Bachelor Mother (1939)

Ginger Rogers, David Niven, Charles Coburn

Directed by Garson Kanin

Available to stream on Amazon Prime

Our last movie for December is a classic romantic comedy that takes place between Christmas and New Year's. In this film, comic complications face salesgirl Ginger Rogers when she is mistaken for the mother of an abandoned baby, especially when her bosses Charles Coburn and David Niven get involved.

David Niven and Ginger Rogers in "Bachelor Mother"

Why we love it: This is such a cute movie set at Christmas/New Year’s season.  Ginger Rogers and David Niven are fun and easy to watch, but supporting actor Charles Coburn is the best.  Our favorite line, as seen in the trailer below: “I don’t care who the father is.  I’m the grandfather.”

Fun facts:

• The film is a remake of a Hungarian film from 1935 called Little Mother which was never released in the US. Other titles considered for this film were "Nobody's Wife" or "Little Mother." It was remade in 1956 as Bundle of Joy starring Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fischer.

• Ginger Rogers had become known for her movies with Fred Astaire. From 1933 to 1939, they made nine films together. This film was the beginning of Ginger's serious solo career after Fred -- they would only make one more movie together ten years later. In Bachelor Mother, Ginger proved that she could carry a movie on her own without Fred Astaire and without dancing.

Review from "Motion Picture" 1939

• This film was also a big break for David Niven. He had been playing mostly supporting roles, and this was his first chance to play the leading man in a romantic comedy. After making this movie, Niven returned to England to serve in the British army during World War II.

Article from "Glamour of Hollywood 1939"

For more articles and reviews from the time, go to the Fan Magazine Reviews page.

Featured Cocktail:

Dessert à la Justine's (serves 2)

A simplified take on a fabulous dessert served at the famous and much-missed Justine’s restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee. Perfect dessert cocktail for a special dinner, like Christmas or New Year’s Eve.

1 cup (240 ml) creamy ice cream

2 oz (60 ml) cognac

Put ingredients into blender. Pulse blender to mix ingredients but do not overdo it. Drink should be the consistency of a traditional milkshake.

Serve in champagne coupes or stemmed cocktail glasses.

Increase or decrease the cognac to taste.

Cheers to the Classics!