The Major and the Minor (1942)

The Major and the Minor (1942) is a American comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland. The film is based on the play Connie Goes Home by Edward Childs Carpenter and was produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr. for Paramount Pictures. The movie features a range of notable actors, including Rita Johnson, Robert Benchley, and Diana Lynn, and was scored by Robert Emmett Dolan, with Leo Tover handling the cinematography and Doane Harrison editing the film.

Plot

The plot of the film revolves around Susan Applegate (played by Ginger Rogers), a young woman who disguises herself as a 12-year-old girl to save money on a train ticket, and Major Philip Kirby (played by Ray Milland), a military officer who becomes embroiled in her scheme. As the story unfolds, Susan Applegate finds herself in a series of comedic misadventures, including encounters with Major Kirby's fiancée, Pamela Hill (played by Rita Johnson), and his military academy colleagues, such as Captain Morgan (played by Robert Benchley). The film features a range of notable locations, including New York City, Grand Central Terminal, and the United States Military Academy at West Point, and includes references to World War II, the United States Army, and the Women's Army Corps.

Production

The production of the film was handled by Paramount Pictures, with Arthur Hornblow Jr. serving as producer and Billy Wilder directing. The screenplay was written by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, based on the play Connie Goes Home by Edward Childs Carpenter. The film features a range of notable crew members, including Leo Tover, who handled the cinematography, and Doane Harrison, who edited the film. The movie was scored by Robert Emmett Dolan, who worked on a range of other notable films, including The Lady Eve and The Palm Beach Story, and was released in 1942, during the height of World War II, with the United States playing a major role in the Allies and the Hollywood film industry producing a range of war films and propaganda films, such as Casablanca and Mrs. Miniver.

Cast

The cast of the film includes Ginger Rogers as Susan Applegate, Ray Milland as Major Philip Kirby, Rita Johnson as Pamela Hill, Robert Benchley as Captain Morgan, and Diana Lynn as Lucy Hill. The film also features a range of other notable actors, including Edward Fielding, Franklin Pangborn, and Lela Rogers, and was scored by Robert Emmett Dolan, with Leo Tover handling the cinematography and Doane Harrison editing the film. The movie includes references to a range of notable institutions, including the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Women's Army Corps, and the American Red Cross, and features a range of notable locations, including New York City, Grand Central Terminal, and the Hudson River.

Release

The film was released in 1942 by Paramount Pictures, during the height of World War II, with the United States playing a major role in the Allies and the Hollywood film industry producing a range of war films and propaganda films, such as Casablanca and Mrs. Miniver. The movie was released to positive reviews, with many critics praising the performances of Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland, as well as the direction of Billy Wilder and the screenplay by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett. The film has since become a classic of American comedy film, with many notable critics and scholars, including Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris, praising its wit and charm, and has been recognized by the Library of Congress as a culturally significant film, and has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Reception

The reception of the film was positive, with many critics praising the performances of Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland, as well as the direction of Billy Wilder and the screenplay by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett. The film has since become a classic of American comedy film, with many notable critics and scholars, including Pauline Kael and Andrew Sarris, praising its wit and charm, and has been recognized by the Library of Congress as a culturally significant film, and has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. The movie has also been recognized by the American Film Institute, which has included it on its list of the 100 Greatest American Comedies, and has been praised by a range of notable filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who have cited it as an influence on their own work, including films such as The Age of Innocence and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Category:American comedy films