An unemployed woman discovers an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage, and accepts an offer to take responsibility for the child in return for a job.
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Title: Bachelor Mother (1939)
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Nominated for
1
Oscar.
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ginger Rogers | ... | Polly Parrish | |
| David Niven | ... | David Merlin | |
| Charles Coburn | ... | J. B. Merlin | |
| Frank Albertson | ... | Freddie Miller | |
| E.E. Clive | ... | Merlin's Butler | |
 |
Elbert Coplen Jr. | ... | Johnnie - the Baby |
| Ferike Boros | ... | Mrs. Weiss - the Landlady | |
| Ernest Truex | ... | Orphanage Investigator | |
| Leonard Penn | ... | Jerome Weiss | |
| Paul Stanton | ... | Hargraves | |
| Frank M. Thomas | ... | Orphanage Doctor | |
| Edna Holland | ... | Orphanage Matron | |
| Dennie Moore | ... | Mary | |
| June Wilkins | ... | Louise King | |
|
|
Donald Duck | ... | Donald Duck |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
Polly Parrish, a clerk at Merlin's Department Store, is mistakenly presumed to be the mother of a foundling. Outraged at Polly's unmotherly conduct, David Merlin becomes determined to keep the single woman and "her" baby together. Written by Diana Hamilton <hamilton@gl.umbc.edu>
Plot Keywords:
screwball comedy | donald duck character | two word title | mistaken for unwed mother | single mother |Taglines:
Just ten baby fingers and ten baby toes--Troubles? Scandal?--Gosh--Nobody Knows See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
4 August 1939 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Little Mother See more »Edit
Box Office
Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$4,149Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Victor System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
David Merlin: Oh, yes.
Polly: Oh, don't leave me. I won't know how to talk to these people.
David Merlin: Just say no to the men. The girls probably won't talk to you anyway.
See more »
(1886) (uncredited)
Music by Effie I. Canning
Variations often in the score
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Included among the American Film Institute's 2000 list of the 500 movies nominated for the Top 100 Funniest American Movies. See more »Goofs
When David Niven and Ginger Rogers leave the New Years Eve party, the amount of confetti on David Niven's jacket changes dramatically from when he talks to the lady by the door and when he exits the building. See more »Quotes
Waiter: Good evening, Mr. Merlin. Your party's right over there.David Merlin: Oh, yes.
Polly: Oh, don't leave me. I won't know how to talk to these people.
David Merlin: Just say no to the men. The girls probably won't talk to you anyway.
See more »
Crazy Credits
The cast of characters includes a wind-up toy: Donald Duck as himself. Ginger Rogers' character was in charge of a display table full of the Donald Duck toys. See more »Alternate Versions
Also available in a computer colorized version. See more »Soundtracks
Rock-a-Bye Baby(1886) (uncredited)
Music by Effie I. Canning
Variations often in the score
See more »
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Ginger Rogers, David Niven and Charles Coburn achieve intense comic chemistry under the direction of Garson Kanin. Hardly a dull moment in this stylish and breezy 1940's "department store" romance. The film is constantly funny, often hilarious and always engaging. Rogers and Niven are so stellar they transcend their era, their characters are as contemporary as they are classic. Overall, a brilliant effort by all concerned!