Princess O’Rourke ** (1943, Olivia de Havilland, Robert Cummings, Charles Coburn, Jack Carson, Jane Wyman, Gladys Cooper, Harry Davenport) – Classic Movie Review 10,111

Writer-director Norman Krasna’s 1943 black and white Warner Bros movie Princess O’Rourke is a hair-brained, wholly artificial comedy romance, set in New York, with Olivia de Havilland starring as an unhappy princess called Maria, who captures the heart of Eddie O’Rourke (Robert Cummings), the pilot of the plane she is supposed to be taking to San Francisco, before stormy weather forces them back.

He then looks after her at his New York pad, not knowing that she is a royal blueblood. When it comes to light that she is not a housemaid after all, all sorts of silly protocol and romantic problems arise on the way to the inevitable fairy-tale happy ending.

Princess O’Rourke is a twee and sentimental museum exhibit only for incurable romantics and fans of the excellent stars, who get great credit for giving impeccable turns in such a daft piece, particularly de Havilland in her delicious prime and Charles Coburn as her twinkly old uncle. Jack Carson as Cummings’s co-pilot, Jane Wyman as Carson’s girlfriend, Gladys Cooper as Miss Haskell, and Harry Davenport as Supreme Court Judge are helpful too.

Nevertheless, Krasna’s screenplay won the year 1944’s Oscar for best original screenplay, but it is sure not in the Love Affair (1939) or Roman Holiday (1953) class. It just does not have the wit or charm.

Cummings replaced a too-busy Fred MacMurray.

The interiors were actually shot at the White House and the President’s scots terrier Fala makes a guest appearance.

Krasna and de Havilland reconvened for The Ambassador’s Daughter (1956).

RIP Olivia de Havilland.

Also in the cast are Curt Bois, Minor Watson, Nan Wynn, Ray Walker Julie Bishop, Ferike Borros, Harry Bradley, Nana Bryant, Chester Clute, David Clyde, Edgar Dearing, John Dilson, Roland Drew, Bill Edwards, Mary Field, Ruth Ford, Rosina Galli, Edward Gargan, Jody Gilbert, Bill Kennedy, Vera Lewis, Frank Mayo, Jack Mower, Kate Price, Frank Puglia, Christian Rub, Mary Servoss, Douglas Spencer, Emmett Vogan, Nydia Westman, Lottie Williams, and Dave Willock.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,111

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