JohnHowardReid Director: CURTIS BERNHARDT. Screenplay: Casey Robinson, Richard Macaulay, Jerry Wald. Story: Leonard Spigelgass. Photography: Charles Rosher. Film editor: Rudi Fehr. Art director: Robert Haas. Make-up: Perc Westmore. Costumes designed by Orry-Kelly. Dialogue director: Hugh Cummings. Music composed by Frederick Hollander. Music director: Leo F. Forbstein. Songs: "I Found a Million Dollar Baby" (chorus) by Harry Warren (music), Mort Dixon and Billy Rose (lyrics); "Who Is In Your Dreams Tonight?" (Wynn) by Frederick Hollander. Assistant director: Chuck Hansen. Sound recording: Charles Lang. RCA Sound System. Associate producer: David Lewis. Executive producer: Hal B. Wallis. Copyright 31 May 1941 by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Strand: 6 June 1941. U.S. release: 31 May 1941. Australian release: 7 August 1941. 9,073 feet. 100 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Poor (but beautiful) salesgirl suddenly inherits one million dollars.COMMENT: Here we have a program picture. A saleable cast and a good bit of money thrown around on sets and extras, but it doesn't quite come off. Audiences would be disappointed if the movie turned up as a main attraction, so it needs to be coupled with a stronger movie. That way, audiences can come late for "Million Dollar Baby" and not feel chagrined that they've carelessly missed out on ten or forty minutes of superlative entertainment. Nevertheless, Million Dollar Baby has many things going for it, especially the lovely Priscilla Lane who makes an entrancing and charming heroine. In fact, I can't imagine anyone else that I'd rather see so expensively gowned. Admittedly, even in her earlier scenes, Miss Lane looks absolutely radiant, thanks to first-class make-up and lighting. May Robson also has a role that she can do justice to, but Ronald Regan is nowhere near as indulgently treated by the script. He does his best with the unrewarding part, but is easily outshone by the personably suave Jeffrey Lynn. A solid support cast includes Helen Westley as a selfishly irascible landlady, Walter Catlett as a harassed floorwalker, James Burke as a store detective (I love the way he vibrates his hat), and his look-alike character actor Edward Gargan (pronounced, "Garry- gen, to rhyme with "pen"), delightfully insolent here as a smart-Alec customs official.Bernhardt's direction is inclined to be slow and heavy-handed, but other production credits, including Rosher's glossy cinematography, are top-drawer. The musical program's high-light turns out to be a tuneful song by svelte Nan Wynn. Mr. Reagan himself claims responsibility for his deliberately mediocre piano- playing.

edwagreen May Robson excelled in parts of eccentric characters. We saw this in "Lady for A Day," which earned her a best actress nomination and years later was the Glenn Ford-Bette Davis vehicle of "Pocketful of Miracles."In this 1941 wonderful film, Miss Robson plays a very wealthy dowager who learns that her father swindled a man causing the latter to commit suicide. To be repentant, Robson leaves Europe to come to N.Y. and give the granddaughter, a wonderful Priscilla Lane, $1,000,000.Lane is living in a small housing tenement with an assortment of characters. Her boyfriend, a pianist, lives there. Ronald Reagan is just great here in a comical turn as well as being moody and philosophical about life. This is his second best performance to "King's Row."This Cinderella-like tale conveys the idea that money can't bring happiness. Jeffrey Lynn is in fine form as Miss White's attorney who gives Lane the money and falls for her romantically.A wonderful film with the venerable May Robson stealing the show.

malcolmgsw Whilst May Robson is on the screen this film is entertaining.As soon as she disappears the film goes down the drain.Priscilla Lane seems to think that the quicker you deliver lines the funnier they will be.Reagans character is so poorly written that you don't know if he is meant to be funny or serious.This must be the umpteenth film of this era where a popular musician had written a symphony.Lynn is plain anonymous.In my view there is only one reason why a film like this seems to have permanently disappeared from sight.The reason is that it simply is not funny or entertaining any more.So don't bother to waste your time watching this film.Watching paint dry is much more interesting!

mark.waltz When crotchety old May Robson discovers that her father cheated his best friend out of his share of their business (causing his suicide), she sets out to find the man's descendants to give them part of her fortune. In New York City, her young lawyer (Jeffrey Lynn) locates the man's perky granddaughter (Priscilla Lane), a struggling shopgirl. Living in Helen Westley's decrepit boarding house with her struggling piano player boyfriend (Ronald Reagen) down the hall, Lane befriends Robson who moves into the boarding house to check her out. Then, Lynn arrives to see Lane while she is working to inform her of her new fortune. Of course, she thinks he's a masher, and Reagen also takes a dislike to him as well. Once everything comes out, the way is paved for a lot of chaos, laughs, and lessons.Resembling "The Devil & Miss Jones" released the same year, we have May Robson in place of Charles Coburn as the crusty millionaire. Their motives were totally different: Robson was giving away her fortune, while Coburn was spying on union activism in his store. However, they end up involved in the romantic involvements of the young people they become attached to.Lovably cantankerous, Robson is delightful, and as her surrogate granddaughter, Lane is fine as well. Best remembered for "Four Daughters" (with her two sisters) and "Arsenic and Old Lace", Lane is charming and delightful. Jeffrey Lynn is handsome and suave, while future President Reagan gives a not-too-bad performance as well. In a small role, well known character comedienne Lee Patrick is hysterical as a hot-tempered balloon dancer who exchanges barbs with salty Helen Westley, another delightful mature character actress of the 30's and 40's. Robson and Westley could have easily switched roles.Worth seeing, "Million Dollar Baby" was one of those wonderful Warner Brothers ensemble pieces that still manages to stand the test of time.