Maisie (film)
Encyclopedia
Maisie is a 1939 comedy film
starring Robert Young
and Ann Sothern
, based on the novel Dark Dame by Wilson Collison. It was the first of ten films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie Ravier
. In Mary C. McCall, Jr.'s screenplay, Maisie is stranded penniless in a small Wyoming town, takes a job as a ranch maid, and gets caught in a web of romantic entanglements.
) to hire her for his midway
shooting gallery
.
Her first customer is an unfriendly "Slim" Martin (Robert Young
), the manager of a ranch. Slim accidentally drops his wallet full of money.
Rico picks it up and leaves town. Slim has Maisie arrested for theft, but when a search finds only 15 cents, admits his mistake. The deputy sheriff informs Maisie that vagrants have to be out of town by midnight, so she hides in the back of Slim's truck. When Slim returns to the ranch, he is none too pleased to discover the stowaway.
He has Maisie driven to the railway station the next morning. When the ranch owners, Cliff (Ian Hunter
) and Sybil Ames (Ruth Hussey
), arrive on the train, Maisie gets herself hired as Sybil's maid. The Ames are trying to rebuild their marriage, after Cliff found out about Sybil's lover, Ray Raymond (John Hubbard
).
Maisie's warm personality gradually overcomes Slim's hostility (he had lost his previous job and served a year in jail for embezzlement to protect his prior girlfriend, only to find her with a new man when he got out), and she also becomes friends with Cliff.
One day, while Sybil is out, the cattle herd gets scattered. Maisie and Cliff volunteer to drive needed supplies to the old ranch house, but their car overturns on the way, pinning Cliff. Maisie limps to the house and walks in on Sybil and Ray kissing. When the ranch hands show up, Maisie sends them to help Cliff, who is not seriously injured.
That day, Slim asks Maisie to marry him, and she gleefully accepts. When Sybil confronts her in private about what she has seen, Maisie informs her that she has told no one, to spare Cliff's feelings, but Sybil is still fearful. Sybil tells Slim that Maisie has been after Cliff and only settled for him after she realized that Cliff was in love to his wife. When Slim questions Maisie, she takes offense, breaks off the engagement, and leaves the ranch.
Slim decides to go after her, but before he can, he hears a shot. Cliff has committed suicide after realizing his wife is still unfaithful. Slim is tried for murder. When Maisie finds out, she rushes to the courtroom, but is unable to convince the judge that Slim is innocent. Fortunately, Cliff had mailed a letter to his lawyer, Roger Bannerman (Richard Carle
), to deliver to Maisie. It exonerates Slim. Maisie inherits the ranch and plenty of money to run it.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Robert Young
Robert Young (actor)
Robert George Young was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. .-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young was the son of an Irish immigrant father...
and Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern
Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
, based on the novel Dark Dame by Wilson Collison. It was the first of ten films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie Ravier
Maisie
Maisie Ravier is a popular fictional character, the star of ten films and a radio show. She was played by Ann Sothern.After a string of films that failed to attract an audience, Sothern left RKO Radio Pictures and was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, making her first film for MGM in 1939...
. In Mary C. McCall, Jr.'s screenplay, Maisie is stranded penniless in a small Wyoming town, takes a job as a ranch maid, and gets caught in a web of romantic entanglements.
Plot
When showgirl Maisie Ravier (Ann Sothern) arrives at a small Wyoming town, she finds her new employer has folded after a single performance, leaving her stranded with only 15 cents. She persuades Rico (George TobiasGeorge Tobias
George Tobias was an American character actor.-Early life and career:Born to a Jewish family in New York, he began his acting career at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California. He then spent several years in theater groups before moving on to Broadway and, eventually, Hollywood...
) to hire her for his midway
Midway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
shooting gallery
Carnival game
A carnival game is a game of chance or skill that can be seen at a traveling carnival, charity fund raiser, amusement park, or on a state and county fair midway....
.
Her first customer is an unfriendly "Slim" Martin (Robert Young
Robert Young (actor)
Robert George Young was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. .-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young was the son of an Irish immigrant father...
), the manager of a ranch. Slim accidentally drops his wallet full of money.
Rico picks it up and leaves town. Slim has Maisie arrested for theft, but when a search finds only 15 cents, admits his mistake. The deputy sheriff informs Maisie that vagrants have to be out of town by midnight, so she hides in the back of Slim's truck. When Slim returns to the ranch, he is none too pleased to discover the stowaway.
He has Maisie driven to the railway station the next morning. When the ranch owners, Cliff (Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter (actor)
Ian Hunter was a British character actor.Among dozens of film roles, his best-remembered appearances include That Certain Woman with Bette Davis, The Adventures of Robin Hood , The Little Princess and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
) and Sybil Ames (Ruth Hussey
Ruth Hussey
Ruth Carol Hussey was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in The Philadelphia Story.-Early life:...
