Million Dollar Baby

1941 "Bursting with gaiety! Bubbling with youth! Brimming with happiness!"
6.4| 1h40m| NR| en
Details

A sudden windfall has unexpected consequences on a working class girl during the Great Depression.

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Reviews

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Candida It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.
Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
csteidler Priscilla Lane and May Robson dominate proceedings in this agreeable comedy that borrows themes from the worlds of Frank Capra, Cinderella and Pygmalion, among others. Jeffrey Lynn is quite appealing as Robson's lawyer, a handsome young fellow assigned to deliver a one million dollar check to department store salesgirl Lane. (It's "conscience money" – Robson has discovered her family fortune is based on a decades-ago swindle that ruined Lane's grandfather.) Naturally Lynn finds himself falling for the very charming Lane, who despite her newly acquired wealth remains stuck on…Ronald Reagan, a piano player and would-be serious composer whose sour disposition may indicate a stubborn independent streak in the great American tradition—or, may mean he's just kind of a jerk. In any case, Reagan is less than thrilled when suddenly-rich girlfriend Lane urges him to quit his job to write music while she supports him.Robson plays her trademarked feisty old lady and she is a pleasure to watch, as always. Lynn is fine although the character he plays is unfortunately a bit bland. Reagan has a somewhat challenging role—a potentially fine songwriter who scoffs at popular music and would rather starve than sell out, he doesn't quite succeed in making us see whatever it is that Lane apparently can't resist. Priscilla Lane herself is certainly the best thing about the picture: She's a Cinderella who sticks to her values and her man regardless of sudden riches and despite Robson's well-intentioned attempts to make her a "lady." Madcap, affectionate, completely charming—when Lane is on the screen (and that's almost every scene), it's really fun to watch. If the plot doesn't quite work, it is nevertheless a very nice try. The picture does deserve credit for good intentions—and is especially worth watching for any fan of Priscilla Lane.
Michael Morrison For years I have wanted to found a city just to be able to name one of the nicest streets "Priscilla Lane." Of course, I'd want two more to name Rosemary and Lola, too.But Priscilla is the star of "Million Dollar Baby," giving one of her most sparkling performances. She is so lovable, so adorable that even if she had ever given a bad performance, this role would wipe it out.Ronald Reagan also gives one of his best performances, with him as a pianist/composer hitting just -- pardon the pun -- the right note. It's worth saying twice: He gives one of his best performances.Jeffrey Lynn is also great. He was a good-looking guy and extremely likable in this role.May Robson probably couldn't give a bad performance, and she certainly didn't in "Million Dollar Baby." Very interesting is John Qualen, in a sympathetic role and not speaking with a Scandinavian accent.There are some wonderful lines in this intelligent script, even if some of us watching are puzzled by some of the characters' attitude toward money, and toward getting wads of it.Oh, look for the handsome Charles Drake in an uncredited role.He was just one of a large and excellent cast, far too many of whom didn't get credit, including the great Herb Vigran (whom I had met when he was in a play with Richard Thomas, and than whom he was a better actor), and he was on screen so briefly I didn't even see him, but he's listed here at IMDb.One other standout among the un-credited is Irving Bacon as the repulsive federal PIG (Person In Government). Though the scene was no doubt intended as comedy, today's headlines make it too true to be funny.Seriously, this is a very good movie. I'll watch it again.
malcolmgsw Whilst May Robson is on the screen this film is entertaining.As soon as she disappears the film goes down the drain.Priscilla Lane seems to think that the quicker you deliver lines the funnier they will be.Reagans character is so poorly written that you don't know if he is meant to be funny or serious.This must be the umpteenth film of this era where a popular musician had written a symphony.Lynn is plain anonymous.In my view there is only one reason why a film like this seems to have permanently disappeared from sight.The reason is that it simply is not funny or entertaining any more.So don't bother to waste your time watching this film.Watching paint dry is much more interesting!
aromatic-2 Ronald Reagan is actually marvelous as ne'er-do-well boyfriend. Jeffrey Lynn is quite handsome as his rival for Priscilla Lane's attentions. Priscilla, an underrated actress in serious dramas and light comedies alike, does a very professional turn on an airy, yet pleasing, script. Worth a watch. 6/10