User reviews

This is a cute typical comedy from 20th Century-Fox in the early 1950's. This movie is famous because it has an early, very good, normal supporting performance by Marilyn Monroe. The movie stars June Haver (wife of Fred MacMurray) and Willam Lundigan, a minor leading man of the period.

The cool thing is this film has supporting performances from three unusual actors: Jack Paar, in one of his few acting roles, Frank Fay, once married to Barbara Stanwyck, who was the most popular comedian and master-of-ceremonies of the entire Vaudeville era (he also the star of the original Broadway hit, "Harvey"), and Leatrice Joy, a famous silent actress in one of her final film roles.

For those performances alone, it's worth watching.

William Lundigan plays a veteran coming home from the service. He finds that his wife, June Haver, has bought a tenement--a dilapidated one. The place is a bit of a money pit and the young couple struggles to keep the place afloat. However, when they learn that the place is about to be condemned, they seem at the end of their ropes.

In this apartment complex are many interesting characters and stories. The most interesting is Charley (Frank Fay)--an older man who seems to have made a career out of romancing women. And, since he's so charming, it's easy to see why women adore him. There's also Lundigan's old army buddy--played by Marilyn Monroe. The wife is NOT thrilled to see who her husband palled around with while in the army--and she's not excited to see her move in to the vacant apartment! It's interesting to see her being wooed by Jack Paar in one of his few roles before striking it big on "The Tonight Show" on television.

Overall, the film is a light and fun film. While it's not especially deep, it is enjoyable throughout--with a cute script and nice acting.

Likable but decidedly lightweight early 50s situation comedy with an effective extended cameo from Monroe, who doesn't put a foot wrong. Apparently there was such a fuss over the bathing costume Monroe wears that there had to be a closed set for the shooting of those scenes. This just shows how difficult it is for us now to see how scurrilous this seeming innocuous move must have seemed at the time. Soldiers are returning from the war and things will not be the same again. Women are not going to give up the new positions they have been thrust into by the conflict, even if the likes of Frank Fay's aged womaniser do try and get things back for the men. Some extraordinary one liners, not all funny, but certainly pointed help to keep this afloat.

Stars June Haver and William Lundigan as the married couple who buy an apartment building, full of interesting tenants. Soldier "Jim" is returning from war, and comes home to Connie, who is trying to fix the place up, but its turning into a real money pit. Sound familiar ? that story has been done numerous times over the years... Mr. Blanding Builds his Dream House, George Washington Slept Here, and the more recent Money Pit ! Good, solid story, with a couple surprises and twists. Great sound, picture quality. Throw in Marilyn Monroe, with a small-ish part. She does something odd with her voice; it's extra low, as if they coached her to speak in a certain way. She had been in the biz for a couple years by the time she did this one, but clearly she is not one of the leads yet. Directed Joe Newman had been nominated for two Oscars, for A.D. in 1936 and 1937... but that was years prior to this film. Story by Scott Corbett, and jazzed up by IAL Diamond, who did the screenplay for FOUR M.Monroe gigs. It's pretty good. Worth watching.

I found "Love Nest" to be light,engaging, nicely moving romantic comedy.The two leads(June Haver& William Lundigan) are very likable and there's a fine supporting cast. Jack Paar is entertaining as a witty friend of the family. Marilyn Monroe does her talking mannequin thing and doesn't overstay.Frank Fay does a nice job as an old lady charmer(real & fake). The script, by Billy Wilder collaborator I.A.L.Diamond, has some good one-liners and some actual heart-felt moments; as a just furloughed G.I./writer and his young wife find them selves owner of a dilapidated apartment house in N.Y. city and all that goes with it (fussy tenants,building inspectors,kooky cat).It has a scratch your head ending, but it's a pleasant viewing experience.(note: the DVD has Marilyn Monroe plastered all over the cover.She's hardly in it.)

Serviceman and aspiring writer Jim Scott returns home after the war to find his wife Connie had bought a rundown apartment building. With a large mortgage and no other income, the married couple work to fix up the old building. New renter Mr. Patterson seems rich but his many identities suggest a con man. He entices widow tennant Eadie Gaynor and an FBI agent comes asking questions. Jim's war buddy Bobbie rents an apartment. Connie is surprised to find the expected guy Bobbie turns out to be the sexy WAC Roberta Stevens (Marilyn Monroe). Scott friend Ed Forbes (Jack Paar) is taken with the former model. When the city orders the building to be rewired or be condemned, the Scotts face financial ruin.

Obviously, Marilyn Monroe is the big draw for modern audiences. At the time, she had caught the eye of the studios before hitting it big. She has the blonde look and the beautiful smile but she's not the breathy bombshell yet. It's really only a supporting role. It's great to see an earlier version of the iconic blonde. The plot isn't much. The lead couple is sweetly charming in a white bread way although he could be nicer to her. He's still a man of his times. The laughs aren't big but it's nicely easy. Nothing is outstanding except for sexy Monroe but that's all one needs anyways.

