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"Come Live With Me" (1941)

Hedy plays a illegal immigrant from Vienna (whose father was "liquidated" for his convictions, as a character says - though it's not specified, one can assume she's either Jewish or a political dissenter). She has become a showgirl in a big US city (none is specified, but I guess NY?) and has an affiar with a married man. One day a deportation officer comes to summons her, but is overcome by her allure. He suggests she get married so she can become an American citizen. He gives her only a week to do so.

Hedy: Get married? In only a week?!
Deportation officer: Miss, if you can't get married in a week, the boys here must be slippin!

While strolling through the park that night, she bumps into down-on-his luck writer Jimmy, then meets him again later. He invites her up into his shack of an aparment, and we realize how poor he is. "I'm no capitalist", he declares. And his hosting abilities are challenged: "Would you like to have something to drink?" he asks; "Some nice warm beer?"....Some music? I can open the window and we can get the radio from across the street."
And my favorite: "If you'd to browse among my books, the pawn shop is just around the corner."

There is a funny parkbench scene with Jimmy and a beggar, who tries to talk him into becoming a bum, and even tests his will by offering him a dollar.

The subplot involving Hedy's married boyfriend isn't interesting. Overall, I'd say this is a pretty average comedy. It's so much more enjoyable whenever the two stars are together onscreen. Hedy is so pretty and sweet and Jimmy is in his aw-shucks persona again.

A line Jimmy says in this film (after they are married) sums up the movie pretty good: "It's one thing for two strangers to get married, but you've gotta get to know each other before you get a divorce!"

The best part of the film is toward the end when Jimmy brings Hedy to his family home on the farm where his wise grandmother (Adeline De Walt Reynolds) lives.

Fans of either star will enjoy it I'm sure, but it's not one of either of their best. Perhaps this is why this film was never available commercially on VHS nor DVD.

Co-starring Frank Faylen (Ernie from "It's a Wonderful Life")
Donald Meek (Stagecoach, Poppins from "You Can't Take It With You"). Directed by Clarence Brown.

Read the original (Feb 1941) New York Times review here.

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