Bundle of Joy

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Bundle of Joy

Released Dec 12, 1956

1h 38m

Musical

Comedy

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2 Reviews

63%

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250+ Ratings

When department store clerk Polly Parish (Debbie Reynolds) finds an abandoned baby, she unwittingly falls victim to her gossip-crazed coworkers. Even store owner John Merlin (Adolphe Menjou) assumes the baby is hers, and then goes so far as to demand that his son Dan (Eddie Fisher) step in and "do the right thing." Caught up in the moment -- and eager to spend time with the hunky younger Merlin -- Parish plays along. As Parish and Dan grow closer, she struggles to keep the truth from him.

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Moira Walsh

America Magazine

Two decades ago the complications growing out of this situation may have been funny. Now they seem too contrived and tasteless for comfort, though the picture's two principals are appealing and competent and the baby is enchanting.

Jul 15, 2021

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

A mildly diverting comedy, the first screen teaming of Debbie Reynolds with her real-life husband, singer Eddie Fisher. They are a likable pair, but the plot at their disposal seemed funnier in 1939...

Oct 29, 2019

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Sarah W

Bundle of Joy is nothing more than a great remake to Bachelor Mother. Debbie Reynolds has done her best for this phenomenal 1956 remake

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

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Frances H

The producers took the plot of what was a great comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age and made it into a musical with a leading man who had nothing of David Niven's charm, but a decent singing voice, filled it with a lot of very forgettable songs, took out all the comedy and wit of the out of the superior acting ability of the cast, especially the wonderful performance of Ginger Rodgers and her deadpan humor, and they came up with this mess of a movie! No wonder it was a box-office bomb!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/05/21

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steve d

Really cute film sure to entertain.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Painful attempt at comedy where absolutely nothing works. The script is among the worst that I've seen from the 1950's. The characters behave in ways that only characters in a poor written plotted show would act. The sprinkling of songs are just as unmemorable. Poor Eddie Fisher should stick to singing only.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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ashley h

Bundle of Joy is a decent film. It is about an over-eager clerk in a large department store who finds an adorable baby on the steps of the foundling home and the folks inside mistake her for the mother. Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher give good performances. The screenplay is enjoyable but a little slow in places. Norman Taurog did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the humor and music.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Not as good as the original Bachelor Mother with Ginger Rogers, who is fantastic in the role, but entertaining enough, true to the original story, and a pretty adorable baby.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Norman Taurog

Director

Eddie Fisher

Dan Merlin

Debbie Reynolds

Polly Parish

Adolphe Menjou

J.B. Merlin

Tommy Noonan

Freddie Miller

Nita Talbot

Mary

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Synopsis

When department store clerk Polly Parish (Debbie Reynolds) finds an abandoned baby, she unwittingly falls victim to her gossip-crazed coworkers. Even store owner John Merlin (Adolphe Menjou) assumes the baby is hers, and then goes so far as to demand that his son Dan (Eddie Fisher) step in and "do the right thing." Caught up in the moment -- and eager to spend time with the hunky younger Merlin -- Parish plays along. As Parish and Dan grow closer, she struggles to keep the truth from him.

Director: Norman Taurog
Producer: Edmund Grainger
Screenwriter: Norman Krasna, Robert Carson, Arthur Sheekman
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc., Edmund Grainger Productions
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 1956, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 38m

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