MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (1948) B/W 94m dir: H.C. Potter

w/Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas, Reginald Denny, Sharyn Moffett, Connie Marshall, Louise Beavers, Ian Wolfe, Harry Shannon, Tito Vuolo, Nestor Paiva, Jason Robards Sr., Lurene Tuttle, Lex Barker, Emory Parnell

From The Movie Guide: "Nice and easy. The novel upon which this film was based [by Eric Hodgins] was very funny and timely. This movie suffered a bit in the translation to the screen, but it still had more than enough humor to make it a hit. This was the third duet for Grant and Loy, and a triangular plot-turn with Douglas was written in to add some spice. Jim and Muriel Blandings are married Manhattanites who must give up their apartment and find lodgings for themselves and their daughters (Moffett and Marshall). Jim in particular is seduced by the dream of owning a suburban home in the greenery of the country. Dreaming, though, is much easier than building.

"Timely in 1948 in light of postwar housing problems, BLANDINGS survives now primarily by the grace of its cast. Loy proves that she didn't need William Powell to be the 'perfect wife,' and she has two wonderful moments telling off her jealous husband and explaining the color scheme for her house to a laconic painter. Grant handles more of the film's farcical elements, yet he still retains the warm sophistication he's so justly famous for. Douglas is as wry as ever, and the fine supporting cast includes gems from Denny and Shannon. There's little originality here --- gags are borrowed from radio's 'Fibber McGee and Molly,' and much here would be reprised on TV's 'Green Acres,' but serve up the 'Wham' anyway, Gussie!"

From the Turner Classic Movies website (www.tcm.com), this article about the film by Amy Cox:

"Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) stars Cary Grant and Myrna Loy as a Manhattan couple looking to ditch their city dwelling for domestic bliss in the Connecticut countryside, only to find the way littered with obstacles.

"Shortly after finding the 'perfect' house, Jim and Muriel Blandings discover the structure is on the verge of collapse and decide to demolish the 170-year old estate and start from scratch. What follows is a debacle of new windows, doors and doorknobs that break, plumbing installed that doesn't work, and aggravation from temperamental architects, contractors and neighbors.

"As he sees his dream house construction crawl along to completion, Jim Blandings' frustration grows. Keeping a steady head is Loy's Muriel Blandings, whose only real conundrum is over the variety of color choices available for each room.

"Debonair Melvyn Douglas --- one of only a handful of actors to receive an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony award --- also stars as the Blandings' family friend and lawyer Bill Cole, who tries to keep costs of the dream house under control. But he also adds romantic complications: Jim Blandings suspects him of wooing away his wife. When Douglas was first offered work in the movie, he wasn't immediately taken with the role. He met with the writers and worked on alterations that gave his role a more satiric, and 'Melvyn Douglas,' slant. He also provides the wry and humorous narration throughout the film.

"Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House was the third and last pairing of Grant and Loy, who had shared a comfortable chemistry previously in The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947) and Wings in the Dark (1935). At the time, Grant and Loy were both in the middle of a period of high popularity, with Grant coming off profitable years with Notorious (1946) and The Bishop's Wife (1947), and with fan favorite I Was a Male War Bride (1949) just around the corner. Loy had won wide acclaim for The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and had teamed up with William Powell for another installment their popular 'Thin Man' series, Song of the Thin Man (1947).

"Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House was also the third film Grant made with producer David O. Selznick. After buying up the rights to the Eric Hodgins' novel, Selznick cast Grant and Loy, who he envisioned as a future powerhouse comedic team, much like Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. That future pairing never developed, but Grant and Loy's work in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House was well received by audiences and critics alike.

"Adapting the novel for the screen were Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, an Oscar-nominated duo who wrote a slew of comedies in the 1940s (such as 1942's Road to Utopia) and directed their own work in the decades after.

"In a small role is Lex Barker, playing a carpenter. Barker would later play Tarzan in a series of movies in the 1950s. Also in a bit part is Jason Robards Sr., father of his more famous namesake.

"The trials and tribulations of home ownership portrayed in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House resonated with a public living in the post-war housing boom. The premise was reworked later for a radio series in 1949, starring Grant and his future wife Betsy Drake, who also wrote some of the scripts. And over the years, the plot has been reincarnated countless times, most notable in 1986's The Money Pit, starring Tom Hanks."