that's fine, but you don't need to worry if you miss it.

This is a warm comedy and romance film with a very good cast that incudes two young stars who wouldn't have very long careers on the silver screen. As one or more other reviewers have noted, though, it's a bit strange for the time and setting and what it doesn't show. The film was made during World War II and released before the end of the war. Yet there's no sign of the war anywhere, including and especially the absence of any men in uniform. Well, that aside, the film has a nice story - sort of a mixture of smaller plots and some fantasy rolled together.

Austrian-born Hedy Lamarr plays a princess from one of those Hollywood mythical eastern European countries. But, she's been lonely and doesn't want to marry the count who's sort of been picked out for her, and she brings her entourage to the U. S. A. She hopes to rekindle a romance she had in the past with an American she had met in her home country. Of course, all of her court members are against her marrying a "nobody."

But, while she's staying at the unnamed swankiest New York hotel, she sneaks out to go for a walk on her own and bumps into Jimmy Dobson, a bellhop. He mistakes her for a new maid and discovers that she's a stranger and from a foreign country. So, he takes her under wing. On returning to the hotel after introducing her to hotdogs for lunch, he finds out that she's royalty. But, instead of his getting fired, he becomes her personal aid.

Now, before all this, Jimmy has been watching after an invalid neighbor, Leslie Odell, who lives with her aunt. June Allyson plays the young woman who had been a dancer but a shock of losing her parents left her unable to walk. Jimmy also acts like a big brother to Albert Weever, a not-too-bright but good-hearted thug of sorts. That's to keep him out of trouble. Albert had a bit of a record and some tough neighborhood boss wants Albert in his gang to pull a heist of some sort But, Albert likes Jimmy and sticks with him, and he also likes Leslie.

Well, with this somewhat convoluted plot of a few subplots, there's romance in the air. Leslie pines for Jimmy, Jimmy pines for the princess, the princess pines for her former beau, Paul MacMillan, Baron Faludi pines for the princess, and Albert himself pines a little for Leslie. The pining is further complicated by Jimmy's mistaken belief that the princess pines for him, and deep down, he really pines more for Leslie

It all works out in the end, but one has to watch the film to see how. The humor is mostly situational, with a peppering of some funny lines here and there. I mentioned two short careers - they were Lamarr and Walker. She was in 35 films and he in just 22 Lamarr was born in Austria and got her start in cinema in Berlin. She was discovered early and brought to the U. S. by MGM. She was one of the real beautiful women of Hollywood then. Not the glamorous but the natural beauties. She had some good roles and was popular to the time of this film, but her career waned after WW II and by the late 1950s she was done in films. She was married half a dozen times and died at age 85 in Florida living on a very small income.

Robert Walker was a very talented actor who had some very good roles. He could play comedy and drama equally well. He came from a broken family, which affected him emotionally for a long time. He played roles of characters who often suffered from anxiety and depression - his very problems. He died from an adverse reaction to a sedative that his psychiatrist administered after a bout of high anxiety.

In "The Princess and the Bellboy," Rags Ragland gives a superb performance as Albert, and June Allyson gives a very good performance as well. Here are some favorite lines from the film.

Jimmy Dobson, "Good evening, Miss Odell. How ae you this evening?" Aunt Gertrude Odell, "Poorly." Jimmy: Aw, that's too bad. I guess working nights doesn't agree with you." Aunt Odell, "Neither does workin' days."

Jimmy Dobson, "Well, you're a stranger here. A babe like you with a face like that - you've gotta be awfully careful in a world like this." Princes Veronica, "Careful of what?" Jimmy, "Ohhhh, things." Princess, "Things?" Jimmy, "Well... men. I'm sorry to say, but we can't be trusted."

Albert Weever, "I brought you some flowers - eh, fornot-me-gets." Leslie Odell, "Than you, Albert. I love fornot-me-gets."

Aunt Gertrude Odell, "I wish I'd been born a princess. Instead, I was born tired."