Love Nest

Last updated
Love Nest
Lovenest11.jpg
VHS release cover art
Directed by Joseph Newman
Written by I.A.L. Diamond
Based onThe Reluctant Landlord
1950 novel
by Scott Corbett
Produced by Jules Buck
Starring June Haver
William Lundigan
Frank Fay
Marilyn Monroe
Cinematography Lloyd Ahern
Edited by J. Watson Webb Jr.
Music by Cyril Mockridge
Production
company
20th Century Fox
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • October 10, 1951 (1951-10-10)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Love Nest is a 1951 American comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Newman, and starring June Haver, William Lundigan, Frank Fay and Marilyn Monroe.

Contents

The post-World War II comedy features an early supporting role for Monroe. It is one of the few films future Tonight Show host Jack Paar made prior to his television career, and the last film appearance by Fay, who had been a popular stage comedian in the 1920s and revived his career starring in the long-running Broadway comedy Harvey . It was also the last appearance by silent star Leatrice Joy.

The film borrows its name from the song "Love Nest" with music by Louis Hirsch and lyrics by Otto A. Harbach. The song is sung by a chorus over the opening credits and was used as a theme song for The Burns and Allen Show on both radio and TV.

Plot

When serviceman and author Jim Scott (William Lundigan) returns from Paris to his hometown, New York City, he is flabbergasted to discover that his well-meaning but unrealistic wife Connie (June Haver) has invested his wages in a run-down apartment building. Despite Connie's hopes that being a landlord will give Jim time to write a novel, Jim realizes that the building will require much work and will barely give them enough income.

Meanwhile, smooth-talking Charley Patterson (Frank Fay), a confidence man who romances and swindles wealthy widows, meets his neighbor in the building, gentle widow Eadie Gaynor (Leatrice Joy), and becomes enamoured of her even though she is poor. Then, Jim persuades Connie to rent the vacant apartment to his old Army buddy Bobbie. When Bobbie arrives, Connie is shocked to see that she is a stunning former WAC named Roberta Stevens (Marilyn Monroe).

An FBI agent visits and asks the Scotts what they know about Mr. Patterson, implying that he is under investigation. Later, an inspector from the Department of Housing and Building informs the Scotts that the exposed wiring in their building is a serious code violation, and that if it is not fixed within fifteen days, the building will be condemned. That night, Charley and Eadie announce their engagement, worrying Connie. Charley and Eadie leave the next day to be married, after which Jim learns that it will be so expensive to fix the wiring that he must sell the building.

Jim and Connie have received no offers by the time Charley and Eadie return, and Charley lends Jim the $800 needed for the repairs. Jim still wants to sell, however, as he is convinced that the building will drive them deeper into debt. Connie and Jim argue about the building and Bobbie, of whom Connie is still jealous, and Jim storms out of their apartment to sleep in a hammock in the back yard. Jim ends up sleeping in Bobbie's empty apartment, as he knows that she is away on a modeling assignment, but the next morning, Bobbie returns home, and Connie mistakenly assumes that she and Jim have spent the night together. Connie's anger is deflected by a newspaper story concerning Mrs. Frazier, a woman she and Jim saw in a nightclub with Charley, who has been cheated by an "elderly Casanova" named Charley Price. Charley assures them that he truly loves Eadie and has now retired. Charley decides to leave and send for Eadie later, but the police arrive before he can escape. As he is being taken away, Charley reassures Eadie that she is the only woman he has ever loved.

Charley, who insists on paying for his crimes by pleading guilty, arranges for Jim to get arrested for receiving the $800 from him, as it was part of the money he took from Mrs. Frazier. Jim is infuriated when he is thrown in a cell with Charley, but the older man explains that he needed time to tell Jim his life story so that he can write a book about him. Jim is released the next day and writes Charley's book, which becomes a best-seller.

