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IMDbPro

The Great Gildersleeve

  • 19421942
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 2m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
362
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
113,482
26,571
Jane Darwell, Charles Arnt, Nancy Gates, Freddie Mercer, Harold Peary, and Lillian Randolph in The Great Gildersleeve (1942)
AdventureComedyRomance
Gildersleeve, a small town bachelor, has slapstick troubles with a husband-hunting woman and two helpful kids.Gildersleeve, a small town bachelor, has slapstick troubles with a husband-hunting woman and two helpful kids.Gildersleeve, a small town bachelor, has slapstick troubles with a husband-hunting woman and two helpful kids.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
362
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
113,482
26,571
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Gordon Douglas
    • Writers
      • Jack Townley(screen play)
      • Julien Josephson(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Harold Peary
      • Jane Darwell
      • Nancy Gates
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Gordon Douglas
    • Writers
      • Jack Townley(screen play)
      • Julien Josephson(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Harold Peary
      • Jane Darwell
      • Nancy Gates
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos

    Freddie Mercer, Harold Peary, and Lillian Randolph in The Great Gildersleeve (1942)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Harold Peary
    Harold Peary
    • Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve
    Jane Darwell
    Jane Darwell
    • Aunt Emma Forrester
    Nancy Gates
    Nancy Gates
    • Marjorie Forrester
    Charles Arnt
    Charles Arnt
    • Judge Horace Hooker
    Freddie Mercer
    • LeRoy Forrester
    Thurston Hall
    Thurston Hall
    • Governor John Stafford
    Lillian Randolph
    Lillian Randolph
    • Birdie Lee Calkins
    Mary Field
    Mary Field
    • Amelia Hooker
    George M. Carleton
    George M. Carleton
    • Frank Powers
    • (as George Carleton)
    George Chandler
    George Chandler
    • Telegraph Messenger
    • (uncredited)
    John Dilson
    John Dilson
    • Mayor Appleton
    • (uncredited)
    Bruce Edwards
    Bruce Edwards
    • Governor's Secretary
    • (uncredited)
    Fern Emmett
    Fern Emmett
    • Abigail - Second Gossip
    • (uncredited)
    Franklyn Farnum
    Franklyn Farnum
    • Bystander Assisting Emma
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Hall
    Eddie Hall
    • Motorist Handed Flyer by LeRoy
    • (uncredited)
    Donald Kerr
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Clark Morgan
    • Country Club Member
    • (uncredited)
    William J. O'Brien
    William J. O'Brien
    • Country Club Member
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Gordon Douglas
    • Writers
      • Jack Townley(screen play)
      • Julien Josephson(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was the first of four feature films from RKO based on Harold Peary's popular radio character "The Great Gildersleeve" that aired on the NBC network from 1941 to 1950. The next two features would be released later the same year, and the fourth released the following year (1944).
    • Goofs
      When Mort picks Emma up at the train station, a reflection of the boom mic is clearly visible in the upper left glass pane of the waiting room door.
    • Connections
      Followed by Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1943)
    • Soundtracks
      Lyonel's aria (M'appari, tutt'amor)
      (1847) (uncredited)

      from "Martha"

      Music by Friedrich von Flotow

      Libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Riese

      English translation (None so rare, none so fair) unknown

      Played on piano by Mary Field and sung by Freddie Mercer in English

    User reviews11

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    This Guy Is Pure Id
    Harold Peary's title character is a delight. The guy is id personified: Everything that comes into his mind, he comments on. He says what he thinks. Or he makes sounds that seem to him appropriate. Kind of like a suave caveman.

    His family is very appealing. Freddie Mercer, as his nephew LeRoy, is a likable child actor. In addition, he has a beautiful boy soprano voice. O for the days when children were given voice and music lessons in their homes! (Rich or extraordinarily gifted children still are but this is a precursor to Mayberry, RFD.) Gildersleeve is pursued here by a truly man-crazy woman. We are distracted from this initially because she is the homely, bespectacled spinster daughter of the town judge. But she really likes men.

    It's a charming bit of nostalgia.
    helpful•13
    1
    • Handlinghandel
    • Nov 20, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 2, 1943 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El Político y la Solterona
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Jane Darwell, Charles Arnt, Nancy Gates, Freddie Mercer, Harold Peary, and Lillian Randolph in The Great Gildersleeve (1942)
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    By what name was The Great Gildersleeve (1942) officially released in Canada in English?
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