Love all 3 of the stars.

When the mortgage holder demands "$6,000" after knocking down the house, for instance, I can't help wondering if that's an enormous figure for the time or what-- it didn't help that Grant's reaction was a little nonchalant.

... so figure from there. $6000 would by a brand-new Levittown house at the time the movie was made, but the Blandings family was not moving into Levittown.

$15,000 per annum was a good three times the going rate for a solid middle-class job, but Blandings was in advertising, after all.

-- Mal

I've always been particularly partial to Melvin Douglas.

Especially the scene with Myrna Loy describing the paint colors she wants in excruciating detail. And when she's out of earshot, the contractor saying ; "Yeah, yeah, Number 2, 3 and 4."

With the Xmas season upon us like a meth-crazed elf, I'm looking forward to watching "The Man Who Came To Dinner" (1941). For the millionth time.

The movie has some problems, starting with a fairly apathetic Bette Davis. (She did not want to do the movie, the studio forced her into it as punishment.) But even an apathetic Davis is fun to watch. Her male love interest, though, is WAY out of his league. All the charisma of a damp dishrag.

Compensation: Monte Woolley in the lead as the bombastic, sarcastic Broadway critic Sheridan Whiteside. And guest stars that include Noel Coward and Jimmy Durante.

And OMG, the dialogue! (From memory, but close)

"Mr. Whiteside, I became a nurse to help suffering humanity. But after meeting you, I'm quitting and going to work in a munitions plant. You've convinced me that we should wipe out humanity as soon as possible."

"Here, Mr. Whiteside, have some of our home made calf's foot jelly."
"Hmph. Made from your own foot, no doubt."

"Yes, they're cannibals. But don't worry, they only eat Republican bankers."