''Grand Old Girl'' is a 1935 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by John Robertson from a screenplay by

Milton Krims Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Fre ...

John Twist John Twist (July 14, 1898 – February 11, 1976) was an American screenwriter whose career spanned four decades. Born in Albany, Missouri, Twist began his career in the silent film era, providing the story for such films as ''Breed of Cour ...

Arthur T. Horman Arthur T. Horman (September 2, 1905 – November 2, 1964) was an American screenwriter whose career spanned from the 1930s to the end of the 1950s. During that time he wrote the stories or screenplays for over 60 films, as well as writing several ...

, adapted from a story by

Wanda Tuchock Wanda Tuchock (March 20, 1898 – February 10, 1985) was an American advertising copywriter, screenwriter, director, and producer during the early 20th century. She was credited with writing for over thirty films, and was one of the at least t ...

. The film stars

May Robson Mary Jeanette Robison (19 April 1858 – 20 October 1942), known professionally as May Robson, was an Australian-born American-based actress whose career spanned 58 years, starting in 1883 when she was 25. A major stage actress of the late 19t ...

Mary Carlisle Mary Carlisle (born Gwendolyn Witter; February 3, 1914 – August 1, 2018) was an American actress, singer, and dancer, best known for her roles as a wholesome ingénue in numerous 1930s musical-comedy films. She starred in more than 60 Holly ...

, Fred MacMurray, and Alan Hale, other cast members included Ben Alexander.

Plot

Laura Bayles has been a devoted educator for 38 years. Over that time she has risen to become the principal of Avondale High School. When a local petty gambler, "Click" Dade, begins to prey on her students, she takes a leading position in an attempt to force the gambling location to close down. Dade had been one of her former pupils. Her efforts are opposed by two local politicians, Holland and Joseph Killaine. Holland is a small time political boss, while Killaine is the superintendent of schools. So Bayles decides to fight fire with fire. With a stake of $250, and a pair of Dade's own loaded dice, she wins enough money to open a club to compete with Dade's, taking away his business. However, after an incident in which Killaine's daughter, Gerry, causes a fight at Bayles' club, causing the club's closure. Killaine then presses his advantage, demanding that Bayles also resign as principal, which will make her ineligible for a pension, being two years short of retirement. Upon hearing of her fate, Gerry goes to Bayles to apologize for her actions, and their end result. An apology which Bayles accepts. Meanwhile, Dade has contacted another one of Bayles' former pupils, Gavin Gordon, who has risen to become President of the United States. Gordon is on a tour of the country and is in the area of his old hometown. After Dade also apologizes to Bayles, the President arrives at the school and delivers a sentimental speech extolling the virtues of the education profession, motherhood, and Mrs. Bayles. Her job is saved.

Cast

- Laura Bayles *

- Gerry Killaine * Fred MacMurray - Sandy * Alan Hale - Click Dade *

Etienne Girardot Etienne Girardot (22 February 1856 – 10 November 1939) was a diminutive stage and film actor of Anglo-French parentage born in London, England. Biography The son of French painter Ernest Gustave Girardot, he studied at an art school, but le ...

- Mellis * William Burress - Butts *

Hale Hamilton Hale Rice Hamilton (February 28, 1880 – May 19, 1942) was an American actor, writer and producer. Biography Hamilton was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1880. (His birth year is sometimes listed as either 1879 or 1883.) Hamilton's Broadway debut w ...

- Killaine *

Edward Van Sloan Edward Van Sloan (born Edward Paul Van Sloun; November 1, 1882 – March 6, 1964) was an American character actor best remembered for his roles in the Universal Studios horror films such as '' Dracula'' (1931), ''Frankenstein'' (1931), and ''T ...

- Holland * Fred Kohler Jr. - Bill Belden * Onest Conley - Neptune

Production

RKO announced in September 1934 that the start of production was imminent for ''Portrait of Laura Bayles'', which was one of the working titles for this film. It was reported in early October that the film was in production for RKO, and by the end of the month it had finished production and was in the process of being edited. In the middle of November, it was revealed that the title of the picture had been changed to ''Grand Old Girl''. By the end of 1934, the release date of the film was announced to be January 18. Early in February 1935 the general release date for the film was revealed as February 22, and would open at the Astor Theatre. In March, the film was part of a four-picture deal sold to the Gaumont British circuit for distribution in the United Kingdom. The other three pictures included in the deal were the Katharine Hepburn vehicle, '' The Little Minister'', '' Red Morning'', featuring

Steffi Duna Steffi Duna (born Erzsébet Berindey; 8 February 1910 – 22 April 1992) was a Hungarian-born film actress. Hungarian dancer Born in the Eastern name order in Budapest of Czech extraction and nicknamed Stefi (Stefánia) by her friends and fam ...

, and '' Romance in Manhattan'', starring

Francis Lederer Francis Lederer (November 6, 1899 Prague – May 25, 2000) was an Austro-Hungarian Empire-born American film and stage actor with a successful career, first in Europe, then in the United States. His original name was Franz (Czech František) Le ...

and

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

Reception

The Film Daily ''The Film Daily'' was a daily publication that existed from 1918 to 1970 in the United States. It was the first daily newspaper published solely for the film industry. It covered the latest trade news, film reviews, financial updates, informatio ...

'' felt the film was worth watching, calling it a "Neat little human interest story", they rated the cinematography A-1, and said the direction was first rate. May Robson, they said, had found her "ideal role". '' Motion Picture Daily'' also enjoyed the film, extolling the expert direction of John Robertson, felt Robson's performance was outstanding. They felt Andriot's photography was good, and enjoyed the performances of Hale, Girardot, and Gordon. Overall, they felt the film was "entertainment for the entire family."

Notes

The picture was dedicated to the "school teachers of America", and RKO developed a separate advertising strategy targeting this fact, completely separate from their usual marketing program.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grand Old Girl 1935 films Films directed by John S. Robertson American romantic drama films RKO Pictures films American black-and-white films 1935 romantic drama films Films produced by Cliff Reid 1930s American films