In order to adopt an abandoned baby, an actress arranges a marriage of convenience with a doctor.
Can you picture Cersei starring in a comedy? "Bodyguard" star Richard Madden can.
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Title: The Lady Is Willing (1942)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Marlene Dietrich | ... | Elizabeth 'Liza' Madden | |
| Fred MacMurray | ... | Dr. Corey T. McBain | |
| Aline MacMahon | ... | Buddy | |
| Stanley Ridges | ... | Kenneth Hanline | |
| Arline Judge | ... | Frances | |
| Roger Clark | ... | Victor | |
| Marietta Canty | ... | Mary Lou | |
 |
David James | ... | Baby Corey |
|
|
Ruth Ford | ... | Myrtle Glossamer |
| Harvey Stephens | ... | Dr. Golding | |
| Harry Shannon | ... | Detective Sergeant Barnes | |
| Elisabeth Risdon | ... | Mrs. Cummings | |
| Charles Lane | ... | K.K. Miller | |
| Murray Alper | ... | Joe Quig | |
| Kitty Kelly | ... | Nellie Quig | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Bold, eccentric Broadway performer Liza Madden befuddles her handlers by coming home with a baby she picked up on the street. She wants to keep the baby but has to find a husband to make adoption viable. Why not her new obstetrician Dr. McBain? She offers him help with his research on rabbits in exchange for marriage - and he accepts. The mismatched pair begin a marriage of convenience... Written by Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
Taglines:
GAY, ROMANTIC COMEDY AT IT'S BREEZIEST, MERRIEST BEST! (original ad - all caps) See more »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
12 February 1942 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Madame veut un bébé See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
See more »
Written by Jack King and Gordon Clifford
Sung by Marlene Dietrich (dubbed by Virginia Rees) (uncredited) and unidentified baritone
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Early in the shooting, Marlene Dietrich tripped while carrying child-actor David James. She twisted her body to save the baby from striking the floor, but severely injured her right ankle in a fall, and her entire right leg had to be placed in a cast. That's why in this film she is always shown in full-length outfits (gowns, slacks, etc.) and just one shot of her unclothed leg is seen, and that is in shadow. See more »Goofs
After the date, when at home(at about 01:00:30), the glass and the bottle of milk exchange places in Fred MacMurray's hands when going to the baby's room from the kitchen. See more »Quotes
Dr. Corey T. McBain: I'm going to operate, and for the first time in my life I hope the patient dies on the table.See more »
Crazy Credits
The film's title appears on a billboard; and the opening credits are printed in a theatrical program. See more »Soundtracks
I Find LoveWritten by Jack King and Gordon Clifford
Sung by Marlene Dietrich (dubbed by Virginia Rees) (uncredited) and unidentified baritone
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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Part of the premise of The Lady Is Willing is that the famous can get away with anything. Picture if you will yourself who while the police are investigating reports of a baby abandoned in a boardinghouse, just up and taking the infant. That would probably land you in jail for a stretch. But for Marlene Dietrich, famous musical comedy star, everyone is just forgiving as all heck and let's her keep the little tyke.
Everyone except the IRS who is insistence that she be solvent. Unmarried or not doesn't seem to be the issue. She owes a lot in income tax. So she persuades pediatrician Fred MacMurray to marry her. That would certainly save on doctor bills.
As for Fred who wouldn't want to marry Marlene? But when they enlarge their living quarters it's for cages for rabbits. MacMurray is doing research and needs them for experiments. He's also got an ex-wife sniffing around in the person of Arline Judge. She's more trouble than the rabbits.
The Lady Is Willing just will never be ranked as one of the 10 best for either Fred or Marlene. It makes so little use of MacMurray's comic talents which I find very strange. As for Marlene, there are times in the film when she comes across more like Doris Day.
Best in the film might possibly Marlene's girl Friday Aline McMahon. She has the film's best lines.
But fans of Fred and Marlene should like it well enough.