The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)

Cary Grant, Shirley Temple, Myrna Loy

Directed by Irving Reis

Available to stream on Prime Video

Our final Cary Grant film of April is a light-hearted post-war story of teenager Shirley Temple and her crush on debonair older man Cary Grant. Shirley’s much older sister Myrna Loy is a judge who tries to cure little sister of her infatuation while unwillingly becoming fascinated with Cary herself.

Cary Grant, Shirley Temple, Myrna Loy

Why we love it: This is a great portrayal of life just after World War II, as the adults (Myrna Loy, Cary Grant, Rudy Vallee) seem to be a bit confused by the new world in which they find themselves. Eighteen-year-old Shirley Temple shows herself to be an accomplished comedienne with some very funny scenes with older man Cary Grant. Lots of fun and very breezy and light-weight.  Just what was needed after the wartime days.

Fun facts:

• Shirley Temple, who had been a star since she was three years old, was eighteen years old when she made this film. This was one of her final films before her official retirement in 1950. She went on to have a political career in later life. In 1974 she was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, and from 1989 to 1992 she served as the U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

From "Screenland" 1947

• Sidney Sheldon's script won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Sheldon later went on to create the TV series "The Patty Duke Show" and "I Dream of Jeannie." In the 1980's he wrote several best-selling novels.

Rudy Vallee and Cary Grant

• Cary Grant did not have an easy time during filming -- he didn't get along with director Irving Reis who had been directing 'B' movies until this point; his close friend, Howard Hughes, was almost killed in a plane crash; and his agent and friend, Frank Vincent, died suddenly of a heart attack. However, none of his unhappiness or dissatisfaction shows up onscreen. All we see is Cary at his light-hearted, comedic best.

• Enjoy the classic "You remind me of a man" scene in the clip below:

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

Featured cocktail:

Cuba Libre

This drink, also known as Rum and Coke, was created in Cuba following two important events: Cuban independence in 1902 and the exportation of Coca Cola to Cuba, which began around the same time. It found its way back to the US and became very popular, especially in the South. Its popularity spread during and following World War II, perhaps aided by the Andrews Sisters hit version of the song Rum and Coca Cola which spent 10 weeks at the top of the Billboard Top Singles Chart in 1945. Cuba Libre translates to Free Cuba in English.

1½ oz (50 ml) light rum

2 tsp (10 ml) fresh lime juice

4 oz (120 ml) Coca Cola

lime wedge for garnish

Squeeze lime into ice-filled glass, add rum. Add Coke and stir briefly. Garnish with lime wedge.

Cheers to the Classics!