A Woman of Distinction (1950) User Reviews (12)

A bit heavy on the slapstick, but lots of good fun

[abcj-2 · 8/10 · 15 April 2011]

A Woman of Distinction (1950) is a quirky romcom that is heavier on the comedy due to Rosalind Russell's willingness to throw herself out there for her audience. The "meet cute" between Russell and the still dashing and debonair Ray Milland is thwarted by their instant dislike and impatience with one another. She has an important job as the dean of a college. He is a lecturer on tour who happens to get mixed up with Russell and ultimately causes her job to be in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Edmund Gwenn, in a delightful role as Russell's father, plays matchmaker, thus making it harder to easily iron out the plot twists that intertwine the two main characters causing problems at every turn.

Russell rivals Luculle Ball in what she'll do for a laugh. It works and this is a cute movie that is pure escapist pleasure. It's not one of my very favorites, but I enjoy it enough to watch it whenever it comes on TCM.

Crazy comedy with two great stars

[mamalv · 8/10 · 23 February 2014]

Ray Milland as an English astronomy professor is about to embark on a lecture tour, but has one job to do first. He must return a locket to the Dean of a college. The dean is played wonderfully well by Roz Russell. She is not interested in love or marriage until she meets Milland. The crazy twists and turns of the comedy are worth watching. Russell delivers some slapstick scenes which are not wasted on the audience. She was well paired with Cary Grant in His Girl Friday, and although this is not as fast paced as that, it has some truly funny parts between Milland and her. She is always wacking him over the head with her handbag because she thinks he dreamed up a romance just to get some press for his tour. Of course it was his press agent that did it. He tries to break through the outer shell but is finding it quite difficult. In the end she realizes that she needs him and runs to meet him at the train station. I always liked Ray Milland and I think his comic timing is great with Russell's help. Plus they look great together.

A likeable film

[phawley-251-115921 · 7/10 · 1 December 2021]

The two main actors, Ray Milland and Rosalind Russell are such fine professionals and give beautiful, consistent performances.

Russell goes full out with the slapstick -- she's courageous and commits on stage. A model for all actors afraid to go there. Such simiiarities to Lucille Ball.

The music had great accompaniment by the acting, punched certain points and the actors followed suit as well. Ray Milland's facial expressions are study in authentic reaction.

Funny moments; quick pace; and very good performances. The challenge was with the writing. It's just No - no- no - no - until a flip in the last 30 seconds. So the writing seems one note. There is no found love lost love found love. It's just no love, then a flip. That can be tiring for the audience.

It's predictable, but solid. Two fine actors make it very soiid.

It's Business as Usual for Rosalind Russell, and everybody's in hers!

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 21 March 2013]

This most delightful of romantic screwball comedies is one of my all-time favorites because even though it has Ms. Russell once again in tailored suits telling men what to do and fighting romance when it approaches her, it is filled with such a high level of fun. She's the dean of a woman's college with a daughter she claims is adopted. Ray Milland is a British professor from a men's college who comes to America to give her a memento from a soldier who died with her name on his heart. She's become a household name with her picture on the cover of Time Magazine, and the press is anxious to find out dirt on her, anything they can, especially something proving that the little girl is actually hers by birth, not adoption. Milland gets thrown into the mix and everything goes haywire.

Edmund Gwenn gives a delightfully lively performance as her living life to the fullest father, anxious to see his daughter tie the knot. It is hard to believe they are related, because as intellectual as he is, he knows there's much more to life than late night meetings with the board of directors, and he is bored with this board. Mary Jane Saunders ("Sorrowful Jones") proves again she is a natural child actress, not cloying or precocious, just delightful. Janis Carter gets some good lines as the snoopy reporter ("My what big ears your switchboard has!" she gleefully says to herself upon hearing gossipy operator Jean Willes reveal information about Russell) while the town wags. "Hello, Merle? This is Pearl!" Willes croons in a delightful segment of the beginning of a rumor mill that is bound to keep you in stitches.

