Apartment for Peggy, from 1948, is a sweet, slightly sentimental comedy/drama starring Jeanne Crain, William Holden, and Edmund Gwenn. Though Holden takes second billing, he is actually in the film a bit less than Edmund Gwenn. In my search for Holden films I've never seen before, I discovered this one on YouTube.
Retired philosophy professor, Henry Barnes (Edmund Gwenn), is planning to commit suicide. Feeling that life has become repititious and dull and that he is not contributing anything of value to society, Henry has decided that death is his best option. His intention is to take his life as soon as he has finished writing the book on which he has been working...an endeavor he expects to take approximately three weeks.
After picking up last will and testament forms, Henry heads to a nearby park bench for a time with the birds; before long, though, Henry's speculative moments are interrupted by the arrival of a pregnant young woman. Introducing herself as Peggy Taylor (Jeanne Crain), the extremely talkative young woman proceeds to join Henry on the bench. Within minutes she has told him that she and her husband, Jason (William Holden), a university student, are having difficulty finding an apartment. She also tells Henry that he reminds her of her grandfather, and she begins calling him Pop. Peggy wonders if Pop knows of any apartments that might be available, which, of course, he does not. They part ways, with Henry glad to get away from the too-talkative young woman.
Peggy soon discovers that Henry has an empty attic and that he once used it to house a couple of Army veterans. She is sure the attic will be perfect for her and Jason, so she sets about to convince Henry to rent it to them. At first, the answer is "no," but when Peggy won't take "no" for an answer, Henry relents, and Jason and Peggy move in.
At first, Henry is very unsettled with having the Taylors in his house, but as time goes on, a close bond is formed. Henry comes to love Jason and Peggy---and their unborn baby---deeply. And when Peggy convinces him to give philosophy lectures to her girlfriends, Henry is thrilled. He now has reasons to want to keep on living. (This video clip is from the scene in which Henry and Jason attempt to put the baby bathtub together.)
This film is very cute, and it has a great message. Edmund Gwenn is really very good in this role...crotchety at first, but then completely devoted to the little family in his attic. Jeanne Crain's character's non-stop chatter in the beginning is slightly annoying, but, still, you grow to love her, because you see the kindness in her heart. And as for William Holden...well, as I said, he's in the film less than Edmund Gwenn, but as a major Holden fan, I'll take him however and whenever I can. It's lots of fun seeing him in the roles he had before his star really began to rise.
Anyhow, look for Apartment for Peggy on YouTube (in 10 parts.) I think it's a very solid 3-star film. Happy viewing!!
