The Good Fairy

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The Good Fairy

1935

1h 30m

Romance

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

88%

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8 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In 1930s Budapest, naïve orphan Luisa Ginglebuscher (Margaret Sullavan) becomes an usherette at the local movie house, determined to succeed in her first job by doing good deeds for others and maintaining her purity. Luisa's well-meaning lies get her caught between a lecherous businessman, Konrad (Frank Morgan), and a decent but confused doctor, Max Sporum (Herbert Marshall). When Luisa convinces Konrad that she's married to Max, Konrad tries everything he can to get rid of the baffled doctor.

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

For the next few years, Sturges was king of the lot...

Jul 31, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It's the rapid-fire dialogue, tripping over words, stuttering, mixing up phrases, nonsensical prattling, and poppycock metaphors that make this comedy so uniquely enjoyable.

Rated: 8/10

Jul 27, 2020

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Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

Margaret Sullavan [is] really captivating in this light version of the Molnar play.

Apr 17, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

The Good Fairy is a wickedly innocent little anecdote which delicately avoids giving offense.

Oct 2, 2019

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Sturges' gift for blending the sophisticated with the simple, the cynical with the sentimental has rarely been better evidenced than it is here.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 7, 2012

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Lustrous

Feb 7, 2010

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Steve D

The acting is far better than the script.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

Audience Member

The best comedy romance movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

A charming film about a young woman (Margaret Sullivan) who gets an opportunity to leave the orphanage to become an usherette at the Cinema in Budapest Hungary. When advanced on by a Millionaire (Frank Morgan: the Wizard from the Wizard of Oz) she decides to pretend to be married so Morgan will finance her hubby. Catch is she picked a random poor man to finance to do her good deed. As you imagine this film has much confusion between the characters & a little innocence can you get you into trouble in the big wide world. Slow in parts but great performances & charm.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

The wonderful Margaret Sullavan is always worth watching, and this film is exceptional.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

ridiculously charming early wyler screwball with a cracking script by preston sturges. margaret sullavan never looked more adorable than here. playing an innocent orphan trying to avoid the advances of millionaire frank morgan by lying about her marital state, she picks herbert marshall's name from a phone book and insists he's her husband, leading to much confusion and farce

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

79/100. Excellent early William Wyler comedy, his expert direction helps the film greatly. Great cast, Margaret Sullivan is wonderful. fine writing by Preston Sturges, Jane Hinton and Farenc Molnar. The script is very intelligently done. It's very entertaining. Frank Morgan does well in a supporting role.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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William Wyler

Director

Margaret Sullavan

Luisa "Lu" Ginglebuscher

Herbert Marshall

Dr. Max Sporum

Frank Morgan

Konrad

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Synopsis

In 1930s Budapest, naïve orphan Luisa Ginglebuscher (Margaret Sullavan) becomes an usherette at the local movie house, determined to succeed in her first job by doing good deeds for others and maintaining her purity. Luisa's well-meaning lies get her caught between a lecherous businessman, Konrad (Frank Morgan), and a decent but confused doctor, Max Sporum (Herbert Marshall). When Luisa convinces Konrad that she's married to Max, Konrad tries everything he can to get rid of the baffled doctor.

Director: William Wyler
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jun 11, 2007
Runtime: 1h 30m