Granny Get Your Gun (1940)

Director:

George Amy

Writers:

Erle Stanley Gardner (story)
Kenneth Gamet (original screenplay)

Release Date:

10 February 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Plot:

Minerva Hatton is back in Nevada, where she grubstaked her fortune years ago. Her granddaughter Julie Westcott is visiting while getting a divorce...

Plot Keywords:

Gambling | Granddaughter | Fingerprint | Casino | Sheriff

Cast

May Robson	...	Minerva Hildegarde Hatton
Harry Davenport	...	Nathaniel 'Nate' Paulson
Margot Stevenson	...	Julie Westcott
Hardie Albright	...	Phillip 'Phil' Westcott
Clem Bevans	...	Smokey
Clay Clement	...	Riff Daggett, alias of Frank Trasker
William B. Davidson	...	District Attorney Fitzgerald (as William Davidson)
Arthur Aylesworth	...	Sheriff Henry Quinn
Granville Bates	...	Tom Redding, banker
Ann E. Todd	...	Charlotte Westcott (as Ann Todd)
Vera Lewis	...	Aunt Carrie Ellis
Max Hoffman Jr.	...	Frayne, Daggett's henchman
Archie Twitchell	...	Joe, Minerva's servant
Walter Wilson	...	Judge Stephen Z. 'Steve' McGillicutty
Nat Carr	...	Mr. Wadsworth, motel manager

Runtime:

56 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5815)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Publicity claimed May Robson did not use a double for the car chase.

Granny Gone Wild

This comedy/drama is done in the style of a "Frank Capra" movie. Mary Robson plays a resourceful "granny" (Minerva Hatton) who is trying to protect her granddaughter from being hung up on a "murder" charge. She is being defended by an old attorney friend (Nate Paulson) played by Harry Davenport. Minerva and Nate are a 2 headed Columbo who won't stop until they get to the truth. Granny is a very independent and forceful woman for her time. She is very persuasive and usually gets her way. Her character is the true definition of what "feminism" should have been then and now for that matter. Her character is not afraid to step on toes once in a while. The ends surely justifies the means here. Her movie sidekicks are all the familiar faces from that genre of movies in the late 30's, early 40's. While this movie is short in length, it really packs a punch and keeps you riveted. The editing in this movie is very good for its time and should have been nominated. This movie has all the right elements that work together for it to work successfully. I would have hoped that this may have developed into a series like that of the "Thin Man". Unfortunately, Mary Robson died 2 years after this movie was released, on October 20th, 1942. She has the notoriety of being the oldest born actress (1856) to ever be nominated for an academy award (Lady for a day-directed by Frank Capra). This is a movie that everyone could enjoy. Please check this out, you won't be disappointed.