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Bachelor Mother

Play trailer Poster for Bachelor Mother Released Aug 4, 1939 1h 21m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Polly Paris (Ginger Rogers) accidentally stumbles into motherhood after discovering an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage. Believing the baby is Polly's, department store owner J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn) and his son David (David Niven) offer Polly a job -- but only if she takes responsibility for the child. Unemployed and in need of work, Polly accepts and all seems well, until her increasingly romantic relationship with David raises suspicions about the child's paternity.
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Bachelor Mother

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic What distinguishes it is a certain appealing belief in its own simplicities, a keeping of faith with its people, making their troubles felt as troubles and never letting them down into meanness or absurdity just for a laugh. May 7, 2024 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an appealing premise that’s employed to low-key yet watchable effect... Rated: 3/4 Mar 16, 2024 Full Review Rachel Wagner Hallmarkies Podcast Still has a lot to say about the way we treat women and mothers. Plus very sweet and endearing Jan 8, 2024 Full Review Raquel Stecher The Movie Palace Podcast "a sweet story... part workplace comedy, part family story, part romance, part holiday story... the actors all have winning performances... they are all on their A game." Dec 31, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Grason Kanin's witty comedy in which Ginger Rogers plays a single mother was a commercial hit, demonstrating her viability as a dramatic actress and comedienne after her separation from dance partner Fred Astaire. Rated: B+ Dec 28, 2010 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Makes the most of a misunderstanding over maternity. Rated: B- Dec 21, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joel H It's been many years since I first watched Bachelor Mother. To be honest, I didn't remember that much about it, aside from the basic plot and the fact that I found Ginger Rogers to be very charming. I'm happy to say that I still found it to be an enjoyable movie, and I still think Ginger Rogers is very charming. And David Niven is no slouch, either. This lighthearted film just has such a sweet innocence to it, even though it's based around child abandonment. It also made me chuckle multiple times. If you're a fan of romantic comedies, Bachelor Mother is definitely a movie you should check out. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/03/23 Full Review Steve D Really Cute and a lot of fun. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/17/23 Full Review Frances H Although the story line iwas used in the later film, bundle of Joy, there are small differences that make a huge difference. But the biggest difference is choice of actors--Ginger Rodgers delivery is perfect and David Niven could act rings around the poor acting of Eddie Fisher. Charles Covurn is also perfect! And Ginger Rodgers line at the very end of the film makes all the difference! Don't bother with bundle of Joy, which tried to make this plot into a musical, but with not one memorable song! This is the only version worth your time! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/05/21 Full Review Audience Member Things happen there are like 4 good jokes the ending is kinda will stop here thats good enough. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Ginger Rogers had a whole career apart from Fred Astair. And this is a highlight. One of the best mistaken identity comedies you're ever gonna see. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bachelor Mother

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Cast & Crew

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Garson Kanin

Director

Ginger Rogers

Polly Parrish

David Niven

David Merlin

Charles Coburn

J. B. Merlin

Frank Albertson

Freddie Miller

E.E. Clive

Butler

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Bachelor Mother

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Movie Info

Synopsis Polly Paris (Ginger Rogers) accidentally stumbles into motherhood after discovering an abandoned baby on the steps of an orphanage. Believing the baby is Polly's, department store owner J.B. Merlin (Charles Coburn) and his son David (David Niven) offer Polly a job -- but only if she takes responsibility for the child. Unemployed and in need of work, Polly accepts and all seems well, until her increasingly romantic relationship with David raises suspicions about the child's paternity.
Director
Garson Kanin
Producer
Buddy G. DeSylva
Screenwriter
Felix Jackson, Norman Krasna
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures, Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 4, 1939, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 21m
Sound Mix
Mono
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