I found it hard to choose which Mike she should go for and which one I would choose in that situation (god willing Im ever in the situation). Personally, I thought the advertising guy was so far below the other two that he wasnt in the competition. And while Howard Keel as the pilot seemed great... I felt the professor (Van Johnson) had a shy quality which I really liked. And I also happen to have a thing for professors ;)
Just my thoughts.
Oct 16, 2003!
She made her choice using the wisdom of Solomon! Did you happen to catch that? What seperated Mike _____ from the other Mikes was that he was the only one willing to let her go to be happy. That's how he was picked, and I think it was a good choice too, like you.
I can't believe your nice little post has sat here for almost three years by itself, unnoticed!
It's too bad more people aren't visiting these forgotten movie gems.
Salty Captain of the Sallie G, a proud seaworthy vessel if ever thar was! Aye.
Luddie, you are an angel from God!
Tom
Drums keep poundin' rhythm to the brainLa-di-da-di-dee; la-di-da-di-da!
This is a great movie! Have you ever seen it?
Do you know that Van Johnson always wears red socks?
Jane Wyman is so sweet, and she's been in some movies with Natalie!
Salty Captain of the Sallie G, a proud seaworthy vessel if ever thar was! Aye.
About 30 years ago, as a matter of fact, Luddie!
We used to get KPLR-TV, the (once) superstation out of St. Louis, here in Decatur. . .and they would show a lot of these classic films all the time. . .
Now, we no longer get it. . .and I heard it now belong to Fox!
Drums keep poundin' rhythm to the brainLa-di-da-di-dee; la-di-da-di-da!
Know where you should go then?
To the library! I find movies like this in the library here, but the downtown Tampa library was better when I lived there.
You'll need a vhs player, and be careful, many of the tapes are well-used and can dirty up the workings of your player.
Usually the bigger the city, the better your choices - especially if library workers have an interest in good quality films. I learned a tremendous amount in Tampa and miss it. Jewels and diamonds from the past! But you have to be willing to put in some time hunting for them!
Salty Captain of the Sallie G, a proud seaworthy vessel if ever thar was! Aye.
. . .has a great selection of VHS tapes. . .they just started carrying DVDs (I donated a copy of the HBO film Angels in America). . .some great films like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Mourning Becomes Electra are available there. . .
Drums keep poundin' rhythm to the brainLa-di-da-di-dee; la-di-da-di-da!
Just finished watching this on TCM. Came here to look up one of the other stewardesses and saw the review by the person who was confused on why Marcy chose the way she did. Then saw this posting. I know you started this 4 years ago and the review was from 5 years ago, but I just can't resist giving my take on it.
I think that Marcy's choice was rather obvious and not for the reasons previously suggested of her choosing the biggest star name or it being a case of mimicking Solomon.
Mike the Ad Exec was not going to win out. While he did make more money than the other 2 and could have provided a means to still travel, he didn't have what Marcy really needed. A desire to father 6 children not withstanding. While he was a so-called 'creator' and told her they could continue being creative together, this would have never come to pass. Even early on in their relationship when Marcy had a great idea Ad-man Mike couldn't even be bothered to listen to it. He pretty much dismissed her ideas as unimportant and passed her off with "Write a letter to the client." He never really gave her idea any credit until the client loved it. He would have eventually kept her chained at home raising the 6 children with very little emotional support from him.
Mike the Pilot had a better shot. He was more handsome (clearly subjective) and had a better sense of humor. He could have still shown her the world and they would have shared a sense of adventure together. However he still ultimately viewed Marcy as a scatter-brain. And he was too much about the adventure. Captain Mike would have had trouble settling down and raising a family.
Mike the Professor was the perfect choice. The first time they meet he shows that he enjoys children and has a certain rapport with them. The second time she sees him he is working as a bartender to support his way through graduate school. This shows a determination and drive in him to reach his goals in life. On moving day he is the only one who sticks around and finishes up for her while the other 2 cut out as soon as she gets her call. Obviously they were there only there to make time with her, while Professor Mike genuinely wanted to help. Then on their first date Professor Mike takes her to the lab and shows her his research. After a little nudging he stops condescending to her and attempts to explain the research to her. While talking it is discovered that she comes from a small college town and they actually share a lot of the same values. Marcy very openly states that she would adore this type of life.
On the tarmac after the first 2 proposals I don't think she was making her decision on the spur of the moment based on Prof Mike wanting what was best for her. Marcy turns to Van Johnson with a hopeful and expectant look on her face. After the first 2 proposals she is wanting a 3rd one from the man she loves so she can say yes.
My choice is Howard Keel over Van Johnson. Howard is a real macho man and he likes women!! Van Johnson is a alittle too femimine for me. As for Barry Sullivan
he is my third choice, not very attractive and just too bland for me. It's Howard for me he looks and acts like a man and he sings beautifully!!
It seemed clear she was gonna pick the prof all along. She approached and pursued him instead of the other way around and he was the only one she had a "feeling" about.
Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands.
I agree - I thought it was obvious that she only had romantic feelings for the prof. The scene where the two of them talking to each other in the lab and the other scientist quietly slips out of the room was when you could clearly see their connection. There was never any moment like it with Marcy and another Mike.
shareHonestly, I thought the only reason she would pick Van Johnson is because he was the bigger star of the trio and audiences would expect it but your points are excellent about his character, especially him staying around the house after everyone has left to finish up the work. Given the independence of Jane Wyman's character though I was mildly surprised that she didn't tell them all she just wasn't ready for marriage but then this was the 1950's and audiences expected the female lead's number one goal to be marriage as much as they expected the biggest star to win the girl.
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