Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

dougdoepke Hollywood has had a long tradition of dumb blonde performers who could be counted on to produce more than their share of belly-laughs. None, however, was more expert at the trade than Judy Holiday whose untimely death robbed filmdom of one of its most accomplished comediennes. This movie, along with Born Yesterday, is among her very best, and should not be missed. Film fans may want to note that there's a direct line of descent from Holiday in this movie to Reese Witherspoon in the megahit Legally Blonde. Like Witherspoon's character in Blonde, everyone underestimates Holiday's Laura Partridge and with similarly devastating results. In both cases, it's that sweetly scatterbrained exterior that conceals a shrewd and determined inner woman, a combination which proves deadly for those who would happily exploit them. Here, it's the Board of a soulless corporation ( just then emerging from the 50's decade of growth) that falls into Holiday's trap with hilarious results. The Board itself is a stellar lineup of character actors: from the curmudgeonly Fred Clark, to the cultured John Williams, to the scheming Ray Collins, all familiar faces from the Late Late Show and pompously perfect targets for a womanly comeuppance. Holiday's pixilated exchanges with these smugly officious scofflaws are minor gems. Those interested in charting the rise of the women's movement might also note an important contrast between the two films. Holiday's character, for all her wiles and willpower, must eventually succumb in typical 50's fashion to her stronger male half as played by the always redoubtable Paul Douglas. On the other hand, Witherspoon's post-Gloria Steinam character discovers a hidden self-sufficiency that requires no Douglas counterpart, producing a typically 90's note of feminist triumph. But these are merely incidental reflections on an underrated movie that truly sparkles because of the comedic lustre of its star, the unforgettable Judy Holiday, in a role that suits her to the proverbial T.

talisencrw Judy Holliday captivated me greatly, in the few of her only 9 credited films she made in her short life, before breast cancer silenced her at 43. She had a very unique presence in cinema, her voice alone was one-of-a-kind, and her comic timing was nothing short of genius. This was a fine vehicle for her (pardon the pun), in that she plays a friendly but naïve lady who inherits a cat and 10 shares in a corruptly run company, decides to attend a shareholders' meeting, and the rest is history. She fulfills the axiom that if a large company makes personal connections with the small shareholders, the little people behind the scenes who keep large corporations surviving, that the good, honest person can win in big-time American big business. Because of Holliday's splendid personality, she was perfectly cast for the role. Though her character's romance with co-star Paul Douglas' was a minor, but important, feature of the film, I found this screwball comedy in an inexpensive Mill Creek 'Classic Romances' 8-pack, that I only purchased to see another one of Holliday's performances. I think that esteemed and highly of her work.She was born on June 21, 1921--the summer solstice--and she would be turning 95 this summer, if she was still alive. My only wish is that she was, to at least read this, a love letter, from a truly appreciative fan of her work.

jjnxn-1 In a role tailor made to her special gifts Judy Holliday is totally captivating and wholly endearing. The sign of a truly unique performer is to watch a film or performance and not be able to envision anyone else in the part. That's what happens watching the magical Judy as Laura Partridge. There are many great comediennes but while Marilyn Monroe was sexier, Lucille Ball wackier and Carole Lombard more stylishly outlandish no one quite had the special sweet radiance and naive intelligence of Miss Holliday.While she is wondrous she isn't the whole show. Paul Douglas and his gruff charm plays well off of her and they are surrounded by an absolutely great cast of some of the best character actors working in film at the time. The story is a pleasant far fetched little fable, a sort of David versus Goliath reworking. Sit back and enjoy.

Blueghost Before the days of S&L scandals, Enron, the Texas billionaire brothers manipulating the precious metals market, and the 2009 bailout of the largest and once most powerful financial institutions in the world by the United States government, Richard Quine helmed a screenplay adaptation of a play sending up corporate manipulation of share holders and deceiving the government by demanding contracts.A classic comic look look at how things haven't changed in the fifty some odd years since this film was made. Financial gamesmanship and political deceit are as old as pharaohs and kings. To paraphrase Richard Harris playing Oliver Cromwell from "Cromwell", "An immovable parliament is more obnoxious than an immovable king!"... or words to that effect."Solid Gold Cadillac" shows us this premise in spades, and gives us the gallant comedienne Judy Holliday sallying forth with womanly earnestness, by asking the most basic and fundamental questions; i.e. why do the boards of directors get paid so much? Her innocence and wide eyed (almost country girl like) innocence throws a monkey wrench into the antagonists' machinations.We are reminded of some of the pitfalls of automated private bureaucracy. And how if the average share holder (or voter as the case may be) doesn't follow the "Trust but verify" axiom, then they're in for a roller coaster ride as unethical executives play funny with their money.This is a smart light hearted comedy that plays to a more reserved audience. This isn't the "in your face" 90s nor 2000s. It's the reserved 1950s where sexual intrigue is understood, but not blatantly thrust in the face of the mainstream viewer. It's kind of refreshing.Although the film is a glimpse into the financial double-dealings of past 1950s America, it's a parable on how not to repeat history. Or, should history repeat itself, then fight it with a repeat of your own; get informed, organize, and take action by mobilizing the stock holders :-) Were this film made today, it would placate strictly to a female audience. It is in some sense a "chick flick" of a bygone era, but it's really more of couples' film.Some nice entertainment for a lazy afternoon.Enjoy :-)