Room for One More (1952)

Room for One More (1952) I have watched all but a short list of Cary Grant's films (the remaining are not his best ones, so don't know if I'll ever finish). Some of them I have seen too many times to count. Room for One More isn't one I'd pop in frequently, but I'm so glad TCM is playing this film with some regularity now. I saw it when it premiered on TCM last year and it's on my "to buy" list. Here's why. The main reason is it is a sweet story with a precious family. This family has all of the issues that normal families face, yet they open their home for more children. This makes it the kind of movie that just has heart. Cary Grant made entertaining films, but this one is tops in the heart department. There is no screwball comedy, no mystery, and no getting the girl. He doesn't need to do that since he's married in then film and to his wife in real life at the time.Next, there is no neatly tied Ward and June Cleaver marriage. It's more of a Carol and Mike Brady marriage where there's a conflict and a moral resolution in a relaxed atmosphere. It has worked for the Brady Bunch all these years and it works here.Finally, and I could go on and on, but finally I really love this movie because Cary Grant is so relaxed. He's the most relaxed here than in any other film. He seems to really be enjoying working with his wife and having a blast since they did not have children of their own. Cary adored his stepson from a former marriage and retired to be with Jennifer later in life. I think he would have been a fun father to a passel of children and it shows in this film. I read that he later regretted prolonging fatherhood till his twilight years. Regardless, he plays a father, a husband, a man with a 9-5 job with the same aplomb he plays his suave and his screwball characters. He's just great. His wife Betsy is not a perfect screen partner for him, but this is their 2nd film together and they both appear more relaxed and excited to be working together. If anything appeals to you when reading reviews of this film, go ahead and watch it. It's a rare role departure for CG that works.

Although Cary Grant is first billed and narrates the story, the central character of Room For One More is Grant's then wife Betsy Drake. The film is based on the memoirs and true story of Anna Rose who after having three children of her own, goes out and takes in more for foster care. In real life the Roses had four foster children, here we only see presumably the first two.Drake is one of those people who just can't resist taking in a stray anything. In addition to kids, she and Grant take in dogs, and cats, and even a rabbit which does its multiplying thing in short order. The two foster kids are Iris Mann an unloved and unlovely teenager who with a real home blossoms like Cinderella.Clifford Tatum, Jr. is more of a problem, he's a sullen kid equipped with Forrest Gump like braces. Grant and Drake achieve something of a miracle with him as well. Room For One More is one of a series of films where the married and domesticated Cary Grant is more in evidence. You could also include Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and Houseboat as that same type of film. It was a new dimension for an older star and Grant handled it very well. Highlight has to be his talk with young Tatum about the facts of life after Tatum is caught trying to satisfy his own curiosity.The climax is young Tatum becoming an Eagle Scout and overcoming his physical handicaps. The film seems to be almost a commercial for the Foster Care system and for the Boy Scouts. Since the time Room For One More Was Made, both institutions have come in for their share of criticism from various sources.In 1962 Room For One More was made into a television series by Warner Brothers starring Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay, but it only lasted for one season.But the film has endured as a family classic and likely to remain so. The leads are in fine form and they get good support from the adult and child supporting cast.

I watched this movie when I was much younger and the last time I viewed it on television was in 1987 -- this is the kind of movie you track down, because it is a truly a classic -- Cary Grant's and Betsy Drake's performances in this film are so outstanding and so real-life -- He is one comical guy, but sexy too! This movie takes one back to their life in their early years long ago, when living and even being short on funds was as brittle as it is today! I really enjoyed this movie so much, that I hunted it down and finally found it and I watch it all the time now -- I just love Cary Grant -- one of Hollywood's finest! This movie proves that, so watch and enjoy viewing the kind of lives people used to live and life was honestly worth living!

I love this movie. Sure, it's full of 50's idealism, but it still has some things to say. This is a movie about parenting. I particularly enjoyed Grant as "Poppy" explaining to one of his foster kids how babies get born. It's idealized because unlike real life, all of the kids turn out as good citizens and grateful children. This is not one of Grant's best films, but it is worth viewing. I'm waiting for this one to get released to DVD. I have a copy on VHS that I recorded from AMC (before commercials) or TCM but it's getting worn out. I would prefer a pristine, professionally produced copy of this film on DVD, but if it doesn't get released, I'll be forced to talk to a friend of mine with a VHS-to-DVD setup.