The Mating Season (1951)

Gene Tierney, John Lund, Miriam Hopkins, Thelma Ritter

Directed by Mitchell Leisen

Available to stream on YouTube

In our next "Husbands and Wives" film, socialite Gene Tierney mistakes her down-to-earth, hard-working mother-in-law for a cook – and hires her to work in the kitchen, not realizing her true identity.  Harassed husband John Lund tries to keep his mother a secret, but is soon faced with his wife’s mother, snooty Miriam Hopkins, who moves in and complicates the situation.

Thelma Ritter, Gene Tierney, John Lund, Miriam Hopkins

Why we love it: Everyone in the cast is top-notch: beautiful Gene Tierney, sensible Thelma Ritter, ditzy Miriam Hopkins, confused husband John Lund, and loveable Larry Keating.  A fun story and a happy ending.  It's one you can watch over and over.  But it’s really Thelma Ritter’s show – and she is wonderful.

From "Screenland" 1951

Fun Facts:

• Thelma Ritter was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is also known for her roles in All About Eve (1950), Rear Window (1954), and Pillow Talk (1959).

• Oleg Cassini, who also happened to be Tierney's husband at the time, designed all of her gowns for the film.
  

• This was one of TCM host Robert Osborne's favorite films. His thoughts:“Delightful comedy...Very likely you’ve never heard of it before, but don’t ever let that stop you from watching.  It may turn out to be one of the best movie discoveries you’ve made all year... Only thing wrong is the title... much too ordinary a title for such a movie gem.”

Review from "Photoplay" 1951

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

Featured Cocktail:

White Russian

Born in 1949, White and Black Russian cocktails owe their names to the use of vodka—not to a connection with Russia or the Soviet Union.

The White Russian was favored by Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski, which resulted in a surge in its popularity.

1 oz (30 ml) vodka

1 oz (30 ml) Kahlua

1 oz (30 ml) heavy cream

Pour vodka and Kahlua into an ice-filled rocks glass. Float the cream on top and stir gently. Some drinkers may prefer to adjust the proportions to their taste.

For a Black Russian, omit the cream.

2 oz (60 ml) vodka

1 oz (30 ml) Kahlua

Pour vodka into ice-filled rocks glass. Add Kahlua. Stir. Garnish with maraschino cherry and, perhaps, a lemon slice.

Cheers to the Classics!