Fifth Avenue Girl

Director: Gregory La Cava, Frank Strayer

Overview

In this social comedy, an aging Manhattan tycoon tires of feeling neglected by his family (who forgot about his birthday) and decides to take drastic steps to rectify the situation. The fun begins when he meets an impoverished young woman in Central Park and decides to take her out on the town. With her consent, he then brings her home and, to upset his family, tries to make it look as if she were his gold-digging mistress.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/19/2010
UPC:	0883316228432
Original Release:	1939
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:23:00
Sales rank:	6,627

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ginger Rogers	Mary Grey
Walter Connolly	Mr. Alfred Borden
Tim Holt	Tim Borden
James Ellison	Mike
Verree Teasdale	Mrs. Martha Borden,Mrs. Martha Borden
Kathryn Adams	Katherine Borden
Franklin Pangborn	Higgins
Ferike Boros	Olga
Louis Calhern	Dr. Kessler
Theodore von Eltz	Terwilliger
Alex D'Arcy	Maitre D'Hotel
Bess Flowers	Woman in Nightclub
Jack Carson	Sailor in Park
Charles Lane	Labor Representative,Actor
Harlan Briggs	Labor Representative
Roy Gordon	Board Member
Mildred Coles	Actor
Larry McGrath	Actor
Robert Emmett Keane	Actor
Kernan Cripps	Actor
Louis King	Actor
Dick Hogan	Actor
Earl Richards	Actor
Phil Warren	Actor,Actor
Dell Henderson	Actor
Cornelius Keefe	Actor
Bob Perry	Actor
Dorothy Dilly	Actor
Lionel Pape	Actor
Max Wagner	Actor
Kenny Williams	Actor
George Rosener	Actor
Robert Bennett	Composer
Russell Bennett	Composer

Technical Credits

Charles Belden

Frederick Stephani

Allan Scott

Gregory La Cava	Producer
Charles Belden	Screenwriter
Frederick Stephani	Screenwriter
Allan Scott	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Fifth Avenue Girl starts out high but never catches the fire that its early sparks promise, ending up a watchable but disappointing semi-screwball comedy. Although the premise is far-fetched in that "only Hollywood" way, this is a minor flaw that would be easily forgiven if Girl had reached the heights that it keeps aiming for. Unfortunately, this kind of film has to float, light as a feather, and even the smallest missteps can send it crashing Earthward. With Girl, the screenwriting team doesn't provide enough big laughs, irresistible characters, and the opportunity for charm to keep it aloft. It also suffers from a total and intense lack of chemistry between Ginger Rogers and her supposed love interest, Tim Holt. Holt compounds the problem by turning in a performance that is unrelentingly dull. Rogers is much better, but her decision to play the role in a very low key -- which provides for some comic pay-offs initially -- becomes a bit wearying before the film ends. The normally astute director Gregory La Cava is off his form here, with pacing a problem, as is his inability to make the various strands of the story mesh comfortably. On the plus side, the cinematography is quite nice, and the art direction is impressive, and Walter Connolly's millionaire is all one could ask for. If Veree Teasdale is slightly off as his wife, and if Kathryn Adams is at best adequate as his daughter, the rest of the supporting cast comes through with solid work. Girl is not the top-drawer laugher it should have been by any means, but those looking for an unknown comedy from the era should give it a try.