Anna Neagle hadn't made a comedy film since 1932, and her return to that genre is superbly done in this film. After this she would make a number of comedies interspersed with drama and musicals. Her comedies were very good, especially those with Michael Wilding. She and Wilding had great chemistry in half a dozen films in which they co-starred from 1946-1951. (Wilding had an uncredited bit part in 1933 when Neagle already was a star. "Bitter Sweet" was his first film.)
In "Irene," Neagle plays a bubbly Irish lass, Irene O'Dare. She's the child of immigrants and her father was on the stage. But her parents died when she was young and she's been raised by her Granny O'Dare. Veteran and celebrated Australian-born May Robson plays Granny superbly. Irene's job with a department store takes her to the home of Mrs. Herman Vincent, where she has two tasks. The first is to deliver personally a framed family tree to Mrs. Vincent, and the second is to measure the cushions of some chairs bought from her store, to replace them. Mrs. Vincent says the cushions are too small or short "across the beam," as her butler, Bretherton says succinctly.
Irene's arrival at Roslyn Manor on Long Island, sets in motion a wonderful comedy romance - a very funny love triangle. The plot is excellent and refreshingly original. It's made for many laughs with Neagle masterfully showing a bubbly, innocent persona that quickly wins over everyone. And she has a first-rate supporting cast to that end, starting with co-star Ray Milland as Don Marshall. He vies for Irene's heart with Alan Marshal who plays Bob Vincent. Billie Burke plays her usual wonderfully funny scatterbrained persona as the flighty matriarch, Mrs. Vincent. Arthur Treacher is great as the stodgy butler. Marsha Hunt plays friend of the clan, Eleanor Worth, who's in love with Alan. Roland Young plays Mr. Smith - that's Smith with an "i." As Mrs. Vincent says, all the Smyths can't be "y"s. The rest of the cast shine in their roles as well.
The musical aspect is very light with a stage show premier that Irene attends, and then with a couple of dance scenes and tunes. But this film was made primarily for comedy and it succeeds wonderfully. The humor isn't in lots of snappy or witty dialog but mostly in very funny situations. And, this 1940 film had one special effect - when Irene appears in her Alice Blue Gown, the black and white film turns to full color, and the film stays in color through the ball. After the night, the screen text announces the return to black and white, "Comes the cold, grey dawn." And it looks grey and cold.
This is a wonderful comedy romance and feel-good movie that is timeless. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Irene, "Sam, have you noticed something? All the traffic seems to be going the wrong way." Sam, "It, it's us. You and your family ghost stories."
Sam, "I tell you; we oughta be around the tradesman's entrance." Irene, "Don't make me laugh. Can you image Mrs. Herman Vincent in the kitchen? This has to be delivered to her personally."
Mrs. Vincent, "How often have I told you, Marie, not to speak French to me before noon?" Marie, the maid, "Pardon, madame."
Bretherton, "Mrs. Vincent is not in the habit of receiving trade persons in her boudoir."
The Gardener, "Hey, what's the idea? You're supposed to be around at the tradesman's entrance." Sam, "Don't tell me. Tell Miss O'Dare. She knows everything."
Mrs. Vincent, "A family tree, Marie, that shows that Mr. Vincent's family were founded by Neville.... He came over with William the Conqueror, you know."
Don Marshall, "How many things have I put money in with you already? There's a dog-racing scheme." Bob Vincent, "Well, was I to know they were gonna pass a law on dog racing?" Don, "Then there's the company for importing caviar. Of course, that year, the sturgeon just decided not to lay any eggs." Bob, "Well, it was a wet season."
Jane, "Ohhh, isn't he handsome?" Lillian, "Too handsome for me. I like em tougher." Jane, "Well, can't they be both?"
Granny O'Dare, "Modeling dresses? It's the work off the devil. You'll do no such thing."
Irene, "Granny, you don't see..." Granny, "Oh, no, I don't see. I've only lived for 76 years keeping my eyes wide open."
Irene, "But it's the most elegant shop, and the grandest people go there." Granny, "Say, don't forget that sometimes the grandest people are the greatest riffraff."
Mr. Smith, "This is, uh, one of our modest little sitting rooms." Mrs. Vincent, "Well, one doesn't expect much from a sitting room, does one?"
Irene, "Well, he wasn't exactly what you'd call a drinking man; but when they gave him alcohol for medicine, it was no great surprise to his system."
Don Marshall, "Yes, Bretherton, you're right. I understand discretion is your middle name."
Bretherton, "Mr. Marshall, if butlers told all they know, society would be a shamble"
Bob Vincent, "What's that?" Bretherton, "A stiff brandy, sir. I've been through a great many weddings, and I always find there comes a time when the bridegroom needs a stiff brandy." Bob, "Bretherton, you know everything." Bretherton, "Yes, sir. I'm glad you noticed, sir."
Bretherton, pouring champagne for Mr. Smith and himself, "In some houses, you know, sir, this is just a common luxury. In this house, it's a necessity."
Don Marshall, "Well, how would you like a job modeling dresses for Madame Lucy?" Irene, "How would you like a job shoveling up gold in the street?" Don, "Eh, heh, heh,. "I'm serious." Irene, "So am I - modeling dresses, why I couldn't get a job like that unless I had a pull." Don, "Well, I have a certain amount of pull."
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