Thanks for the memories!

Load of rubbish!!

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

"Hard to Get" is what you might call a low-key comedy. There are some pratfalls, but the action is mostly at a relaxed pace, not frantic or riotous. Olivia de Havilland (as Margaret) and Dick Powell (as Bill) are delightful as the couple who find romance in a most unexpected (to them) way. She tears out of the house in a pique of rebelliousness but finds that the car's fuel tank is low. When she stops to get gas at a combination garage/motor court, she tries to charge the expense, but the attendant--who does not know her--refuses to extend her credit.She's actually from a wealthy family, but Bill doesn't know that and he forces her to work for the cost of the gasoline by making beds and dusting in the motor court's bungalows. She concocts a scheme for getting even, which involves her father, Charles Winninger (Ben Richards).If you believe the film, CEOs--like Mr. Winninger--spend their days wasting time or indulging in whimsical activities, like wrestling with their butlers, but it makes for a funny story.The cast is excellent. Together they create a light-hearted comedy that revolves around a growing romance.

"Hard to Get" is not one of the rollicking 1930s comedies written with fast, witty dialog and repartee. Rather, it's a mixture of dialog and antics with a few nice tunes and some excellent acting. The plot is a familiar one for the time – a rich spoiled girl and a nice guy without money or social connections. Only, this film has some extra goodies. Dick Powell stars as Bill Davis and Olivia de Havilland plays Margaret ('Maggie') Richards. The supporting cast is wonderful, and all play superb roles. Charles Winninger has a considerable role as the patriarch of the family, Ben Richards, who made his gazillions of dollars in oil. He's an eccentric given to competition, especially in sports. His valet, Case, is on board primarily as his sparring partner. Melville Cooper plays Case very well, and Ben appears to get quite a workout in his role. Their face-offs are quite funny, and when someone interrupts Ben for a crisis in the family, he invariably gets taken by Case. They box and fence and wrestle their way through the work days. Ben comes up with some nonsensical epithets when interrupted, i.e. "Good Lady Godiva on two white mules." Isabel Jeans plays Mrs. Richards, the epitome of high society snobbery. It struck me as a little strange because they would have been the nouveau rich – having come into their wealth in the past few decades. Such new wealth usually found it long and hard to break into the cream of society that was dominated by the blue bloods of money from the early pioneer period. Rounding out the excellent supporting cast are Allen Jenkin as Bill's friend, Roscoe; Bonita Granville as Maggie's younger sister, Connie; Penny Singleton as the Richards' maid, Hattie; Thurston Hall as Ben's business friend, John Atwater; and Grady Sutton as Ben's office executive gopher, Stanley Potter. Mrs. Richards has some of the funniest lines in the movie. She hopes Maggie will marry Potter. She says, "The Potters are one of New York's oldest families. They came over with the Indians, or turkeys, or something." Connie, "You mean the pilgrims." Ben, "She means the turkeys." Other lesser roles are all played quite well. The movie opens with the wealthy Richards family getting ready to leave New York City for the summer. They are heading for the summer playground of the New York super rich, Newport, Rhode Island. However, Maggie is revolting and doesn't want to go. Ben is on her side, but Mrs. Richards usually wins out. Mrs. Richards, "My dear girl, you're losing your senses. You know perfectly well there isn't a living, breathing soul in New York in the summer time." Maggie, "Except for nine or ten million people, mother." The chauffeur carries in a box with two very tiny dogs in it. Mrs. Richards, "Oh, my poor darlings. You will stop the car occasionally, won't you, and let them run about for a bit?" Chauffeur, "Oh, yes, madam." Mrs. Richards, "That's what Brooks does with me on these long trips and it helps me so tremendously." At a dinner table scene, Hattie has some hilarious lines, posing as the Richards eldest daughter, while Maggie poses as a maid. Dick Powell sang three songs in the movie, including the first pubic performance of "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer. Bing Crosby recorded it later and made it a hit single. Powell also did a very good imitation of Al Jolson's "Mammy" in blackface. This wasn't something incidental to the plot, but his blackface performance allowed him to sneak into an exclusive party. Finally, this is a look at Olivia de Havilland in one of her comedy roles. She is known mostly for her dramatic roles, but she was a very versatile performer who played across the acting spectrum. About 30 percent of her films were dramas; nearly a quarter were comedy-romance; and she made several each of Westerns, mystery-crime films, and action- adventure movies. She also appeared in two musicals and one military flick as well as one horror show. De Havilland doesn't have the funny or quirky humor side that Jean Arthur, Carol Lombard, Barbrara Stanwyck, Claudette Colbert, Irene Dunne or Ginger Rogers had. But what she does have is great dramatic ability. So, when we see her early scenes when Maggie is angry or upset, her role is so superbly played that one thinks she really was angry and vengeful at that moment. She surely is one of the greatest actresses of all time. "Hard to Get" is a very good, entertaining and fun movie that the whole family should enjoy. The younger kids might especially like the funny scenes of Ben and Case fighting in various sports. One last thing of note, that another reviewer commented on. Toward the end of the movie, Ben and Case hunt down Bill who has taken a job as a riveter on a new high-rise building. The scenes are real with men being lifted to the top on steel girders.

I don't think I've ever watched more than one film starring Dick Powell, and I don't even remember which one that was, but finding him in this film was a delight. And throw in Olivia deHavilland, and you have a darned entertaining pairing in a pleasant romantic comedy. This is a solid "7".Powell has 2 musical numbers that are quite good. He plays it straight with "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" -- one of the better renditions of the song I've heard. But hams it up a la Al Jolson with "Sonny Boy", and yes, in blackface; I know we're not supposed to like blackface, but this is a hoot.The story is not that unique -- rich society girl (deHavilland) is put in her place was one of the common folk (Powell). But, she soon discovers that he has the potential to get involved in big business, begins to fall in love with him, and influences her father to help him. But there are some distinguishing elements here -- petrol stations, motor courts, building skyscrapers, and a crazy business bet between rivals. SO while the basic story line is not that different, there are some unique aspects of the story that help elevate it beyond many period pieces.As already mentioned, Dick Powell and Olivia de Havilland at the top of the cast are top notch here, although in re screen time, this is very much Powell's picture. Charles Winninger, as the high society father, is interesting here; in his exercise scenes he does his own stunts, and at the age of 54, that was not too shabby. Allen Jenkins was always pleasant to see on screen, usually (as here) in a "buddy" role; Melville Cooper similarly makes the most of his butler role here. Bonita Granville wasn't very impressive as the high society younger sister, nor was Isabel Jeans as the high society mother (although I have the idea she played the role as directed). Grady Sutton was one of those character actors who just seemed made for certain types of roles, as here. Thurston Hall player the other big businessman well.If you're at all attracted to romantic comedies, give this one a watch. I think you'll enjoy it.

A delightful comedy about a very ambitious gas station attendant that meets a spoiled rich girl...and her quirky father. Olivia de Haviland is the gorgeous gal. You may recognize a familiar voice in "Hattie", played by Penny Singleton, who went on to play "Blondie" in the first film of the series that same year(1938), and later was the voice of Jane Jetson. Fast-paced and original.