Bachelor Mother

1939
U
1h 22m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

David Niven, Ginger Rogers, and Elbert Coplen Jr. in Bachelor Mother (1939)

An unemployed woman discovers an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage, and accepts an offer to take responsibility for the child in return for a job.

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Holiday Romance Romantic Comedy Screwball Comedy Comedy Romance

An unemployed woman discovers an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage, and accepts an offer to take responsibility for the child in return for a job.An unemployed woman discovers an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage, and accepts an offer to take responsibility for the child in return for a job.An unemployed woman discovers an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage, and accepts an offer to take responsibility for the child in return for a job.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Trivia
After making this movie, David Niven returned to England to serve in the British Army during World War II. At the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, German infiltrators into American lines caused roadblocks to be established and military police asked all suspicious persons questions about things no German was likely to know. Lt. Col. David Niven was stopped at a roadblock and was asked who won the baseball World Series in 1940. He replied, "I haven't the faintest idea, but I do know that I made a picture with Ginger Rogers in 1938." The MP replied, "OK, beat it, Dave, but watch your step, for Chrissake."

Goofs
Since the film was released in August 1939, the New Year's Eve celebration must be 31 December 1938. A theater marquee is seen, showing Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer in Love Affair (1939), which was not released until April 1939 so could not have been shown at a theater the preceding New Year's Eve.

Quotes
David Merlin: So how do you like her?
Louise King: [Thinking Polly speaks only Swedish.] Pretty good for a fill-in. I'd just as soon go stag.
Polly: You could, too, with those shoulders.

Crazy credits
The cast of characters includes a wind-up toy: Donald Duck as himself. Ginger Rogers' character was in charge of a display table full of the toys.

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Featured in The RKO Story: Tales from Hollywood: A Woman's Lot (1987)

Soundtracks
Rock-a-Bye Baby
(1886) (uncredited)
Music by Effie I. Canning
Variations often in the score

User reviews66

Review

Featured review

Lovely, funny, and enjoyable

I recently caught this movie on TV one Saturday morning, and was it ever a delight! The story is based on a series of comedic errors, but unlike more recent films, the top-notch acting leads you to believe that yes, it could really happen that way! (I'm used to films veering way too far into the slapstick so that I'm just rolling my eyes and suspending my belief -- here I was just chuckling away.)

Ginger Rodgers and David Niven give fabulous performances, and the head of the Foundling Home plays his part without flaw. I finished the film with a warm, happy glow that I carried into the day. I will enjoy revisiting it in the future.