La casa delle fanciulle

Joan Bennett (was "Mom' in Father of the Bride) plays Hilda, the daughter and Adolphe Menjou and John Hubbard are reporters in Housekeeper's Daughter. Everyone involved (except Mature) had made tons of movies by 1939, so the story moves right along. In Housekeeper's Daughter, Benny (George Stone, was in the "Boston Blackie" films )helps serve Hilda's guests, and there's a murder to be solved. The newspaper reporters go on a bender and get fact and fiction confused. The dashing Victor Mature (Samson & Delilah 1949) is one of the mobster's men who goes to visit Hilda, the housekeeper's daughter to see just how much she knows. Keep an eye out for the always funny character actor Donald Meek ("You Cant Take it with You" and "My Little Chickadee" ) as the newspaper editor Mr. Wilson. Reminded me a little bit of "His Girl Friday" which would come out a year later in 1940, but not nearly as clever as H.G.F. How could anyone compete with Cary Grant & Rosalind Russell? See also "Big Brown Eyes" from 1936, also Cary Grant, also a newspaper caper....

The sultry Joan Bennett adds some class to this tame comedy about a rookie reporter who stumbles upon a murder involving a mentally challenged serial killer and gangsters (one of whom is a debuting Victor Mature). It's slow to start and doesn't quite seem to know where it's going, but builds up to a decent finale.

In some ways an odd mix, "The Housekeep's Daughter" is generally well done and extremely well acted.

Joan Bennett looks more beautiful than ever, but doesn't have much to do, except look beautiful.

Adolph Menjou is simply always great, although his character makes a change that doesn't really ring true -- but so what?

Some of the finest of Hollywood's character actors make this just so much fun to watch, and seeing Victor Mature in an early role additionally makes "The Housekeeper's Daughter" a joy.

John Hubbard gives a good portrayal of a rather spacey character, but for some reason never did become the star he probably deserved to be, though he did keep busy most of the rest of his life.

I can recommend "The Housekeeper's Daughter" despite its minor flaws. Those flaws are vastly outnumbered by the joys.

Joan Bennett is tempting as "The Housekeeper's Daughter". Ms. Bennett is given some great lines, fine direction (Hal Roach), and neat things to do - like putting those thigh bells on! She has a past, which comes back to haunt... she was involved with Victor Mature and a bunch of gangsters. Bennett desires the son in the house she tends, and he is a reporter working on a crime which begins to involve Bennett's past life. There is an interesting accidental "Houseboat Murder" to solve. Adolphe Menjou and William Gargan are okay as a couple of reporters. Overall, I found the "slapstick" is often more annoying than enjoying.

"Benny" makes a mean cup of coffee.

**** The Housekeeper's Daughter (10/26/39) Hal Roach ~ Joan Bennett, Adolphe Menjou, William Gargan

Scrambled comedy more interesting for some of its players than anything else. There's sort of a plot, but its more thrown together than anything that evolves. It's like if we just keep shouting and pushing something funny is bound to happen.

On the cast side, Joan Bennett has way too much screen gravitas for a farce like this. She sure looks the part that guys would fall all over. Nonetheless, she also looks lost in the role. Good thing she soon paired up with film impresario Fritz Lang who sensed her spider woman potential. Note too, early presence of Victor Mature as a hunky gangster. No wonder he went on to starring roles. Then there's poor John Hubbard in the lead. Unfortunately, he has about as much comedic talent as I do, putting a hole in the movie's middle. But my real take-away is little George E. Stone as Benny who keeps popping up with unusual cups of coffee in the gentlest most self-effacing manner possible. He's like a demented little elf, a truly disturbing presence, at least in my movie book. I hope he finally found the right movie set. Just don't let him fix the coffee.

Anyway, I'd skip this over-cooked stew unless the only alternative is a politician's speech.