Molly and Me (1945)

A vivacious actress needing work becomes a housekeeper for a crusty retired politician, and gives his life the shaking-up that it needs.

Director:

Lewis Seiler

Writers:

Frances Marion (novel), Roger Burford (adaptation),

Stars:

Gracie Fields, Monty Woolley, Roddy McDowall

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gracie Fields	...	Molly Barry
Monty Woolley	...	John Graham
Roddy McDowall	...	Jimmy Graham
Reginald Gardiner	...	Harry Phillips / Peabody, the Butler
Natalie Schafer	...	Kitty Goode-Burroughs
Edith Barrett	...	Julia
Clifford Brooke	...	Pops
Aminta Dyne	...	Musette
Queenie Leonard	...	Lily
Doris Lloyd	...	Mrs. Graham
Patrick O'Moore	...	Ronnie
Lewis L. Russell	...	Sir Arthur Burroughs

Storyline

Molly, an actress desperate for work, decides to get it by "playing the part" of an experienced housekeeper. It turns out that the butler at her new household is doing the same thing. Their employer, Mr. Graham, is a retired politician who, divorced from his wife and estranged from his son, lives alone with a staff of servants. Graham's life needs shaking up and, with her enthusiasm and acting talent, Molly is just the one to help him do it when the opportunity arises.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1946 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Comediantes de Alcova

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frances Marion wrote parts for Marie Dressler when she discovered Ms. Dressler down on her luck and ready to accept a housekeeping job. The novel, Molly, Bless Her, the basis of this film, was Marion's view of what might have happened if Dressler had accepted a job as housemaid.

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Soundtracks

"She Was Poor But She Was Honest"
(uncredited)
Music by R.P. Weston
Lyrics by Bert Lee
Sung by the delivery boy

User Reviews

Actors acting like servants, or trying to.

Here is a whimsical tale of an out-of-work actress and her other also-situated actors and actresses. Tired of playing the starving artist, she lands the role of maid in a house over-running with thieving employees. She single-handedly cleans up the household, and begins to work on her unloving boss. She soon begins to melt his icy heart, and teaches him the value of things (not money, which he knows too well already).

Her actor friends soon must take on the role of fellow servants, and the rest is hilarious. They over-act their positions, and confuse and confound their new boss.