The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

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The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

Released Sep 1, 1947

1h 35m

Comedy

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78%

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9 Reviews

78%

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5,000+ Ratings

Artist playboy Dickie Nugent (Cary Grant) appears before beautiful judge Margaret Turner (Myrna Loy) for fighting at a nightclub, and charms her into dismissing the charge. That same day, Dickie happens to lecture at a high school, where Margaret's teenage sister, Susan (Shirley Temple), falls head-over-heels for him. Things get complicated when Susan sneaks away and is found in Dickie's apartment, and downright zany when he is court ordered to date the teen as a way of easing her attraction.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Sparkling romantic comedy.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 20, 2003

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Cary Grant seems stymied in this claustrophobic, essentially misogynistic material, and director Irving Reis isn't the man to pull him out.

Jan 1, 2000

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Jack Moffitt

Esquire Magazine

It's one of the happiest of the season's comedies and as appropriate to August relaxation as a mint julep and a porch swing.

Oct 21, 2020

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Surprisingly, this Cary Grant-Shirley Temple farce won the original screenplay Oscar in a year in which the other nominees included Body and Soul, A Double Life, Monsieur Verdoux and Shoeshine.

Rated: C+

Jul 15, 2009

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It's a film that only could have been made in a more innocent time.

Rated: C

Feb 16, 2005

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Matt Bailey

Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Rated: 4/5

Oct 11, 2004

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J C

Horrible and dated movie about a brain damaged teen girl and the equally moronic people around her. The court 'psychiatrist' being especially egregious and gives the movie an extra level of dated and horrible. The premise is laughable and not in a good way, even for a comedy. How did this win anything but a razzy in retrospect?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

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Russ

A film that couldn't be made today! A high school girl has a crush on a mature gentleman. Myrna Loy at 43 is just a bit old to be Big Sis to a teenager. This is the 2nd film I've seen with Miss Temple in her teens and it's a shame audiences couldn't part with the little munchkin of the 30's as she's competent enough in front of the camera. Grant is his usual sly and sophisticated self.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/17/23

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ed m

Pretty average. Not up to standards of Cary Grant and Myrna Lloyd.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/26/22

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joel h

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer is a charming film from an innocent era. Cary Grant has his charisma turned up to 11, Shirley Temple is absolutely adorable, and even Myrna Loy, who gives a more subdued performance, is a very likable character. The story is simple, the humor is sweet, and overall I just found myself continuously smiling as I watched this classic comedy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

A good, not great, Cary Grant movie. He's suave, funny, and very competent, as usual. Myrna Loy sent in a decent reading of the script, while a 19-year-old Shirley Temple gives a rather flat performance as the bobby-soxer. The entire plot is predictable in the first 10 minutes, but there's a couple of wonderful comedy set pieces toward the end that make it worthwhile. The dialogue is not anywhere near the level of Arsenic and Old Lace, and if you're looking to introduce yourself to Cary Grant pictures, this wouldn't be in the top ten. Watch only if you're doing a Cary Grant deep dive.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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nancy c

A gem from '47 (a simpler time).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Irving Reis

Director

Cary Grant

Dick

Myrna Loy

Margaret

Shirley Temple

Susan

Rudy Vallee

Tommy

Ray Collins

Beemish

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Synopsis

Artist playboy Dickie Nugent (Cary Grant) appears before beautiful judge Margaret Turner (Myrna Loy) for fighting at a nightclub, and charms her into dismissing the charge. That same day, Dickie happens to lecture at a high school, where Margaret's teenage sister, Susan (Shirley Temple), falls head-over-heels for him. Things get complicated when Susan sneaks away and is found in Dickie's apartment, and downright zany when he is court ordered to date the teen as a way of easing her attraction.

Director: Irving Reis
Producer: Dore Schary
Screenwriter: Sidney Sheldon
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 1947, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m

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