It Grows on Trees

This movie is not among her best; however, as most commentators agree, it is a delightful comedy. The device of money growing on trees is, indeed, a verbal cliché. But adapting that cliché to cinema seems highly creative to me. How many films have you seen with similar grounds for a modern cinematic fable? For that matter, how many other modern fables have the movies produced?

The device also leads to some unexpected consequences. It sets up several unforeseen complications and conflicts. It is used to contrast various characters' attitudes toward "easy money." And, it provides a vehicle for poking gentle fun at government. It has a little more satirical slant than other reviewers seem to suggest. I think that there is a little more here than meets the eye. Cliché may be the starting point of this movie, but after that the tale is surprising, original, clever and highly entertaining - with a light touch of satire and commentary on human nature.

Oh yeah, this movie also provides some very fun and likable characters. The ensemble cast delivers very good performances to sustain interest in this fable at a high level. Irene Dunne, as always, is a complete delight. Dean Jagger delivers a performance that I really enjoyed watching. How many leading roles did he play in light comedies?

I recommend this clever little comedy.

In the 1930s and 40s, Irene Dunne was one of the top actresses in Hollywood. However, by the time she made "It Grows on Trees" she was older and her prospects a bit dimmer. In fact, it would turn out to be her final movie and the rest of her career she'd appear in a few television productions. It's sad, though, that this final film appearance was in such a dopey production. Why is it dopey? Well, just listen to the plot...the Baxter family have a tree that begins growing money...money that appears to be 100% REAL!

When the picture begins, Phil and Polly Baxter (Dean Jagger and Irene Dunne) are arguing over money. It seems it's really tight in their household and Phil is trying to get Polly to live within their means. But she keeps wanting to spend it on various things for the kids...even though they cannot afford it. Suddenly, as if an answer to prayer, money starts appearing around their property and it takes a while for them to realize that they've got a money tree!

The plot to this film is pretty stupid...that's hard to deny. The actors seem to try their best to make it work, though with such a ridiculous plot even the greatest actors in history couldn't make much of this fluff. And, in this case, Dunne in particular is NOT very good...mostly because her character is pretty annoying.

I still think back to this film and how delightful it was.

A common American housewife (Dunne) finds two trees that grow money in a yard sale, I believe my brother and sister said.

I erroneously believed the woman was Gracie Allen. Later I would learn it was Dunne.

Wonderful what became of the money, Dunne's husband, the nosy neighbor, everything.

I wish I remembered Richard Crenna in this, but I do remember the ending very well; what became of the money trees and then the overall ending of the film.

I had read once that Dunne regretted making this movie and it is surprising to see it was her final film as well.

She may not have liked it, but we sure did.

Irene Dunne is irrepressible as a housewife who grows a money tree in her yard. Dunne truly is the show but gets plenty of able support. Dean Jagger is appropriately befuddle as her stuffy husband who finds himself fighting a moral dilemma all by himself. Richard Crenna is marvelous in a key supporting role. Not much substance, but an engaging way to kill an hour and a half.

Irene Dunne and Dean Jagger are a couple with three children and tight budget. One day she purchases a couple of trees for the back yard. Soon, money begins showing up on the wind, through the bathroom window, brought in by the cat and found on the grass. It turns out that the trees are producing the money. Miss Dunne starts to spend the money.

It's a brittle fantasy directed by comedy specialist Arthur Lubin. Miss Dunne plays a sweet, feather-brained woman, while Jagger is stolid and honest. Clearly this move was intended to appeal to the nervous middle class of the period, struggling to make ends meet in the 1950s while giving their family all the things that post-war prosperity was expected to yield. Miss Dunne is impeccable in her role, while Jagger plays second banana gruffly and amiably. Like many of the comedy-fantasies of the era, alas, the satire that might have infused it at some stage of its production is weakened by its very 1950s-specific air and the character work. Even so, it's worthy of some attention because of its cast (which includes Richard Crenna in an early adult role, and Miss Dunne in her final big-screen appearance), and its inherent modesty as a programme