The Mating of Millie

1948 film by Henry Levin

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The Mating of Millie

Australian film poster

Directed by| Henry Levin
Screenplay by| Louella MacFarlane
St. Clair McKelway
Story by| Adele Comandini
Produced by| Casey Robinson
Starring| Glenn Ford
Evelyn Keyes
Ron Randell
Cinematography| Joseph Walker
Edited by| Richard Fantl
Music by| Werner R. Heymann
Color process| Black and white

Production
company

Columbia Pictures

Distributed by| Columbia Pictures

Release date

* March 8, 1948 (1948-03-08)

Running time

| 87 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

The Mating of Millie is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Henry Levin and starring Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes and Ron Randell. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures.

## Plot

[edit]

Millie McGonigle is riding a bus home from work when the frustrated driver, Doug Andrews, stops the vehicle and quits. As the assistant personnel director of a large department store, Millie is impressed by his independence and hands him her business card.

The next day, Millie learns that Tommy Bassett, a young boy she knows and likes very much, has lost his mother in a traffic accident. With his father already killed in World War II, Tommy is sent to a foundling home. An orphan herself, Millie quickly decides to adopt him, but learns from Ralph Galloway, the head of orphan's home, that she must be married to adopt the boy. Desperate, she invents a fiancé on the spot (conveniently away in Alaska), but Ralph insists on interviewing her phantom boyfriend within 60 days.

When Doug shows up looking for a job, Millie considers him very suitable husband material (as does the rest of her all-female staff) and accepts an invitation to a date. However, Doug senses that there is something odd going on and gets her to confess what she is trying to do. Doug lets her know that he is a confirmed bachelor; however, he is willing to help the no-nonsense businesswoman land a spouse.

Doug's lessons prove highly effective. Both the staid, respectable Ralph and the much more dashing Phil Gowan, Millie's neighbor, fall in love with her. By this time though, Millie has lost her heart to Doug.

After Doug, an aspiring writer, learns that his book is going to be published, he quits his job at the department store and prepares to go to New York to work with the publisher. Then a couple takes an interest in adopting Tommy. Ralph informs a distraught Millie that her 60 days are up, gets her to admit there is no fiancé, and asks her to marry him. Instead, she accepts Phil's proposal. When she informs Doug, he advises her never to tell her future husband why she is marrying him, because "A man likes to think he's loved for himself alone."

Millie finds she cannot go through with the marriage. She makes an agonizing choice; she decides to chase after Doug rather than keep on fighting for Tommy. When she goes to see Tommy for the last time, Ralph informs her that the boy had been taken an hour before. Heartbroken, she returns to her lonely apartment, only to find Doug there. She kisses him repeatedly, confessing that she loves him even more than Tommy. He is unmoved, brusquely ordering her to go wipe the smudged lipstick from her face. When she does, she finds Tommy sleeping on her bed, while Doug stands behind her with a smile on his face.

## Cast

[edit]

* Glenn Ford as Doug Andrews
* Evelyn Keyes as Millie McGonigle
* Ron Randell as Ralph Galloway
* Willard Parker as Phil Gowan
* Jimmy Hunt as Tommy Bassett
* Mabel Paige as Mrs. Hanson
* Virginia Hunter as Madge
* Virginia Brissac as Mrs. Thomas

## Production

[edit]

In June 1946, Columbia bought a story The Mating of Millie McGonigle from Adele Commandini for $50,000.[1]

The following month Columbia announced it would promote story editor Frances Manson to produce - it was rare for women to produce officially at the time, but Columbia had a huge success with Virginia Van Upp in Gilda.[2] In April 1947 Henry Levin was assigned to direct.[3] By June it was announced that Casey Robinson would produce and Evelyn Keyes and Glenn Ford would star.[4] The film was the fifth time Keyes and Ford worked together. Keyes remarked that Ford appeared discontent during production, acting unusually withdrawn and aloof.[5] It was an early role for Australian actor Ron Randell.[6]

Filming started June 1947.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ LYONS, JUSTMAN FORM FILM GROUP: New York Times 21 June 1946: 19.
2. ^ Divine Sarah War On; Femme Producer Set Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 6 July 1946: A5.
3. ^ U-I SELECTS CAST FOR 'BLACK BART':. New York Times 17 April 1947: 35.
4. ^ DRAMA AND FILM: Ford Gay Blade Hero; Alpiniste Film-Wanted Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 12 June 1947: A3
5. ^ Ford, Peter (2011-05-12). Glenn Ford: A Life. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 93\. ISBN 978-0-299-28153-3.
6. ^ Vagg, Stephen (August 10, 2019). "Unsung Aussie Actors – Ron Randell: A Top Twenty". Filmink.

## External links

[edit]

* The Mating of Millie at the TCM Movie Database
* The Mating of Millie at IMDb
* The Mating of Millie at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
* The Mating of Millie at Letterbox DVD
* The Mating of Millie at BFI
* Review of film at Variety

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Henry Levin

* Cry of the Werewolf (1944)
* Sergeant Mike (1944)
* Dancing in Manhattan (1944)
* I Love a Mystery (1945)
* The Negro Sailor (1945)
* The Fighting Guardsman (1945)
* Night Editor (1946)
* The Devil's Mask (1946)
* The Unknown (1946)
* The Return of Monte Cristo (1946)
* The Corpse Came C.O.D. (1947)
* The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947)
* The Mating of Millie (1948)
* The Gallant Blade (1948)
* The Man from Colorado (1948)
* Mr. Soft Touch (1949)
* Jolson Sings Again (1949)
* And Baby Makes Three (1949)
* The Petty Girl (1950)
* Convicted (1950)
* The Flying Missile (1950)
* Two of a Kind (1951)
* The Family Secret (1951)
* Belles on Their Toes (1952)
* The President's Lady (1953)
* The Farmer Takes a Wife (1953)
* The Gambler from Natchez (1954)
* The Dark Avenger (1955)
* Let's Be Happy (1957)
* Bernardine (1957)
* The Lonely Man (1957)
* April Love (1957)
* A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed (1958)
* Holiday for Lovers (1959)
* Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)
* The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959)
* Where the Boys Are (1960)
* The Wonders of Aladdin (1961)
* The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)
* If a Man Answers (1962)
* Come Fly with Me (1963)
* Honeymoon Hotel (1964)
* Genghis Khan (1965)
* Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (1966)
* Murderers' Row (1966)
* The Ambushers (1967)
* The Desperados (1969)
* That Man Bolt (1973)
* Run for the Roses (1977)
* The Treasure Seekers (1979)
* Scout's Honor (1980)

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