Sitting Pretty (1948)

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Clifton Webb has the role of a lifetime as Lynn Belvedere, self-styled genius and expert on everything. Belvedere accepts the job of baby-sitting the troublesome children of Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara; he wins the job by calmly dumping a bowl of cold oatmeal on the head of the couple's most… More Clifton Webb has the role of a lifetime as Lynn Belvedere, self-styled genius and expert on everything. Belvedere accepts the job of baby-sitting the troublesome children of Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara; he wins the job by calmly dumping a bowl of cold oatmeal on the head of the couple's most contentious offspring! At first the family chafes at Belvedere's imperiousness and unlimited resourcefulness, but gradually everyone--especially the children--grow quite fond of the man. The couple's snoopy neighbor (Richard Haydn), noting that Belvedere spends quite a lot of time in the house when the husband is away, begins spreading rumors of a clandestine affair. Belvedere only fuels the flames of innuendo by working on a "secret project" in his room. That project turns out to be a book about the community where he is staying, a revealing volume that exposes the pettiness and hypocrisy of several respectable citizens. Robert Young nearly loses his job over the ensuing scandal, but when the community becomes world famous and the object of increased business activity, Belvedere is the hero of the day. Clifton Webb made so vivid an impression as Mr. Belvedere that he repeated the role in two sequels, and played variations of Belvedere (with emphasis on his "child psychology" tactics) in such films as Cheaper by the Dozen and Mr. Scoutmaster. After numerous failed attempts at launching a TV series based on the Gwen Davenport-created character, Mr. Belvedere settled into a long video run in 1985, with Christopher Hewett in the title role and sportscaster Bob Uecker as Belvedere's nonplused employer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Walter Lang
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 10, 1948 Wide
On DVD: Mar 16, 1999
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Utterly delightful bit of nonsense with Clifton Webb giving a gem of a performance that utilizes his abilities perfectly.

Cast

            Robert Young as Harry

            Charles Arnt as Mr. Taylor

            Maureen O'Hara as Tacey

            Clifton Webb as Lynn Belvedere

            Richard Haydn as Mr. Appleton

            Ken Christy as Mr. McPherson

            Ed Begley Sr. as Hammond

            Mary Field as Librarian

            Grayce Hampton as Mrs. Appleton

            Louise Allbritton as Edna Philby

            Ellen Lowe as Effie

            Betty Lynn as Ginger

            Marion Marshall as Secretary

            Roddy McCaskill as Roddy

            Mira McKinney as Mrs. Phillips

            Dave Morris as Mailman

            Anne O'Neal as Mrs. Gibbs

            Larry Olsen as Larry

            Isabel Randolph as Mrs. Frisbee

            Albin Robeling as Maitre d'

            Willard Robertson as Mr. Ashcroft

            John Russell as Bill Philby

            Sid Saylor as Cab Driver

            Ann Shoemaker as Mrs. Ashcroft

            Randy Stuart as Peggy

            Anthony Sydes as Tony

            Minerva Urecal as Mrs. Maypole

            Ruth Warren as Matron

            Billy Wayne as Newsreel Man

            Josephine Whittell as Mrs. Hammond

            Dorothy Adams as Mrs. Goul

            Gertrude Astor as Woman

            John Farrell MacDonald as Cop

            Jane Nigh as Mable

            Charles Tannen as Director

            Cara Williams as Secretary
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