Written by I.A.L. Diamond, the future writing partner of the great Billy Wilder, the script has hints at some of their future collaborations ("The Apartment," Some Like it Hot," "The Fortune Cookie," etc), but is nowhere as good any of those films. This story is about a GI returning home to find his wife has bought a broken-down NYC brownstone as an investment for them to rent out to tenants. What ends up happening is they find themselves caught up in the lives of their various renters, most notably of which is a GI buddy of the husband, "Bobby" short for Roberta, played by a before-she-was-famous Marilyn Monroe. When she made this film, Monroe has just had her memorable small role in "All About Eve" and studio boss Darrly Zanuck took it upon himself to begin shaping her image with a key supporting part in this film. Monroe is quite good in the picture, but is only of the several tenants the film follows. If the film had more prominently featured Monroe or made more out the perceived love triangle between husband, wife, and Monroe, it may have made for a fun farcical door slamming sesx comedy along the lines of "Kiss Me, Stupid." Instead, it's merely a pleasant, but forgettable comedy that's now only of note as an early work by Monroe and Diamond before they went on to bigger and better films; Monroe with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "The Seven Year Itch" and Diamond co-writing "Love in the Afternoon" and "Monkey Business" (the Hawks comedy, not the Marx Bros. film) before their paths crossing again nine years later in the undeniable American film classic "Some Like it Hot." Overall, if you watch "Love Nest" don't expect anything the caliber of Monroe or Diamond's later work, but instead simply expect a modestly entertaining comedy.

Love Nest concerns the struggles of a young couple to keep the brownstone they own in shape and their tenants happy. June Haver bought the building as an investment with what was probably William Lundigan's separation pay. They've got an interesting group of tenants among them Frank Fay a gentleman of leisure who doesn't work but seems to be well fixed.

That's because he's a conman who fleeces little old ladies, but he's actually fallen for Leatrice Joy of the silent screen era who is also a tenant.

Another tenant is Marilyn Monroe who knew Lundigan in the service when she was a WAC. June Haver notices, but Jack Paar a lawyer friend of their's also notices Marilyn.

Love Nest is a slight amusing comedy. But the thing that gets me is that for all their troubles that Brownstone in NYC especially Manhattan is probably worth a small fortune for the grandchildren of Lundigan and Haver. Hope they hung on to it.

Love Nest is a funny witty movie....the actors are great in this film. I love the role that June Haver, and William Lundigan Play their part really good. Its very interesting to see how they will sell the building that they are living in. Its great family movie, even though its a classic and the story is back in 1951, its till fits in the times of today society. Expenses, and price increases. great show...it should always be shown. I love it, and I am thinking of ordering me a copy. Thank you for letting me share my view on this lovely funny and witty movie.

In this movie, it shows you how to survive and how people had done things to make life easy for them. Today, they should have more movies like this on TV instead of the violence. Great movie.

An ensemble comedy set in an apartment building from 1951. A husband & wife have decided to buy an apartment building to get their lives going. She, June Haver, did all the research & made the deal while her hubby, played by William Lundigan, was finishing up his stint in the army. The usual ups & downs of building ownership ensue (the pluses are the building's full up w/the minuses being a string of endless repairs culminating in the news some major electrical work needs to be done or the property will be condemned) w/a motley group of tenants keeping the young owners hopping. They take a shine to one tenant, played by Frank Fay, who unbeknownst to them is a Lothario bilking money out of lonely old ladies but when he meets a mother/daughter in the building, he's found his true love calling. When the FBI comes looking for him (already setting Haver's antennae buzzing since he may be using an assumed name), Haver is determined to suss him out especially after he announces a business trip but when the couple find themselves dancing & dining at a fancy dig, Fay is there romancing another potential mark. Meanwhile one of Lundigan's old army buddies needs a place to stay & he gladly offers up an space which leaves Haver surprised expecting a man only to find none other than Marilyn Monroe as their new tenant. W/the authorities & slighted marks closing in on Fay's location, the comedic hi-jinks come fast & furious as Fay is finally pinched by the law but gives Lundigan (a struggling writer) an opportunity to write his exploits & hopefully bag himself some cash to fix the condemned property before they have to sell it at a loss. Adapted by I. A. L Diamond from Scott Corbett's novel, the future constant Billy Wilder collaborator (scripting 2 other Monroe outings, Monkey Business & Some Like it Hot, considered the best comedy ever made) shows his wry & pointed dialogue in full force w/Fay's flowery verbiage a joy to hear & giving the game cast, including future Tonight Show host, Jack Paar, here playing the couple's lawyer friend, some choice one liners.

