Girl of the Year

Any red blooded normal American male will love this movie. The movie is a celebration of God's greatest physical creation, the female form. I guess there's some kind of plot to this movie that I didn't pay too much attention to. All of the main actresses are dropdead gorgeous. It's celebrates the pinup art popular in the 1940s and 1950s. It showcases how beautiful women were often used in advertising to generate interest. A practice that under our more strict rules that we have today is no longer permitted. I would describe the movie as a "light" musical. There's only about three or four songs in the entire movie but they fit in well with the plot. I'm glad I was able to find this terrific film on DVD to add to my 3000 DVD/Blu-ray collection.

Like the previous contributor I fondly remember the lovely Joan Caulfield when I saw 'Girl of the year' at the Putney Odeon in London around 1950. As a teen just becoming aware of girls, I saw it four or five times !! The odd thing is the film was programmed with a Bing Crosby trailer and I got to know one of Bing's songs quite well, which years later won me a first prize in a BBC 'spot the tune' contest.

But best of all in the mid 1970s I met a gorgeous blonde lady on holiday in Greece. She was telling me that at one time she had been a Hollywood actress and showed me some old publicity pictures which I instantly recognised as being the wonderful Joan.

So having found this site I need to locate the film. I have a copy of 'Blue Skies' Best wishes to all Joan Caulfield fans.

Dennis Kenyon

I saw this film in 1950 when I was 15 years old. It was so long ago that I cannot comment on its artistic merits or defects. What I can say is that,whether it was because I was 15 or more likely that it brought an air of light and colour to a London which was drab and grey and still littered with bomb sites, it left an unforgettable impression on me that has lasted for over 50 years. What I do remember is that Robert Cummings played his part with a very pleasant lightness of touch and that Joan Caulfield exemplified perfectly the type of pretty girl that George Petty would have enjoyed painting. Perhaps it was guileless by modern standards but it also represented an era of relative innocence. I only wish that I could obtain a copy to see if my impression was justified.

Joan Caulfield is a prim but beautiful college professor. Robert Cummings is an artist with a talent for cheesecake art who has become "serious" but mediocre. After a series of humorous misadventures this improbable pair bring each other to see their true selves and find they have a lot in common. There's lots of feminine pulchritude and good humor throughout. While pretty tame by today's standards, this is still a fun movie.

I thought this was a pretty good culture clash movie. From 1950, a time when American women were starting to be able to show some leg and midriff, this movie shows quite well what older folks thought of these new hussy's, and how young people started not caring what the old folks thought. I'm sure this movie will mean little to those under 40, who have known nothing except bikinis on the beach, but for those old enough to remember such things, it was an interesting time and is well represented here.

But I suppose the culture clash aspect might translate to modern day youth. VERY few girls or women had tattoos or pierced belly buttons in the 1960's or 70's, and I'm sure today's young ladies couldn't care less about what grandma thinks about their "tramp stamps" and nose rings.

To say this movie is "quaint" is an understatement (a man and woman kissing in a parked car was considered disorderly conduct), but don't be surprised if people say the same thing about Pulp Fiction 50 years from now. And if I'm still alive when I'm 100, I'll be checking on those newest Pulp Fiction comments to find out if I'm right.