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
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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:
"And a little child shall lead them"--into the most delightfully surprising complications you've seen on the screen! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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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
(1886) (uncredited)
Music by Effie I. Canning
Variations often in the score
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 1, 1942 with Charles Coburn reprising his film role. 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 »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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Having seen most of GR's movies (both solo & with Fred Astaire), I must admit that I much prefer her "solo" (as opposed to merely a "dancing partner") & "Bachelor Mother" is, without a doubt, her funniest film!
There are many great comedic "bits" in this film -- her pretending not to speak English at a New Year's Eve party, the dancehall sequence, David Niven's run-in with a toy "Donald Duck" (and many more), that make this film an absolute JOY!
The only other GR film that comes close to it is "Vivacious Lady". Both of these are "Must See"! -- And, try not to laff so hard!