Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
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80% of critics liked it
(15 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(7,500 ratings)
Fed up with crowded big-city living, advertising executive Mr. Blandings (Cary Grant) decides to seek out a big, roomy house in the country. Armed with more enthusiasm than common sense, Blandings causes many a headache for his lawyer/business manager Melvyn Douglas, who tries to keep the costs… More Fed up with crowded big-city living, advertising executive Mr. Blandings (Cary Grant) decides to seek out a big, roomy house in the country. Armed with more enthusiasm than common sense, Blandings causes many a headache for his lawyer/business manager Melvyn Douglas, who tries to keep the costs within a reasonable amount. Alas, Blandings bulls ahead on his own, first purchasing an estate on the verge of collapse, then opting to build his dream house from scratch. An unpleasant legal squabble over the fact that Blandings purchased his new property without checking with the prior owners throws even more good money after bad. The construction of the new Blandings digs is slowed down to a walk by doors and windows that don't fit, plumbing that fails to function, doorknobs that break upon contact with human flesh, temperamental workmen, and various and sundry other homeowners' nightmares (if all this sounds like the much-later Tom Hanks/Shelley Long comedy The Money Pit, it only shows to go how little has changed in forty years--except, of course, for the costs of things). Attempting to keep a level head throughout the proceedings is Mrs. Blandings (Myrna Loy), though even she is guilty of pretensions and excess, especially in the classic "choice of colors" scene. The humor in Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House springs so naturally from the central situation that it seems intrusive when the scriptwriters throw in an arbitrary French-farce scene wherein Blandings suspects that his wife and his lawyer are fooling around (a plot point that the original Eric Hodgins novel did just fine without). One of the best bits comes near the end, when Louise Beavers, the Blandings' cook, saves the day for everyone by ad libbing "If you ain't eating Wham, you ain't eating Ham." Why should we spoil your enjoyment by explaining that line? Now you'll have to see the picture. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- H.C. Potter
- Written By
- Melvin Frank, Norman Panama, Eric Hodgins
- Genres
- Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Mar 25, 1948 Limited
- Studio
- RKO
Critic Reviews
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Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
[Cary] Grant and ,Myrna] Loy were congenitally incapable of turning in poor work in a comedy.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Those in the middle-aged demographic might find this middlebrow comedy more pleasing than others.
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Mark Athitakis, Filmcritic.com
best appreciated as a sort of adult version of teenage hygiene films from the '40s and '50s
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Grant is at the top of his form. He's funny and urbane, the movie is perceptive and witty, and the whole thing is a welcome treat on DVD.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The incredibly handsome, photogenic, movie-star image seems to disappear as Grant becomes simply the harassed Everyman.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Cary Grant
as Jim Blandings
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Louise Beavers
as Gussie
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Myrna Loy
as Muriel Blandings
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Melvyn Douglas
as Bill Cole
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Reginald Denny
as Henry Simms
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Jason Robards Sr.
as John Retch
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Lex Barker
as Carpenter Foreman
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Connie Marshall
as Betsy Blandings
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Sharyn Moffett
as Joan Blandings
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Nestor Paiva
as Joe Appolionion
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Emory Parnell
as Mr. Delford
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Harry Shannon
as W.D. Tesander
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Lurene Tuttle
as Mary
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Tito Vuolo
as Mr. Zucca
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Stanley Andrews
as Murphy
- Robert Bray
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Don Brodie
as Charlie
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Cliff Clark
as Jones
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Kernan Cripps
as Cop
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Frank Darien
as Judge Quarles
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Hal K. Dawson
as Mr. Selby
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Friedrich von Ledebur
as Workman
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Charles B. Middleton
as Wrecker
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Franklin Parker
as Simpson
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Dan Tobin
as Bunny Funkhauser
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Ian Wolfe
as Smith
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Will Wright
as Eph Hackett
- Michael Lally
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Jack Jahries
as Elevator Operator
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Cy Slocum
as Man
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Ralph Stein
as Proprietor
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Bud Wiser
as Customer