There's plenty of slapstick too-Milland riding a bicycle which seems to come apart at the seams, and Russell riding in a student's souped-up race car in an attempt to get away from Milland. Then, there's the future movie musical "Mame", Lucille Ball, in a cameo as herself at the beginning. "Is it true that everybody in California sleeps under one blanket?", Milland asks her, getting the drollest of responses. It's a shame that Russell wasn't in this sequence to have the other movie "Auntie Mame" with her as well. Francis Lederer's professor character seems to have no point in being here other than to sulk about Russell's lack of interest in him. But director Edward Buzzell keeps things buzzin' here, resulting in a fast-moving comedy worthy of further discovery and repeat viewings.

Typical '40s unmarried woman with no room for romance

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 11 April 2009]

Major slapstick is the highlight of "A Woman of Distinction," a 1950 film starring Rosalind Russell, Ray Milland, Edmund Gwenn and Janis Carter. Russell has one of her uptight, cold women roles so often depicted in the '40s. You know the one, no room or time for romance until a man melts her down. The melter here is Ray Milland.

Russell is the dean of a girls' school in New England; Milland plays a visiting British astronomer. Will she succumb to his charms? Sure, after she beats him with her handbag, and she's sprayed with water, smeared with mud, and falls out of chairs. Wouldn't you? The laughs are all supposed to come from the slapstick; in truth, there's not too much of a script, and what's there is predictable and derivative. The cast is likable, and Russell proves she can do just about anything. In the end, it's not much of a movie.

A romp that could have done with more distinction

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 24 July 2020]

The idea for 'A Woman of Distinction' was great, not novel territory but still interesting and an entertaining film could easily be made out of it. The cast is full of very talented actors, Rosalind Russell, Ray Milland and Edmund Gwenn were capable of giving very good and even great performances. Edward Buzzell was not a bad director, but few of his films really wowed me that much with most being in the average to decent categories with a few good ones (i.e. 'Fast Company').

'A Woman of Distinction' could have been a lot better considering its potential. It's certainly not awful, far from it, it's just not all that great either and definitely could have been more inspired and distinct. And the potential for it to be great was quite big. The cast come off very well and there is enough to enjoy, but the execution of 'A Woman of Distinction's' writing and such was to me (and some others it seems) patchy and the story wasn't that strong.

What redeems 'A Woman of Distinction' quite significantly is the cast. Have always gotten a lot of enjoyment out of Russell and she has a role that fits her like a glove and a sort of role she excelled in, her comic timing really sparkles and her delivery makes the material better than it actually is. She does icy in a way that doesn't come over as too cold. Milland struck me as a more dramatic actor but this shows that he did have comedic chops, he has just as much fun as Russell and is a natural presence. Gwenn is a sheer delight and truly twinkles in a part that really played to his strengths. Mary Jane Saunders is adorable but not too cute.

Furthermore, 'A Woman of Distinction' benefits from classy production values and the filming is opened up and expansive enough to avoid it from being stagy. The music has a nice whimsy and the film's pace tends to be lively enough. There are a fair share of very amusing moments, more down though to the cast's delivery, and some very charming ones too. Plus some witty scripting.

Buzzell's direction though has moments where it shines in how the cast interact with each other, but mostly it rarely rises above competent level, all correct but with not enough spark or distinction. The story is very thin and what there is is very familiar ground with little new. Making some of it feel stale.

Later on, it did feel over-stuffed and managed to be too wild at times and the tiredness of some of the material made it feel sluggish too. Will agree that the film tends to be too slapstick heavy, especially later on, and while some of it amuses others are over-silly. And also that too many turns in the plot and character decisions are handled too abruptly with not enough time to breathe, so sense is also not a strong suit in the film either.