This is one of those forced early-'50's sex comedies without the sex. Lundigan is contrived and insipid, and Marilyn Monroe is totally miscast as his old Army buddy, Bobby Stephens. Henry Kulky provides the movie's only truly interesting character. When he is on-screen, he is making a different-and-better movie than the rest of the players.

Young married couple Connie and Jim Scott buy a brownstone filled with cooky tenants. Jim comes home from the army to discover his new home is the basement apartment of a run down brownstone that he now owns.

"There is nothing lonelier than being with two hundred other guys."-Jim.

"You're a landlord now. A landlord is always home."-Connie.

"Look I am not trying to start a flirtation, but do you live here?"-Charles Kenneth Patterson.

"Everybody's a plumber."-Mr. Fain (plumber)

It is interesting to see a con artist used kindness to take advantage of people and be so good at it.

"I'm glad I'm not married to a woman with a suspicious nature."-Jim.

Everything seems to be going along smoothly until one of Jim's old military buddies shows up and rents a room...Bobby, turns out to be Marilyn Monroe.

"I never trust men who are too charming. That's why I married you."-Connie.

"He's walking right into a trap."-Connie "Yeah, but look at the bait."-Jim.

When the war is finally over, a housewife surprises his returning Military husband by buying their Apartment Complex. To their surprise there seems to be more than a good investment behind it, especially with all those tenants.

A Fun Zip Zappy film. Perfectly reminisce the old good day of Screwball comedy. Pretty light by nature but the overlapping storylines really shines through. Its pretty tight for my standard AND does show a lot of great microcosm of how the fifties is presented today. I would say this really feels like a precursor to modern everyday TV family comedies to be honest.

Storywise, the biggest negative here is the latent sexism in the script. Marilyn Monroe's character were given double standards because she is unabashed feminine and seen as an 'enemy' (a common trope that will extend even up to this day) and Frank Fay's Lonelyhearts Scammer is given absolution by almost every character and by the film.

Acting wise, very standard for the leads. I do not see them really lifting the material but have enough chemistry to make this sticky plot at least work. I think you kinda see why Marilyn is a star. She really picks up the ante for a clear for nothing role. I even feel that Marilyn's role is so small and thankless that her poster inclusion is kinda ridiculous. Some of the actors had a significantly bigger role.

Overall, if you could see over the sexism, the zipzappy storyline kinda worked - even though its a bit of leap to begin with.

A convivial 'feel-good ,optimistic' film.'Love Nest' makes you wish you could book-in to that brownstone building c.1951 for some immediate soul revival.Incongruously;the soundtrack contains humming acappella harmonising that confirms to you;it's 'a cinematic treat'.It's 1946:June Haver has invested every last dime in a New York apartment block,hubby William Lundigan returns to a mayhem of repair bills & squabbling tenants.Marilyn Monroe;his ex-army buddy infuriates his jealous wife & Frank Fay is a 'Gentleman Lothario con-man' operating from his apartment rooms.The incidental characters are impressionable.It's a recap of 'old style' values;whence one time.Utterly nostalgic.A DVD I can watch again & again.I can't decide if this is a 'June Haver' star vehicle or a 'Marilyn Monroe' star vehicle?.Hence:two for the price of one!.

June Haver and William Lundigan star as a married couple who have invested in a small apartment complex to live and manage. At least, June did, while Bill was off serving his country. When he comes home, he finds what she did with their small savings. To say he was disappointed would be an understatement. The place needs repairs and he, with his profession as a writer, needs to get busy to make money. Frank Fay plays an older gentleman who (the viewer sees) goes from one lodgings to another and is preying on ladies' loneliness, finding here another victim. Then, of course, there's Marilyn Monroe who was a "war buddy" of Bill's, and he promised her a room. Jack Paar, a friend of June's, comes around, but Bill, with good reason doesn't like him, but then Jack becomes attached to Marilyn. This is a very enjoyable little film with plenty of activity going on courtesy of its eccentric characters. While it may not seem like much to the hard-to-please, the film is helped by the leads' charm and chemistry, with June Haver providing the foundation and heart of the film. Sit back for a spell and reside in this love nest. The ending may even surprise you!

It's an absolutely charming film, directed and filmed in a more than professional way, admirable played by all the actors. Unfortunately, and once again unfortunately, the gorgeous and unique woman in the history of the world, MM, has only a small role. But, so small, Marilyn is an absolute delight in all aspects: personality, acting, physical beauty. In the main roles and therefore with the most time on the screen, the almost completely unknown June Haver and William Lundigan. The one who steals the film with a seductive role (as in real life, being married to Barbara Stanwyck, Gladys Buchanan, Betty Kean and Frances White) is Frank Fay.