Despite a madcap ending, we have a fairly good film here showing a returning vet finds that his wife has bought an apartment building and we meet quite an array of tenants living there.We see a well-meaning landlord who is soon confronted with a variety of expenses and a real wily new tenant who turns out to be a charmer while being a notorious lover who charms wealthy women out of vast sums of money. Of course, he finds true love in the building and marries one of the tenants and for their age, what happens at the end is quite incredible, yet alone against the laws of biology!William Lundigan and June Haver have the main roles. Of all people, Jack Paar shows up as a lawyer-friend of theirs and it's still a rather benign Marilyn Monroe as an army buddy of Lundigan.Good film to show the expenses that landlords have to go through.
... View MoreWe have the 2 knockout blondes most likely to succeed the aging Betty Grable as the queen of Fox musical comedies, although this is just a moderate comedy without the music. Although they were the same age, June Haver had been groomed since 1945 for this eventual role, whereas Marilyn Monroe was still taking bit parts to test her audience appeal. However, the tables would soon turn, as June was getting weary of the Hollywood scene, and Fox would start putting Marilyn in some lead roles where her sexy screen persona would be emphasized. I definitely prefer June's earthy girl-next-door characterization in this and other films, in contrast to Marylyn's more aloof goddess screen persona. There are 2 main male characters, one played by tall, handsome, smooth-talking William Lundigan, who plays June's husband, freshly arrived in NYC from his post-war army assignment in France. He's very surprised to find that his wife had used the money he sent home for a down payment on a decaying brownstone row house, which she had fixed up to provide a number of apartments or rooms for rent. Continued furnishing and repair bills threaten to cause them to lose their house. They can do some of it, but need specialists for some problems. The code-enforced need to redo their electrical wiring will cost them more than they can muster up or borrow. So, they decide they'll have to sell their house at a loss, since June paid too much for it.Along comes Charley, one of their tenants, who offers to loan them the $800. needed to fix the wiring. They accept. However, before they can spend it, Charley is arrested for bilking quite a few lonely wealthy widows out of their savings. Does Charley consider himself a most wanted sleazy con man? Certainly not! He's just performing a service for an unspecified fee. He even occasionally romances poor lonely widows, such as Eadie, in the same apartment complex, using the money he stole from wealthy widows. He sometimes helps those in need, including impoverished landlords. He's sort of a Robin Hood, he thinks. Unfortunately, the local police and FBI don't see it that way. Lundigan also temporarily lands in the same jail cell as Charley, suspected of being Charley's accomplice. Charley suggests that Lundigan write up his life story as a potential best seller(Lundigan's ambition is to be a writer). Well, this idea works out and the couple use some of the royalties to further fix up their house. Unclear how they survived the wiring problem, and how Charley made a living after he married Eadie when he got out of jail. Perhaps some of royalties from the book?Two minor characters are played by Jack Parr and Marilyn. Parr was attracted by Marilyn who, as Bobbie, was a WAC friend of Lundigan in France, and has come to live in one of his apartments while modeling. Their characters aren't really essential to the plot. However, Marilyn serves as another worry for June, and another knockout blonde to keep the boys' attention.Lundigan and June appear to have great chemistry. They had costarred the year before in the musical "I'll Get By". The present film is unusual in June's film career in not being a musical: she having singing and dancing talent. I believe it's also the only film she was in that was filmed in B&W rather than Technicolor. Speaking of music, the song "Love Nest" was composed for this film, being heard during the opening credits and a little at the end.This was the last film appearance of both Frank Fay, as Charley, and Leatrice Joy, as Eadie. Fay had been very popular on the vaudeville circuit.This film is available as part of the 17 DVD Marilyn Premiere Collection. No doubt, if Marilyn hadn't been in the picture, it wouldn't be available as a DVD. The optional commentary is basically a film biography of the director, plus a biography and psychoanalysis of Marilyn, barely mentioning the lead actors nor anything about this film. For shame!As an impoverished petty landlord myself, I can strongly identify with the problems of this couple. I've needed an "Uncle Charley" a few times to avoid losing the house.
... View MoreWilliam Lundigan plays a veteran coming home from the service. He finds that his wife, June Haver, has bought a tenement--a dilapidated one. The place is a bit of a money pit and the young couple struggles to keep the place afloat. However, when they learn that the place is about to be condemned, they seem at the end of their ropes.In this apartment complex are many interesting characters and stories. The most interesting is Charley (Frank Fay)--an older man who seems to have made a career out of romancing women. And, since he's so charming, it's easy to see why women adore him. There's also Lundigan's old army buddy--played by Marilyn Monroe. The wife is NOT thrilled to see who her husband palled around with while in the army--and she's not excited to see her move in to the vacant apartment! It's interesting to see her being wooed by Jack Paar in one of his few roles before striking it big on "The Tonight Show" on television.Overall, the film is a light and fun film. While it's not especially deep, it is enjoyable throughout--with a cute script and nice acting.
... View MoreA convivial 'feel-good ,optimistic' film.'Love Nest' makes you wish you could book-in to that brownstone building c.1951 for some immediate soul revival.Incongruously;the soundtrack contains humming acappella harmonising that confirms to you;it's 'a cinematic treat'.It's 1946:June Haver has invested every last dime in a New York apartment block,hubby William Lundigan returns to a mayhem of repair bills & squabbling tenants.Marilyn Monroe;his ex-army buddy infuriates his jealous wife & Frank Fay is a 'Gentleman Lothario con-man' operating from his apartment rooms.The incidental characters are impressionable.It's a recap of 'old style' values;whence one time.Utterly nostalgic.A DVD I can watch again & again.I can't decide if this is a 'June Haver' star vehicle or a 'Marilyn Monroe' star vehicle?.Hence:two for the price of one!.
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