It Had to Be You (1947)

Ginger Rogers stars as a pending bride who's noted for leaving her suitor(s) at the altar. But this time, she's sure of her decision...until a new suitor, literally, shows up in her dreams.Although I don't believe something like this could REALLY happen, I was in the mood for something light and I ended up watching this. I've never been a big fan of the old movies, but I saw "Chicago" with Gere, Zellweger, and Zeta-Jones and then saw the film "Roxie Hart" (1927) with Ginger Rogers, and kind of liked the campy comedy that this film portrayed, so I keep an eye out for her on TCM and whenever I stumble across one of her films, I try and watch them. As I said, I don't believe the premise of the film could ever happen, but the way Ginger looks at Cornel Wilde is believable and, although it's probably with more infatuation than love, I know every guy wishes for a girl to look at him that way.The story won't necessarily keep you enthralled, but your wondering how they're gonna get out of this predicament will! 8 out of 10 stars!

Total stinker involving Ginger Rogers who says no to 3 guys during her wedding ceremonies.She finally meets up with Cornel Wilde, dressed as an Indian, at a station. Wilde is supposed to be some guardian angel.The film is an absolutely stupid series of events where Wilde emerges as a fireman, the only true love for Rogers. Seems that the two of them knew each other years before when she was 6. He also has left 3 women at the altar.The film might have been better had it try to develop further the relationship between a wealthy society girl and a fireman.Wilde looks like he is having a good time here. The audience certainly was not.

As a single 20-something I've had to watch seemingly hundreds of romantic comedies with girlfriends. "It Had to Be You" is probably the only one I would consider watching again.I was half asleep when this movie came on Turner Classic Movies this afternoon. I've been trashcan-by-the-couch sick all week, so what's been on the TV is a complete blur.Before I could cycle through what was on the DVR, the movie had gotten its hooks in me. When I got up and ran urgently to the bathroom I did something I never do: I hit 'pause.' I'm probably a dream subject for people marketing to the 21- to 35-year-old bracket. I like violence, video games, electric guitars and scantily-clad women. None of these things are in "It Had to Be You," but it kept me entertained anyway.It's not a classic by any means, but this movie is solid. Its humor carries through 60 years later and the actors felt right for their roles. Also, the story is believable in its unbelievability - I still like to think my kindergarten-crush will pop up and be right for me.The movie also has that post-war wholesomeness that's hard to describe. There are a lot things left unsaid in the film that would be brought up in a modernized version, mainly about a live-in male friend who is not the fiancé. As it stands it feels fresh compared to the last half-dozen romantic-comedies I begrudgingly saw in theaters.If you want to see a quality, lighthearted, funny and fantastic 40s-era movie, then check this one out next time it's on TCM.

The ever-endearing Ginger Rogers plays a socialite sculptress who rejects one suitor after another until she realizes that she's always been in love with a boy with whom she played kissing games at a childhood party, a boy who's grown up to become a fireman. She comes to this realization as the boy of her dreams literally materializes from one of her dreams as an adult dressed in the Indian costume he wore at the party. Of course, the plot is much more convoluted than I describe, but that's the gist.Cornell Wilde does well in the dual role of the annoying and persistent Indian "George" and the likable but reluctant fireman "Johnny". How Rogers' "Victoria" comes to find her fireman, shed her Indian, and dump her latest fiancé "Oliver" (Ron Randell) constitutes roughly the second half of the film. Wilde's "Indian" makes the going in the first half a bit tedious due to its incredibility. Nevertheless, it all concludes quite satisfactorily, as movies of this genre and time are wont to do. One should mention that all supporting players do just as well in their roles as the leads, which is quite a feat, given the unbelievable material with which they had to work.