IMDb RATING
7.5/10
4.7K
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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.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.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.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Clarence Nash
- Donald Duck
- (voice)
- (as Donald Duck)
Dorothy Adams
- Secretary
- (uncredited)
Eddie Allen
- New Year's Eve Celebrant
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Norman Krasna
- Felix Jackson
- Garson Kanin(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter making this movie, David Niven returned to England to serve in the British Army during World War II. At the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, German infiltrators into American lines caused roadblocks to be established and military police asked all suspicious persons questions about things no German was likely to know. Lt. Col. David Niven was stopped at a roadblock and was asked who won the baseball World Series in 1940. He replied, "I haven't the faintest idea, but I do know that I made a picture with Ginger Rogers in 1938." The MP replied, "OK, beat it, Dave, but watch your step, for Chrissake."
- GoofsSince the film was released in August 1939, the New Year's Eve celebration must be 31 December 1938. A theater marquee is seen, showing Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer in Love Affair (1939), which was not released until April 1939 so could not have been shown at a theater the preceding New Year's Eve.
- Quotes
David Merlin: So how do you like her?
Louise King: [Thinking Polly speaks only Swedish.] Pretty good for a fill-in. I'd just as soon go stag.
Polly: You could, too, with those shoulders.
- Crazy creditsThe 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 toys.
- Alternate versionsAlso available in a computer colorized version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story: A Woman's Lot (1987)
Featured review
The angst of Donald Duck?
How many of us can sympathize with this? Your job is hanging precariously, your social life is not what it could be, and customer service won't let you return a malfunctioning Donald Duck toy without a receipt in triplicate.
This is the irresistible comic situation for the forgotten classic "Bachelor Mother". A young, urbane department store worker happens to run across a baby left on a social office's doorstep. Under the circumstances she is confused as the mother of the baby. She flatly denies this but no one will believe her including her boss, a wealthy, prim David Niven. Following a comedy of errors reminiscent of a Shakespeare play these two are thrown together and Niven is then assumed to be the baby's father by his own father, the inimitable Charles Coburn. The movies dances dizzyingly from one comic scenario to another, including a scene where Niven misdirects Rodgers to rub baby food into the baby's navel, and the cathartic comic moment where Niven, the store manager disguised a customer, demands to have his Donald Duck toy returned, to no avail.
Niven: "What is wrong with our Sales Return desk?"
Rodgers: "They don't return anything!"
Filled with scintillating wit, bubbling chemistry and a feel-good plot it is the perfect comedy to enjoy over and over again.
This is the irresistible comic situation for the forgotten classic "Bachelor Mother". A young, urbane department store worker happens to run across a baby left on a social office's doorstep. Under the circumstances she is confused as the mother of the baby. She flatly denies this but no one will believe her including her boss, a wealthy, prim David Niven. Following a comedy of errors reminiscent of a Shakespeare play these two are thrown together and Niven is then assumed to be the baby's father by his own father, the inimitable Charles Coburn. The movies dances dizzyingly from one comic scenario to another, including a scene where Niven misdirects Rodgers to rub baby food into the baby's navel, and the cathartic comic moment where Niven, the store manager disguised a customer, demands to have his Donald Duck toy returned, to no avail.
Niven: "What is wrong with our Sales Return desk?"
Rodgers: "They don't return anything!"
Filled with scintillating wit, bubbling chemistry and a feel-good plot it is the perfect comedy to enjoy over and over again.
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- Josef Tura-2
- Oct 1, 1999
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Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $4,149
- Runtime1 hour 22 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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