Maisie (1939)

Looking forward to more Maisie, 13 August 2019

The Quick Pitch:  Maisie is a fast-talking, New York showgirl who ends up stranded in a one horse Wyoming town.  She weasels her way into a job at a local ranch and into the heart of the ranch foreman.

I’m not sure how I missed the Maisie series, but I’m awfully glad I stumbled on it last night.  Man, did I ever have fun watching Maisie! It’s not perfect, but it’s got a lot to offer. Ann Sothern is the sassy Maisie.  She’s absolutely perfect. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a role so tailor-made for an actor. She’s funny, smart, and about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.  Her comedic timing is spot on. And she equally capable of handling the physical bits also. I really can’t say enough positive things about Ann Southern’s Maisie.   I’m really looking forward to see what Maisie gets up to next. 

But, as I indicated, Maisie isn’t perfect.  I’ve got two big grips that I think are worth mentioning.  First, things really slow down toward the end of the second act.  There’s too much schmaltzy romance drama and too little of Maisie being Maisie.  Other than that, I had no real problems with the plot. Second, I’m not much of a fan of Robert Young.  He’s too stiff, with his pants pulled up to his armpits, to play the romantic lead next to Sothern. It never felt right to me.

One final thing about Maisie – and really a lot of movies from the 30s and 40s.  The “cowboys” in these movies never seem or look real. They’re all too clean, pressed, and starched. 

7/10