Father Is a Bachelor, from 1950, is a sweet little romantic comedy starring William Holden and Coleen Gray. It's a film in which the fabulous Mr. Holden actually plays paternal a bit, and I thought it was alot of fun seeing him in that kind of role. He does some singing in this film, as his character is a minstrel for a quack doctor; however, it really isn't his voice we're hearing. Rather, it's the voice of Buddy Clark.
After the phony doctor with whom he travels is arrested, Johnny Rutledge goes off fishing. While relaxing with his line in the water, Johnny meets a little girl named May who is waiting for her mother to arrive home on the steamship. As it turns out, though, May's mom and dad were killed in an accident six months earlier, leaving May and her four brothers all alone. Not wanting to be put in an orphans' home, the oldest brother never told anyone about their parents' deaths, so for the past six months, the children have been trying to cope on their own.
Although Johnny tells the children he likes being a fisherman and a roamer and that he doesn't want any ties, the children quickly grow attached to him and begin calling him Uncle Johnny. He keeps telling them he is going to leave, but soon, the children begin to take root in his heart, and his actions belie his words. He sells his prized watch fob in order to buy a dress for May and food for them all, and when one of the townswomen shows up at the children's home wondering about their parents, Johnny claims to be their next of kin. In due time, he is even referring to the children as "his kids."
Of course, the children long for Johnny to marry and settle down with them, and how that happens is what the balance of this sweet film is all about. The little girl who plays May is totally adorable...she will steal your heart. And the scene in which Johnny tries to sew a dress for May is quite comical---actually it put me in mind of my own attempts at sewing.
Father Is a Bachelor is not a spectacular movie, and it is completely predictable, but it's also totally adorable. It's sweet and cute, and for William Holden fans like me, it is a must-see. After all, it isn't often we get a chance to see him in this kind of a role. I don't think the film is out on DVD, nor is it on You Tube or Net Flix; however, TCM airs it periodically, so you could catch it there. Additionally, I really am willing to loan my movies out, so don't hesitate to ask.
Happy viewing!!