), arrive on the train, Maisie gets herself hired as Sybil's maid. The Ames are trying to rebuild their marriage, after Cliff found out about Sybil's lover, Ray Raymond (John Hubbard
John Hubbard (actor)
John Hubbard was an American television and film actor.-Career:Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Hubbard took acting lessons as a teen at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, where he attracted attention and movie offers. He was signed by Paramount in 1937, but his contract was sold to MGM a year later...
).
Maisie's warm personality gradually overcomes Slim's hostility (he had lost his previous job and served a year in jail for embezzlement to protect his prior girlfriend, only to find her with a new man when he got out), and she also becomes friends with Cliff.
One day, while Sybil is out, the cattle herd gets scattered. Maisie and Cliff volunteer to drive needed supplies to the old ranch house, but their car overturns on the way, pinning Cliff. Maisie limps to the house and walks in on Sybil and Ray kissing. When the ranch hands show up, Maisie sends them to help Cliff, who is not seriously injured.
That day, Slim asks Maisie to marry him, and she gleefully accepts. When Sybil confronts her in private about what she has seen, Maisie informs her that she has told no one, to spare Cliff's feelings, but Sybil is still fearful. Sybil tells Slim that Maisie has been after Cliff and only settled for him after she realized that Cliff was in love to his wife. When Slim questions Maisie, she takes offense, breaks off the engagement, and leaves the ranch.
Slim decides to go after her, but before he can, he hears a shot. Cliff has committed suicide after realizing his wife is still unfaithful. Slim is tried for murder. When Maisie finds out, she rushes to the courtroom, but is unable to convince the judge that Slim is innocent. Fortunately, Cliff had mailed a letter to his lawyer, Roger Bannerman (Richard Carle
Richard Carle
Richard Carle was an American film actor. He appeared in 132 films between 1915 and 1941.He was born as Charles Nicholas Carleto in Somerville, Massachusetts...
), to deliver to Maisie. It exonerates Slim. Maisie inherits the ranch and plenty of money to run it.
Cast
- Robert YoungRobert Young (actor)Robert George Young was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. .-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young was the son of an Irish immigrant father...
as Charles "Slim" Martin - Ann SothernAnn SothernAnn Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...
as Maisie Ravier / Mary Anastasia O'Connor - Ruth HusseyRuth HusseyRuth Carol Hussey was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in The Philadelphia Story.-Early life:...
as Sybil Ames - Ian HunterIan Hunter (actor)Ian Hunter was a British character actor.Among dozens of film roles, his best-remembered appearances include That Certain Woman with Bette Davis, The Adventures of Robin Hood , The Little Princess and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
as Clifford "Cliff" Ames - Cliff EdwardsCliff EdwardsCliff Edwards , also known as "Ukelele Ike", was an American singer and voice actor who enjoyed considerable popularity in the 1920s and early 1930s, specializing in jazzy renditions of pop standards and novelty tunes. He had a number-one hit with "Singin' in the Rain" in 1929...
as "Shorty" Miller, ranch hand - John HubbardJohn Hubbard (actor)John Hubbard was an American television and film actor.-Career:Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Hubbard took acting lessons as a teen at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, where he attracted attention and movie offers. He was signed by Paramount in 1937, but his contract was sold to MGM a year later...
as Richard "Ray" Raymond (as Anthony Allan) - Art Mix as "Red" Donnen, ranch hand
- George TobiasGeorge TobiasGeorge Tobias was an American character actor.-Early life and career:Born to a Jewish family in New York, he began his acting career at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California. He then spent several years in theater groups before moving on to Broadway and, eventually, Hollywood...
as Rico - Richard CarleRichard CarleRichard Carle was an American film actor. He appeared in 132 films between 1915 and 1941.He was born as Charles Nicholas Carleto in Somerville, Massachusetts...
as Roger Bannerman - Minor WatsonMinor WatsonMinor Watson was a prominent character actor. He appeared in 111 movies made between 1913 and 1956. His credits included, Boys Town , Yankee Doodle Dandy , Kings Row , Guadalcanal Diary , Bewitched , The Virginian , and The Jackie Robinson Story .He is buried in Alton Cemetery...
as Prosecuting Attorney - Harlan Briggs as Deputy Sheriff Cal Hoskins
- Paul Everton as Judge
- Joseph CrehanJoseph CrehanJoseph Crehan was an American film actor. He appeared in over 300 films between 1916 and 1965.He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and died in Hollywood, California from a stroke.-Selected filmography:...
as Defense Attorney Wilcox - Frank PugliaFrank PugliaFrank Puglia was an Italian film actor. Puglia had small but memorable roles in films including Casablanca and 1942's The Jungle Book. Born in Sicily, the actor started his career as a teen on stage in Italian operas. He emigrated to the U.S...
as Mr. Ernie, a barber - Willie Fung as Lee, the ranch cook