THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK (1944)
STARRING: EDDIE BRACKEN and BETTY HUTTON
DIRECTED BY: PRESTON STURGES

Few people can deny the infectious joy of the 1940's screwball comedy. This one in particular really provides a proper representation of the genre, combining as it does quick-witted dialogue, lightning fast delivery, and excellent comedic performances from everyone involved.

'Miracle' tells the story of Trudy Kockenlocker-a spritely teenage girl with a sadly apparent lack of self control and thirst for adventure. Her childhood friend, addlepated Norvel Jones, is a loyal young man who remains hopelessly in love with her despite her impetuous ways. When Trudy asks him to provide an alibi for her as she heads off for a night of drinking and dancing w/ a group of departing soldiers, he doesnt hesitate. However, he soon regrets his chivalry when Trudy arrives the next morning and can't remember a single detail of the preceeding night. As her clouded memory recovers, the horrified girl realizes that in the midst of her drunken galavanting she has married a nameless officer and is expecting his baby with absolutely no proof of the union! Faced with the obstacle of having to tell her father and sister, Trudy once again turns to trusty Norvel to help her out of her predicament. The end of this film is one of the brilliant moments of cinematic comedy.

Preston Sturges is the obvious reason that this film works as well as it does. In spite of the controversial subject matter, he manages to make it uproariously funny while teaching valuable lessons about life and love along the way. The direction is very deft, w/ only a very few moments that go on too long-a common hazard of screwball comedies. The dialogue is fantastic and delivered so naturally from the key players that one can't help but be charmed. Betty Hutton plays Trudy with goofy panache, drawing the viewer farther into her muddled situation w/ each scene. Her facial expressions and physical gestures could convey the emotion of the story even without the snappy dialogue. Eddie Bracken is at the height of his slapstick talents, evoking some of the biggest laughs in the film. One scene in particular stays with me-when Trudy forlornly confesses her 'condition' to him right on the heels of his having declared his love for her. Classic stuff. Also memorable is the performance of Diana Lynn as Trudy's down-to-earth, level-headed sister Emily, who at fourteen years old, somehow provides the glue that holds the family together.

Though many published synopses of this film give away the 'Miracle' too quickly, I will let that part be a surprise. Suffice it to say that it is a particularly endearing little surprise, and one that lends a note of sentimentality to what would otherwise be just a funny movie.

In the words of William Shakespeare, so eloquently quoted at the end of the movie, 'Some men are born great. Some men achieve greatness. And some men have greatness thrust upon them.'

My rating: 9/10