Love Nest

''Love Nest'' is a 1951 American comedy-drama film directed by Joseph Newman, and starring June Haver, William Lundigan, Frank Fay, Marilyn Monroe, and Jack Paar. It features an early supporting role for Monroe, and is one of the few films that future-'' Tonight Show'' host Paar made prior to his television career. Additionally, it is the last film appearance by both silent film-star Leatrice Joy and Fay, who was a popular stage comedian in the 1920s and had recently revived his career by starring in the long-running Broadway comedy '' Harvey''.

Set in New York City just after World War II, the film's screenplay was adapted by I.A.L. Diamond from Scott Corbett's 1950 novel ''The Reluctant Landlord''. The film gets its name from the song "Love Nest", written by Louis Hirsch (music) and Otto A. Harbach (lyrics). The song, which is sung by a chorus over the opening credits, was also used as a theme song for '' The Burns and Allen Show'', on both radio and TV.

Plot

When American serviceman and writer Jim Scott returns from Paris after WWII, he is flabbergasted to discover that his well-meaning, but unrealistic, wife Connie has invested his wages in a run-down apartment building in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan. Despite Connie's hopes that being a landlord will give Jim the freedom to write a novel, he finds that he spends most of his time managing the building's maintenance and renovations—doing as much as he can by himself to save money.

Smooth-talking Charley Patterson, a confidence man who romances and swindles wealthy widows, moves into a vacant apartment and quickly becomes enamored of another tenant, the gentle widow Eadie Gaynor, even though she is poor. When another apartment becomes available, Jim persuades Connie to rent it to an old Army buddy, but, when the soldier arrives, Connie is shocked to see that "Bobbie" is a stunning former- WAC named Roberta Stevens.

An FBI agent visits the Scotts to ask what they know about Mr. Patterson, but will not give them any information. Then, when the Scotts are at a fancy restaurant to celebrate their third wedding anniversary, they see Patterson, who is supposed to be out of town on business, dancing with and romancing a stranger.

The Scotts are surprised by a visit from a building inspector, who informs them that the exposed wiring in their building is a serious code violation, and that, if it is not fixed within fifteen days, the building will be condemned. That night, Charley and Eadie announce their engagement, causing further worry for Connie. The lovebirds leave the next day to be married, after which Jim learns it will be so expensive to fix the wiring that he must sell the building.

Although Charley immediately lends Jim the $800 for the repairs when he and Edie return from their honeymoon, Jim still wants to sell, as he is convinced the building is a money pit. He and Connie argue about the building and Bobbie, of whom Connie is jealous, and Jim storms out to sleep in a hammock in the backyard. When the hammock breaks, Jim, knowing Bobbie is away on a modeling assignment, goes to sleep her empty apartment, but she returns the next morning before he awakens, and Connie winds up with the mistaken impression that Bobbie and Jim have spent the night together.

However, Connie's anger is deflected by a newspaper story concerning a Mrs. Frazier, who has been cheated by an "elderly Casanova" believed to be a fugitive named Charley Price based on the description and tactics used. Connie and Jim confront Charley, who does not deny his guilt, but assures them that he truly loves Eadie and has just finished his last con. When Jim mentions the visit from the FBI agent, Charley starts packing, saying he will send for Eadie later, but the police arrive before he can escape. As he is being taken away, Charley reassures Eadie that she is the only woman he has ever loved.

Charley, who insists on pleading guilty and paying for his crimes, arranges for Jim to get arrested for receiving the $800 from him, as it was part of the money that he took from Mrs. Frazier. Jim is infuriated when he is thrown in a cell with Charley, but the older man explains he has been offered $5,000 for a series of articles on his escapades, which he accepted, with the condition that Jim be the one to write them. The articles lead to a book, which becomes a best-seller.

After eighteen months, Charley is released from prison and reunites with Eadie. Later, Jim and Connie, who have beautified the apartment building with Jim's royalties, watch in amusement as Eadie and Charley take their infant twin daughters for a walk.

Cast

Critical response

'' Variety'' said:
:There are only a few fresh lines and situations in the script, and they are not enough to add any punch to a rather "dated" theme, no matter how hard the cast toppers try to keep the laughs going. ... Marilyn Monroe is tossed in to cause jealousy between the landlords... The Jules Buck production supervision is adequate for physical polish, but short on story and script guidance.

'' Film Daily'' said:
:Lightly skipping about in its treatment of G.I.'s postwar investment, engineered by his wife while he was overseas, in a rundown house in the Gramercy Park section of Manhattan, ''Love Nest'' is a mild variety of comedy which gets a considerable boost from the expert talents—in that line—of Frank Fay. Rarely seen, he registers here as a smoothie, glib and ultra sophisticated, handy with the correct word on the correct occasion. Leatrice Joy is also present in this number. She gives mature warmth to the proceedings. Marilyn Monroe has that other quality, while William Lundigan, an author, and June Haver play at being married and troubled with their creaky domicile.

References

External links

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Theatrical release poster

{{Joseph M. Newman

1951 films
1951 comedy-drama films
20th Century Fox films
American black-and-white films
American comedy-drama films
1950s English-language films
Films based on American novels
Films directed by Joseph M. Newman
Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge
Films set in New York City
Films with screenplays by I. A. L. Diamond
1950s American films
Films about landlords
English-language comedy-drama films