Plot

Based upon Arthur Kober's play (which was subsequently musicalized onstage as Wish You Were Here, Having Wonderful Time stars Ginger Rogers as Teddy Shaw, a typist who goes to a summer camp for a little rest and relaxation. She's also getting away from Emil (Jack Carson), whose interest in Teddy is no longer returned. Arriving at Camp Kare-Free, she's offered a ride by Chick (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.), who works at the camp as a waiter. Unfortunately, they get off to a bumpy start when Chick spills her suitcase and an argument ensues. Once at camp, she makes friends with Fay (Peggy Conklin), Miriam (Lucille Ball) and Henrietta(Eve Arden). Chick apologizes to Teddy, and over the next six days their relationship blossoms, concurrently with that of Miriam and another guest, Buzzy. However, when Chick makes an improper advance during her last night at the camp, Teddy gets angry and leaves him. She dances with Buzzy to make Chick jealous and makes sure she is seen entering Buzzy's cabin. She takes steps to see that nothing happens and leaves unscathed the next morning, but not before causing trouble between Buzzy and Miriam. Emil has arrived and plans to bring her home after breakfast. While they are eating, Emil proposes to Teddy. Both Chick and Miriam overhear this proposal, after which Miriam loudly comments that Teddy stayed overnight with Buzzy. In the ensuing confusion, Chick decks both Buzzy and Emil, and offers his own proposal to Teddy – which she happily accepts. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Review

Having Wonderful Time is far from a wonderful movie, but its cast makes it moderately entertaining. Arthur Kober's play has not made the transition from stage to screen with the greatest of ease; while much of the dialogue and many of the situations remain essentially unchanged, the flavor has gone out of the piece. The play is all about the world of the Catskills in the 1930s, with a sharpness and vitality that is unique to the time and the place. The movie is indistinct and flavorless (despite the use of a few "regional" accents), as well as somewhat sanitized. This makes a significant difference, for the play itself is nothing more than a little bauble, and its specificity is what made it work onstage. Fortunately, Time has a fine cast. They are not necessarily shown off to their best advantage, but they handle themselves well. Ginger Rogers has all the self-assurance necessary for Teddy, as well as just the right hint of vulnerability, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. does quite well as the man who comes to realize he wants more than just a few nights with her. Eve Arden and Lucille Ball are given far too little to do, but add a little zest to the proceedings whenever they're around, and Lee Bowman and Jack Carson do what is required of them and a little more. In his debut, Red Skelton steals a number of scenes. Fans of the cast should have a decent, if not a wonderful, time. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast

• Ginger Rogers - Teddy Shaw
• Peggy Conklin - Fay Coleman
• Lucille Ball - Miriam
• Lee Bowman - Buzzy Armbuster

Eve Arden - Henrietta; Dorothea Kent - Maxine; Donald Meek - P.U. Rogers; Jack Carson - Emil Beatty; Clarence H. Wilson - Mr. G.; Grady Sutton - Gus; Shimen Ruskin - Shrimp; Dorothy Tree - Frances; Leona Roberts - Mrs. Shaw; Harlan Briggs - Mr. Shaw; Inez Courtney - Emma; Juanita Quigley - Mabel; Hooper Atchley - Subway rider; Wesley Barry; Mary Bovard; Stanley Brown; Ben Carter; Elise Cavanna - Office Supervisor; William Corson; Dorothy Day; Frances Gifford; Etienne Girardot; Russell Gleason; Vera Gordon; Mary Jane Irving; Dean Jagger - Charlie; Florence Lake; Allan Lane - Mac; Margaret McWade; George Meeker - Subway Masher; Ann Miller - Bit Part; Peggy Montgomery; Dorothy Moore; Betty Jane Rhodes - Singer; Margaret Seddon; Red Skelton - Itchy Faulkner; Kay Sutton; Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. - Chick Kirkland; Ronnie Rondell - Subway Masher

Credit

Perry Ferguson - Art Director, Van Nest Polglase - Art Director, Renie - Costume Designer, James H. Anderson - First Assistant Director, Alfred Santell - Director, Willaim Hamilton - Editor, Roy Webb - Composer (Music Score), Roy Webb - Musical Direction/Supervision, Sam Stept - Songwriter, Charles Tobias - Songwriter, Mel Burns - Makeup, Robert de Grasse - Cinematographer, Pandro S. Berman - Producer, Darrell Silvera - Set Designer, Vernon Walker - Special Effects, Arthur Kober - Screenwriter, Arthur Kober - Play Author

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