After eighteen months, Charley is released from prison and reunites with Eadie. Later, Jim and Connie, who have beautified the apartment building with Jim's royalties, watch with amusement as Eadie and Charley take their newly born twin daughters for a walk.

Cast

Critical response

Variety said:

There are only a few fresh lines and situations in the script, and they are not enough to add any punch to a rather "dated" theme, no matter how hard the cast toppers try to keep the laughs going. ... Marilyn Monroe is tossed in to cause jealousy between the landlords... The Jules Buck production supervision is adequate for physical polish, but short on story and script guidance.

Film Daily said:

Lightly skipping about in its treatment of G.I.'s postwar investment, engineered by his wife while he was overseas, in a rundown house in the Gramercy Park section of Manhattan, Love Nest is a mild variety of comedy which gets a considerable boost from the expert talents—in that line—of Frank Fay. Rarely seen, he registers here as a smoothie, glib and ultra sophisticated, handy with the correct word on the correct occasion. Leatrice Joy is also present in this number. She gives mature warmth to the proceedings. Marilyn Monroe has that other quality, while William Lundigan, an author, and June Haver play at being married and troubled with their creaky domicile.

Related Research Articles

<i>Some Like It Hot</i> 1959 comedy film directed by Billy Wilder

Some Like It Hot is a 1959 American crime comedy film directed, produced and co-written by Billy Wilder. It stars Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, with George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown, Joan Shawlee and Nehemiah Persoff in supporting roles. The screenplay by Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond is based on a screenplay by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan from the 1935 French film Fanfare of Love. The film is about two musicians who disguise themselves by dressing as women to escape from mafia gangsters whom they witnessed committing a crime.

<i>The Seven Year Itch</i> 1955 romantic comedy movie directed by Billy Wilder

The Seven Year Itch is a 1955 American romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, from a screenplay he co-wrote with George Axelrod from the 1952 three-act play. The film stars Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell, who reprised his stage role. It contains one of the most iconic pop-culture images of the 20th century – Monroe standing on a subway grate as her white dress is blown upwards by a passing train. The titular phrase, which refers to a waning interest in monogamous relationship after seven years of marriage, has been used by psychologists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June Haver</span> American actress (1926–2005)

June Haver was an American film actress, singer and dancer. Once groomed by 20th Century Fox to be "the next Betty Grable," Haver appeared in a string of musicals, but she never achieved Grable's popularity. Haver's second husband was the actor Fred MacMurray, whom she married after she retired from showbusiness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chambertin</span>

Chambertin is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) and Grand Cru vineyard for red wine in the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy, with Pinot noir as the main grape variety. Chambertin is located within the commune of Gevrey-Chambertin, and it is situated approximately in the centre of a group of nine Grand Cru vineyards all having "Chambertin" as part of their name. The other eight vineyards, which all are separate AOCs, have hyphenated names where Chambertin appears with a prefix, such as Chapelle-Chambertin. Chambertin itself is situated above the Route des Grands Crus. It borders on Chambertin-Clos de Bèze in the north, Griotte-Chambertin and Charmes-Chambertin in the east and the Latricières-Chambertin in the south. The AOC was created in 1937.

<i>Theres No Business Like Show Business</i> (film) 1954 musical-comedy drama directed by Walter Lang

Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business is a 1954 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Walter Lang. It stars an ensemble cast, consisting of Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Marilyn Monroe, Dan Dailey, Johnnie Ray, and Mitzi Gaynor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheree North</span> American actress, dancer, and singer (1932–2005)

Sheree North was an American actress, dancer, and singer, known for being one of 20th Century-Fox's intended successors to Marilyn Monroe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leatrice Joy</span> American actress (1893–1985)

Leatrice Joy was an American actress most prolific during the silent film era.

Sally Jane Lindsay is an English actress and television presenter known for her roles as Shelley Unwin in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street, Lisa Johnson in the Sky One comedy series Mount Pleasant and Kath Agnew in the BBC sitcom Still Open All Hours.