Overall, not a bad film but didn't quite click with me sad to say. 6/10

A Woman of Distinction

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 27 December 2022]

There is quite a bit of chemistry here between Ray Milland's "Prof. Stevenson" - a British astronomy geek somewhat reluctantly doing the lecture tour rounds in the US of A; and the stiff-as-starch college dean "Susan" (Rosalind Russell). The former has something he wishes to return to the latter - and gagging for some sort of publicity for this flagging tour, his agent "Teddy" (Janis Carter) tries to suggest there is more to their causal acquaintanceship than just that! Try as they might - the more they deny, the more they become embroiled in a slightly amusing series of escapades that risk both their reputations, and certainly her job! There is no doubt as to what will happen, it's a simple and straightforward comedy romance that raises a smile now and again, but also makes you cringe a little - the scenarios are a bit blatant and obvious at times. Still, Russell is on decent form and director Edward Buzzell pretty much hits the ground running with this enjoyable, if somewhat standard, formula feature. You won't remember it afterwards, but anything with a bit of Edmund Gwenn in it has got to be worth 90 minutes.

Today's icicle may be tomorrow's hot water

[SimonJack · 9/10 · 8 January 2016]

"A Woman of Distinction" is a very enjoyable comedy romance. Rosalind Russell, as Dean Susan Middlecott, is the consummate career professional woman of the mid-20th Century. Ray Milland, as Professor Alec Stevenson, is a renowned British scientist who is visiting New England for a series of astronomy talks. This is a few years after WW II, and both served in Europe during the war. Neither is looking for romance or marriage. Susan is adamant about not having or needing a man. To the point of being an iceberg, as her father, Professor Mark "J.M." Middlecott says (played by Edmund Gwenn). Alec isn't turned off to women or marriage – he just isn't actively pursuing a mate.

That's the setting, and the story of how these two come together makes for a wonderful plot. It's different from the type of comedy romance that was all too frequent during that era. It isn't a comedy of dialog alone, or of pratfalls, or of antics or crazy doings. It is a mix of all of those. The script has some witty and clever quips. The pratfalls are in the form of hilarious happenings to Susan and Alec, individually and together. The mishaps are all the more funny because of the proper and uppity social positions of the characters. And, a nice touch throughout the film, is their reactions. They seem to take them in stride and show their human side. The pacing of these incidents is perfect, with silly lines or very funny mishaps occurring at short intervals.

Through it all, does love bloom? Watch to see, and you won't be disappointed. All of the cast in this film give wonderful performances. And, there is a nice cast of supporting players beyond the three main roles. The setting has some scenes of elegant living, New England homes, and commuter train travel. About the only people I can imagine who wouldn't enjoy this flick would be misandrists, misogynists, those who hold political correctness as a god, and those who have no sense of humor.

It' a good enough movie to be part of my permanent film library. This film is a lot of fun throughout. Lucille Ball has a funny cameo appearance early in the film. Here are some funny lines to further whet one's appetite. They are all the more funny in the settings.

Susan, "Tea and toast! Is that all you ever eat?" Alec, "Blood rare!"

J.M., "Oh, Susan, dear, just a minute. You don't want to leave without your weapon."

Susan, "Well, why don't you get on?" Alec, "It's a girl's bike." Susan, "Try side saddle."

J.M., "It's too bad that two nice people, like you, who should get together, get together and then don't get together." Alec, "Well you see, your daughter isn't very get together-able. One might say she's a bit of an icicle." J.M., "You know what the Greek philosophers say about icicles? Today's icicle may be tomorrow's hot water."

Susan, "Oh, what beautiful flowers. Did you grow them?" Louisa (her five-year old daughter played by Mary Jane Saunders), "No, mommy. They grew themselves right outside."

Teddy (played by Janis Carter), "Education's a wonderful thing. No school should be without it."

Susan, "We're happy aren't we? Just the three of us?" Louisa, "I think we'd be happier if we adopted a husband."

Susan, "I'm not any older than any other woman my age."

J.M., "No, you look like a woman but that's where the resemblance ends. You talk like an encyclopedia. You think like a dictionary. You're, uh …"

Telephone operator, "Hello, Earl, this is Pearl. Hello, Merle, this is Pearl."

This could have been so much better.

