Friday, June 4, 2010

The Feminine Touch(1941)


The Feminine Touch (1941). Romantic Comedy. Cast: Don Ameche and Rosalind Russell.

College psychology professor John Hathaway, becomes upset when Dean Hutchinson suggests that the team's star, Rubber-legs Ryan, must pass an exam to be put back on the team. Rubber-legs has eyes for John's wife Julie, John, who is writing a book about jealousy, thinks he is above all that and is not upset. Which does not make Julie very happy. When John and Hutchinson argue over Rubber-leg, John quits and moves to New York with Julie. At the publisher Elliott Morgan office, they meet, Nellie Woods, who is secretly in love with Elliott. While John talks over his book with Nellie, the jealous Julie meets the womanizing, Elliott who does not appeal to Julie. At a party, Elliott admits that he is attracted to Julie, and John says that he should spend time with Julie, while Nellie and John spend time together working. Julie goes sightseeing with Elliott and becomes very upset that John is not jealous. One day, when Julie comes home and sees John and Nellie hugging and drinking champagne, celebrating the sale of his book, Julie's jealousy surprises John. Later, while they are riding a subway, Julie and John jokingly pretend that he is bothering her and bystanders call a policeman. She tries to stop John's arrest but is pushed back onto the subway by the crowd. You have to watch to see what happens next.


I thought this was a very charming romantic comedy. Not heavy on plot, a perfect movie for a summer afternoon with its snappy dialog, especially from Russell and Francis. Another fun part about watching this movie is Julie fun hats. We also look back at 1940's feminism seen though psychology professor eyes but scoffed at by Julie, who says those are the women who are alone at night.

6 comments:

  1. Oh those hats! The one in the picture you chose is scrumptious! Nice writeup for a really good film, Dawn. Roz is just an incredible actress. She can do any kind of part. I mentioned in my comment to Monty's tribute that my two favorite performances of Roz's are as the spinster schoolteacher in "Picnic" and as Mama Rose in "Gypsy". She was so versatile and a wonderful role model for independent women.

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  2. Dawn and Becks, I 've got this on my DVR hope to watch it this week end ( sure you do Paul)

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  3. Why Dawn, it sounds like our Paul is being a tad sarcastic. Could it be true? If I were Roz Russell, I would have the perfect withering comeback. (Or at least if I had her writer I would ).

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  4. Bec, I agree.. Roz's performance as the spinster schoolteacher in "Picnic", was Awesome! I do not think I have seen her performance in, "Gypsy".

    Paul, LOL... I do not know why, but your comment reminded me of the movie... "Mr. Mom". The part where he gets hooked on the "soaps". Anyway, thanks for the giggle. :)

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  5. Dawn& Becks, I burned this to DVD last night. So There! And "If you don't back off I'll call a cop". LOL. PS. This is a lot of fun, besides how could I not like a film that has Ogden Nash as one of the screen writters?

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