<i>Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!</i> 1948 film by F. Hugh Herbert

Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! is a 1948 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by F. Hugh Herbert, based on the novel of the same name by George Agnew Chamberlain. Released by 20th Century Fox, the film stars June Haver, Lon McCallister, and Walter Brennan. Marilyn Monroe has a bit part and a young Natalie Wood also appears in the film.

<i>Three Loves Has Nancy</i> 1938 film by Richard Thorpe

Three Loves Has Nancy is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Janet Gaynor, Robert Montgomery and Franchot Tone. It is set in New York City.

<i>Small Town Girl</i> (1936 film) 1936 film by William A. Wellman, Robert Zigler Leonard

Small Town Girl is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Janet Gaynor, Robert Taylor, and James Stewart. The supporting cast features Binnie Barnes, Andy Devine, Lewis Stone and Edgar Kennedy.

<i>Saturday Night</i> (1922 film) 1922 film

Saturday Night is a 1922 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Leatrice Joy, Conrad Nagel, and Edith Roberts. It was Leatrice Joy's first film with DeMille.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Lundigan</span> American actor (1914–1975)

William Paul Lundigan was an American film actor. His more than 125 films include Dodge City (1939), The Fighting 69th (1940), The Sea Hawk (1940), Santa Fe Trail (1940), Dishonored Lady (1947), Pinky (1949), Love Nest (1951) with Marilyn Monroe, The House on Telegraph Hill (1951), I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1951) and Inferno (1953).

<i>First Love</i> (1939 film) 1939 American musical film by Henry Koster

First Love is a 1939 American musical film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin. Based on the fairy tale Cinderella, the film is about an orphan who is sent to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle after graduating from boarding school. Her life is made difficult by her snobby cousin who arranges that she stay home while the rest of the family attends a major social ball. With the help of her uncle, she makes it to the ball, where she meets and falls in love with her cousin's boyfriend. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Music.

Marilyn is a 1963 documentary film based on the life of the 1950s to early 1960's actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. The film, directed by Harold Medford, was released by 20th Century Fox, and was narrated by Rock Hudson.

<i>Down Among the Sheltering Palms</i> (film) 1953 film by Edmund Goulding

Down Among the Sheltering Palms is a 1953 American musical comedy film starring Mitzi Gaynor, William Lundigan, Gloria DeHaven, David Wayne and Jane Greer. The popular song of the same name, which dates to 1914, is one of those performed in the film.

The Dressmaker from Paris is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy drama film directed by Paul Bern. The story was written by Howard Hawks and Adelaide Heilbron. Heilbron also wrote the screenplay. The film starred Leatrice Joy and was her last film for Paramount Pictures. The film was costume designer Travis Banton's first assignment.

<i>The Silent Partner</i> (1923 film) 1923 film by Charles Maigne

The Silent Partner is a 1923 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. It was based on a series of articles from the Saturday Evening Post by Maximilian Foster and directed by Charles Maigne. Leatrice Joy and Owen Moore star in the feature. The film is a remake of the 1917 film of the same name.

<i>Eves Leaves</i> 1926 film by Paul Sloane

Eve's Leaves is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film starring Leatrice Joy and William Boyd. The film was produced and distributed by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by Paul Sloane It is based upon the 1925 play of the same name by Harry Chapman Ford.

Hal Schaefer was an American jazz musician and vocal coach. He coached Marilyn Monroe, Mitzi Gaynor, Judy Garland, Robert Wagner, Jane Russell and Barbra Streisand in films and musical comedy songs, and composed the film scores to The Money Trap (1965) and The Amsterdam Kill (1977). Schaefer was a pianist in Benny Carter's group including performing as a pianist in Harry James and Boyd Raeburn's jazz groups and for Peggy Lee and Billy Eckstine. During his career he helped many directors and producers such as Howard Hawks, Harold Prince and George Cukor.

References