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 2 November 2018]

Rosalind Russell plays Dr. Susan Middlecott, a brilliant professor and dean of a college for women. However, her father (Edmund Gwenn) is concerned that she's all work and needs a man in her life. So, when the newspaper comes up with the incorrect notion that she's having a relationship with a professor (Ray Milland), the father makes the most of it...encouraging and pulling strings to try to get them together.

While Milland, Gwenn and Russell are all wonderful actors, here they are burdened with a bad script. The essential idea isn't bad (though some feminists today will balk at the notion that a woman needs a man), it is executed poorly. There are two main problems. Towards the end, the film relies too much on slapsticky sorts of laughs...with Rosalind on the receiving end again and again. Additionally, the whole relationship between the professors goes from hostile to head over heels so abruptly and unexpectedly that it made no sense at all. It's a shame...the film should have been a lot better.

Highly amusing!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 1 June 2018]

Producer: Buddy Adler. Copyright 16 February 1950 by Columbia Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 16 March 1950 (ran 2 weeks). U.S. release: April 1950. U.K. release: 17 July 1950. Australian release: 29 September 1950. 7,721 feet. 85 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: Gossip columnists couple a hard-headed dean with a visiting professor of astronomy.

PRINCIPAL MIRACLE: Who said the screwball romantic comedy was exterminated by WW2 and had no innings after 1945?

COMMENT: A broadly acted - all the players are in excellent form - and highly amusing farce. It's a screwball comedy in fact, attractively photographed, and boasting equally A-1 production values, and of course top technical credits.

The polished script contrives a whole raft of entertaining twists to flesh out a basically simple plot of romantic chase and entanglements. And no-one can put down an eager Romeo as effectively as Rosalind Russell, the Gladys Cooper of the younger set.

Feminists will hate the movie of course. Even more importantly, it was dismissed by the critics. Hence the fact that the film is little-known outside a devoted circle of Rosalind Russell and Ray Milland fans.

Aside from Mary Jane Saunders, an amateurish child if ever there was one, the saviors of this film's slight story are the actors. Spirited playing from the principals and from a fine cast of support artists, including Harry Tyler as a photographer and Lucille Ball as herself, make the proceedings seem twice as bright as they deserve to be. Astute direction and ingratiating photography help too.

Distinction Nowhere to be Found Here

[daoldiges · 5/10 · 24 October 2022]

With Russell and Milland in the leads I was expecting a bit more from A Woman of Distinction, but unfortunately was met with disappointment only a short while into the what seemed like a very long running time (was actually only 85 minutes. I do enjoy Russell but here she is left to go full force slapstick antics but there's just no direction or purpose to most of the proceedings. The story was probably outdated even for 1950 and has most definitely not held up to the test of time. If you have some genuine curiosity regarding A Woman of Distinction then by all means check it out and see what you think, but just manage your expectations.

One of Roz's best

[HotToastyRag · 8/10 · 18 November 2023]

Though one of my favorite Rosalind Russell comedies, A Woman of Distinction isn't one of the better known ones. Give me this adorable flick over His Girl Friday anytime! She plays her specialty: a dedicated career woman who has never had time for romance. As a college dean with an adopted daughter, she feels she has a complete family unit. Her doting father, Edmund Gwenn, doesn't share her view. With a perpetual twinkle in his eye, he constantly teases her about a woman's completion being found with a man.

Ray Milland (who is definitely not Ray Mi-bland in this movie) plays just someone just as dedicated and just as happily single. He's a professor visiting America on a lecture tour, and when a nosy newspaper woman, Janis Carter, writes an incriminating story connecting Ray with Roz, everyone thinks they're having an affair. Neither is happy about it, but how can they discourage the newspaper story when they're constantly seen together?

There are so many hilarious scenes in this movie, so if you are a Roz fan and haven't seen it yet, pop some corn and get ready for a very enjoyable matinee day. There are some screwball moments, like Ray making a fool of himself during a ladies bicycle ride, but they're balanced out with more serious plot points, like doubting the parentage of Roz's daughter. For a great mix of light and naughty fun, check out A Woman of Distinction.