Bachelor Mother

1939
Approved
1h 22m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

David Niven, Ginger Rogers, and Elbert Coplen Jr. in Bachelor Mother (1939)

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.

Play trailer1:22

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63 Photos

Holiday Romance Romantic Comedy Screwball Comedy Comedy Romance

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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

4.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Videos1

Trailer 1:22

Watch Reissue Trailer

Photos63

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Storyline

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Trivia
After 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."

Goofs
Since 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 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 toys.

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Featured in Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story: A Woman's Lot (1987)

Soundtracks
Rock-a-Bye Baby
(1886) (uncredited)
Music by Effie I. Canning
Variations often in the score

User reviews66

Review

Featured review

One of Ginger Rogers' Best Films!

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!