Day 99: Mr. Blandings builds his dream house. (1948)
Huge box office hit in 1948, and plenty of reasons why: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, and Melvyn Douglas are three of them. Written and produced by the comedy duo of Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, who based their work on the Eric Hodgin's novel (1946). Directed by H.C. Potter, who was not a big name in Hollywood, but it doesn't matter, he delivers a tightly paced film full of humor and insight into the postwar American family. One cool tidbit, the actual home built for the movie still stands on the old Fox Ranch property in Malibu Creek State Park. The plot ... Jim Blandings (Grant) an Ad-man in NYC., who with his wife Muriel (Loy) and their two daughters decide to move to the country, because their New York City Apartment is too small, or so they think. Little do they know that building a new home will be a maddening, physically exhausting, and costly. Their friend and Lawyer, Bill Cole (Douglas), watches with bemusement. There are two scenes that always get the girls and me: the moment between Muriel and the painter, and the time Bill and Jim get locked in the upstairs closet. A fun, delicious, playful film, enjoy!
Themes: Advertising, Construction, Families, Money, Law
Media Literacy Questions for Kids: How does this film reflect the studio star system? Why is the film considered a comedy? Were there any moments you thought particularly funny and if so, why? What were the biggest obstacles for Mr. Blandings? How were gender and race portrayed? How would this film be different if produced today?
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