Je veux un millionnaire

Christabel Sloane (Eleanor Parker) is a cash-strapped secretary at a law firm who would love nothing better than to marry a millionaire and forget all about her money troubles. The reluctant gold-digger is assigned to inform Peter Ulysses Lockwood (Fred MacMurray) that he has inherited $2 million. This is her chance, but he is marrying an heiress.

Most gold-diggers are a little annoying, but this is a cute way for her to get into it. The screwball situation is rather convoluted non-sense. I don't think that I can root for her quest even though Parker makes the character as appealing as possible. The basic gold-digging premise remains a problem for me. It's always been rather anti-romantic for me. Don't get me wrong. I'm not rooting for the original marriage either. I don't ship anybody in this situation.

"A Millionaire for Christy" had the potential to be a tremendous comedy. It is a very good comedy, but could have been great. The plot is very good and mostly original. The screenplay is quite good. The script has witty dialog in many places with some hilarious scenes. And, the cast is first-rate. Yet, one role as played by Eleanor Parker, Christy Sloane, casts a shadow over the film that keeps it from being a top comedy.

Parker was a very good actress who played a variety of roles in her career. She was known especially for her dramatic acting and was very good in all of her mystery and thriller films. She made very few comedies, with mixed results. The only very good one was the 1955 film, "Many Rivers to Cross." Its plot was not unlike that of this film. But it had a huge cast and a screenplay with much humorous activity. This film has just three comedy characters and Parker seems wooden with very little energy for her role. Her mind seems to be elsewhere much of the time, as though she were stuck in the daydream scene she has very early in the film.

That leaves Fred MacMurray and Richard Carlson to provide most of the comedy, which they do. The film has some scenes in which MacMurray's Peter Lockwood and Carlson's Dr. Roland Cook have some very witty lines and repartee.

With a fresh version of the screenplay, and an actress like Carole Lombard, Irene Dunne, or Jean Arthur in the Christy Sloane role, this could be a tremendous comedy. It's still good with some very funny dialog, and most movie buffs should enjoy it. Here are some favorite lines from the film.

Christy Sloane, "Rich or handsome, you won't find me running after any man." Patsy Clifford, "Oh, if every single girl felt like that, the race would've died out years ago."

Peter Lockwood, "Oh, no, no, no, it's just a girl." Dr. Roland Cook, "Yes, I know. They taught us the difference in medical school."

Peter Lockwood, "I don't like your attitude much." Dr. Roland Cook, "My attitude? Isn't it enough that you took June away from me while I was studying in Menninger's?" Peter, "Well, you didn't study hard enough. That blond was a total stranger and nuttier than a fruitcake. Couldn't you tell that?" Roland, "Only if she were lying on a couch."

Peter Lockwood, "Who can afford to go crazy at your prices?"

Peter Lockwood, "Now, you be a good girl and get in this phone booth. Pretend you're a princess and you've been locked in a tower by the unhappy dragon."

Peter Lockwood, "You think you're traveling with a fellow who can only talk about prune juice?"

Christy Sloane, "Oh, you know, the Indians have lyrics too." Peter Lockwood, "Yes. I used them on my program last year for Lionel's Lozenges."

Christy Sloane, "Oh, I, I feel like such a heel. I mean, about spending your honeymoon with you." Peter Lockwood, "It couldn't be helped. I don't suppose it's too unusual for people to drive into the ocean. That's life."

Dr. Roland Cook, "This young woman - impressionable, overly sensitive. She's actually formed an emotional attachment from listening to you on the radio." Peter Lockwood, "Oh, one of those mash things, huh?"

Christy Sloane, "Oh, this is insane." Dr. Roland Cook, "That's my racket. Let me do the thinking."

Dr. Roland Cook, "You must realize that the female nervous system is a delicate mechanism." Peter Lockwood, "I can see that." Roland, "Did you kiss her fingertips?" Peter, "Well, why? Did her hand fall off or something?" Roland,, "I'm sorry; I've got to be systematic." Peter, "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to take a cook's tour around the human torso."

Peter Lockwood, "And I knew doc was wrong about... well, I mean, you would never commit suicide, would you?" Christy Sloane, "Not unless you don't get to the point."

Dr. Roland Cook, "You know, this is the first time I've ever had tequila. I like it because it doesn't hit you like those mortoonis do." (sic)

Dr. Roland Cook, "Even in school, I was much brighter too". Christy, "Than who?" Roland, "Peter." Christy, "Oh." Roland, "Had a better mind, was a think quinker." (sic) Christy, "Doctor, you're drunk".

The movie tries hard to bring back the madcap comedy of the 1930's. But that may be one reason it doesn't fully succeed—it tries too hard, coming across at times as more frantic than zany. That's not to say the comedy doesn't have its moments. The first twenty minutes amount to a promising set-up as drab single-girl Christy (Parker) crashes celebrity Peter's (MacMurray) wedding party to deliver an inheritance, but is mistaken instead for an old flame. As a publicist might say— hi-jinks ensue. The only question is how long it will take for Christy to win Peter's affection. In the meantime, she's got to act loopy to stay out of trouble.

For a heavy dramatic actress, e.g. Caged (1950), Parker adapts well to the Katherine Hepburn role, while the underrated MacMurray does some expert mugging. However, some of the scenes go on long after we've gotten the point, especially the kissy-face, which is surprising given that old comedy pro George Marshall is directing. I suspect the level of embraces, plus a lot of surprising innuendo, are attempts to combat the growing inroads of TV on audiences of the day. Be that as it may, it's a lively if less than sparkling 90-minutes of Hollywood make-believe.

It all begins in a lawyer's office in San Francisco, where Eleanor Parker is assigned to fly out to tell Fred MacMurray that he has inherited two million dollars. Secretary Una Merkel suggests to her that she throw herself at MacMurray, which she says is ridiculous. But on seeing him, she has a few moments of weakness. This upsets MacMurray's plans to marry Kay Buckley.

Director George Marshall fills the movie with lots of classic comedy set pieces and locations. He makes his leads fairly disagreeable, and it seems that elements from Bringing Up Baby have been incorporated. Although Miss Parker's performance in a comedy is not particularly funny, the cast includes Richard Carlson, Chris-Pin Martin, Brooks Benedict, Lane Chandler, and enough other old-time comic actors who can take their small bits and brighten the rather old-fashioned movie.

Richard Carlson has been one of my favorites since my childhood, but I don't recall ever seeing him so loose, so allowed to shine and sparkle as he does in "A Millionaire for Christy."

Fred MacMurray and Eleanor Parker are terrific as a somewhat pompous radio performer and a somewhat dizzy attorney's assistant who is sent to tell the former he has inherited money.

Her friend and office mate, and romance encourager, is played, wonderfully (of course), by Una Merkel, who by herself makes a movie more than watchable.

As silly as the story's premise might seem, when one watches this movie, one realizes it's plausible enough. More important, there are lots of likable or at least watchable people to overcome any script flaws.

It's light entertainment, well directed, filled with good actors, including Lane Chandler, uncredited and with only one line (but he has a good and recognizable voice), but above all, it gives Richard Carlson a chance to break loose and show the world what a talent he was.