Forever Female (1954)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Irving Rapper

Writers:

J.M. Barrie (play)
Julius J. Epstein (writer)

Release Date:

January 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The most INTIMATE comedy of the SEXes since Eve played games with Adam!

Plot:

Aging actress Ginger Rogers refuses to admit she is too old to play the ingenue role any longer.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play

Awards:

Won Golden Globe.

Cast

Ginger Rogers	...	Beatrice Page
William Holden	...	Stanley Krown
Paul Douglas	...	E. Harry Phillips
Pat Crowley	...	Sally Carver
James Gleason	...	Eddie Woods
Jesse White	...	Willie Wolfe
Marjorie Rambeau	...	Herself
George Reeves	...	George Courtland
King Donovan	...	Playwright
Vic Perrin	...	Scenic Designer
Russell Gaige	...	Theatrical Producer
Marion Ross	...	Patty
Richard Shannon	...	Stage Manager
Sally Mansfield	...	Young Hopeful
Kathryn Grant	...	Young Hopeful (as Kathryn Grandstaff)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #16281)

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Features Pat Crowley debut.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The framed caricatures that line the walls of the Sardi's set are black and white sketches that include at least one movie star (Charlie Chaplin); in reality, the caricatures at the actual restaurant in New York are in color and, because they only honor celebrities connected with the Broadway stage, would certainly not have included Chaplin.

Learning to accept the changes of time

This is reminiscent of the theatrics in "All About Eve" but with a sympathetic, light comedic twist to it. There is Ginger Rogers as Beatrice the mature, aging actress who is intent on impressing everyone with the idea that she is 29, no more, no less, and capable of taking on the new female role that's in the works. It doesn't go over too well with a young actress named Sally, played by Pat Crowley, who is willing to charge into every obstacle on her way to 'reaching the top' as an actress. She is very adept at changing her stage name to suit the occasion and meet the needs of the day.

It is great seeing Paul Douglas in top form, here as Beatrice's "ex" yet still devoted to her and her career, but sometimes he does reach the limit of his patience with her. One wonders what other fine, maturer roles he may have had in his career but unfortunately his life was cut short through illness.

William Holden as Stanley the playwright is, as ever, one handsome leading man. He gets entangled emotionally with the two actresses, not sure what to think or which way to turn.

This is an age-old comment of the times that's still prevalent in society, of women's role in life being most appealing when young but having no place when they reach "a certain age." I think these days society is more accepting of the mature, older woman, thanks to woman's lib activity of past decades as well as some outstanding actresses who have influenced opinions and flourished in their senior years, such as Angela Lansbury, Maureen O'Hara, Lauren Bacall, Joan Collins and Kate Hepburn.