L'Extravagante Miss Pilgrim

This film is a post-war notice to women (who had been 'minding the store' while all the guys were over- seas)--that they just might have some choices. Not a strong statement to be sure--but surprising in its way. Not surprising is that Hollywood chose Betty Grable to represent the modern woman in this period picture. Betty was (in 1947) the highest salaried woman in the United States--and a box office champion (at a time when women really pretty much dictated what movies we were going out to see). So it is not Betty Grable the famous pin-up you are seeing (though she is also present, but under more wraps than usual)--it is Betty Grable the successful woman--who was a role model for women at that time in a way. They cared that she was glamorous, married, had children and a career--and was a hell of an entertainer. This film is charming and presents a slightly softened Betty--but a resourceful and independent Betty. As is so often the case, the resolution of the film is not a true triumph--but we are talking about the 1940's--so they took the ball as far as they felt they could. I like this film. I hope that you will, too. Betty and a great bunch of character actors will give you a really pleasant ninety minutes or so.

This is a first class musical. Several of the songs have become standards and continue to turn up in Gershwin orchestral compilations and in the repertoires of top cabaret artists. Ira Gershwin's lyrics for this show were among his wittiest ever.

Betty Grable and Dick Haymes are in great voice. separately and in duet.

The scenes in the boarding house peopled by eccentrics were highly original and very funny.

It is inconceivable that this film has not been released on VHS or DVD, and that there is no CD of the soundtrack.

It is my hope that some connoisseur of show tunes in the music business, like Michael Feinstein, will press for its release in some form.

This is a film intriguing for many reasons. It has an uneasy postwar relationship with women in the workplace. It stars Bety Grable in an uncharacteristic role, and reveals Dick Haymes to be possessed of such a rich voice that he really missed the career boat as a vocalist. There is also a fascinating uncredited early appearance by Marilyn Monroe, and a star-studded list of contributors, including choreographer Hermes Pan. But what makes this film especially notable is the Gershwin music. Kay Swift's work with Ira Gershwin, from notebooks and unfinished sketches for various projects left by George Gershwin at his death in 1937, produced a complete posthumous score, the first for a motion picture.

A whole crowd of directors on this one, due to various health issues, acc to the trivia here. Also a pretty large cast list, if you include all the credited, uncredited, and Scenes Deleted. Betty Grable is Miss Pilgrim, an early female pioneer to work her way into the office. I LOVE the symbolism of making her name miss PILGRIM. Grable made this about halfway between Moon over Miami and How to Marry a Millionaire. Dick Haymes is Pritchard, the boss, and he's shocked that a woman would even consider working for him. Ann Revere is his aunt Alice, who stands up for her, and demands she be given a chance. Gene Lockhart is in here as Saxon. probably the most interesting credit on here is the singer, Countess Elektra Rozanska. if you search around enough, you'll find her story.. apparently she worked with children to resolve their speech issues. and of course, the debate over whether she really was a countess or not. sounds like a made up title to me. As period pieces go, this one is actually pretty good! it's almost a documentary, with some humor thrown in to keep it from being boring. they mention the Parker House, an actual Boston landmark, with over 500 rooms. i personally could have done with less songs; the story, the characters, and the historical significance were quite enough to carry the film. good stuff. shows occasionally on Turner Classics.

It's funny that this film was a disappointment for Betty Grable and the studio, as I actually think it's better than most of her films. While I am not saying it's a great film, it is enjoyable and fits Grable very nicely. According to IMDb they attributed this to Grable not showing off her famous legs or because she wasn't peroxide blonde in the film. And, if you think about it, the film is supposed to be about equality and anti-sexism--and that's exactly how the studio execs behaved in blaming the film's lack of success on Grable's lessened sex appeal in this cute picture!

When the film begin, it's the 1870s and women simply did not work outside the home. So, when Miss Pilgrim (Grable) completes secretarial school and goes looking for a job in Boston, it's quite shocking and she naturally runs into sexism. So, she makes it a crusade of sorts to gain acceptance....and by doing so she becomes an important spokesperson for the women's suffrage movement! She also finds many friends in one of the strangest boarding houses you'll ever see in a movie!

The film is naturally filled with songs but not as many as in Grable's other films and a few of them are rather funny. Overall, it's a lighthearted and fun film about an important subject. Well worth seeing.