2. B.F.’s Daughter
Is love at first sight possible? This movie tries to answer the question, and educate the viewers about economics at the same time.
Its day two of Summer Under the Stars, and Barbara Stanwyck is the featured star of the day. She is the title character -- B.F.’s Daughter -- in this film. Stanwyck plays Polly Fulton, daughter of B.F. Fulton, a rich entrepreneur. She is engaged to a lawyer, who refuses to marry her until he is on his own two feet. After giving him some insider knowledge about her father’s company to help further his career, Polly goes to a speakeasy with her friend “Apples.” And while at the speakeasy -- which is filled with intellectuals -- she meets Tom Brett (played by Van Heflin). The two engage in conversation about economics -- he's an associate economics professor at Columbia University.
After knowing each other for less than twenty-four hours, Tom and Polly get married -- despite the fact that Tom doesn’t like B.F. and what he stands for -- and end up honeymooning in a cabin on an island in Minnesota during the winter.
Tom writes a book on economic policy and tries to get a lecture tour. But he is unable to get one himself, so Polly arranges for him to get one without his knowledge. The lecture tour is incredibly successful, and he continues to go on and on and on about economic policy for eight years.
Meanwhile, Polly builds an enormous home in Connecticut, much to the disapproval of Tom. He does not want to be so bourgeois -- and also does not want to take any money from his father-in-law. There is much arguing between the two, and Tom finds out about how she arranged the first lecture tour. By the end of the night, B.F. ends up getting sick, and dies the next day.
Finally, Polly needs Tom -- but he needs to go to Lisbon to help a girl from the exiled Dutch government. Sigh! What is a man to do? Tom is a dutiful citizen and leaves his wife behind.
There is much misunderstanding between the two, and eventually Polly finds out there is another woman! She tracks her down and finds out that she’s a blind Dutch woman in love with Tom. Polly feels like the blind lady would be perfect for Tom -- she really needs him, while Polly does not. Eventually everything gets ironed out, and the film ends with Polly saying, “Oh Tom, I really need you!” and Tom says something else back and they kiss. Yay.
B.F.’s Daughter is nothing to write home about. I only watched it because I really enjoy Van Heflin (he’s my second favorite Van from MGM). He’s just so good at playing sarcastic, and I think if he had been born in the present, he’d still be able to be an actor. Sarcasm never seems to go out of style, and he’s just really good at the biting roles. Keenan Wynn was pretty good in the role of the side-kick on the radio, and less annoying than in Easy to Wed. So, in a word, unless you really like Van Heflin, don't stop for this film.
Its day two of Summer Under the Stars, and Barbara Stanwyck is the featured star of the day. She is the title character -- B.F.’s Daughter -- in this film. Stanwyck plays Polly Fulton, daughter of B.F. Fulton, a rich entrepreneur. She is engaged to a lawyer, who refuses to marry her until he is on his own two feet. After giving him some insider knowledge about her father’s company to help further his career, Polly goes to a speakeasy with her friend “Apples.” And while at the speakeasy -- which is filled with intellectuals -- she meets Tom Brett (played by Van Heflin). The two engage in conversation about economics -- he's an associate economics professor at Columbia University.
After knowing each other for less than twenty-four hours, Tom and Polly get married -- despite the fact that Tom doesn’t like B.F. and what he stands for -- and end up honeymooning in a cabin on an island in Minnesota during the winter.
Tom writes a book on economic policy and tries to get a lecture tour. But he is unable to get one himself, so Polly arranges for him to get one without his knowledge. The lecture tour is incredibly successful, and he continues to go on and on and on about economic policy for eight years.
Meanwhile, Polly builds an enormous home in Connecticut, much to the disapproval of Tom. He does not want to be so bourgeois -- and also does not want to take any money from his father-in-law. There is much arguing between the two, and Tom finds out about how she arranged the first lecture tour. By the end of the night, B.F. ends up getting sick, and dies the next day.
Finally, Polly needs Tom -- but he needs to go to Lisbon to help a girl from the exiled Dutch government. Sigh! What is a man to do? Tom is a dutiful citizen and leaves his wife behind.
There is much misunderstanding between the two, and eventually Polly finds out there is another woman! She tracks her down and finds out that she’s a blind Dutch woman in love with Tom. Polly feels like the blind lady would be perfect for Tom -- she really needs him, while Polly does not. Eventually everything gets ironed out, and the film ends with Polly saying, “Oh Tom, I really need you!” and Tom says something else back and they kiss. Yay.
B.F.’s Daughter is nothing to write home about. I only watched it because I really enjoy Van Heflin (he’s my second favorite Van from MGM). He’s just so good at playing sarcastic, and I think if he had been born in the present, he’d still be able to be an actor. Sarcasm never seems to go out of style, and he’s just really good at the biting roles. Keenan Wynn was pretty good in the role of the side-kick on the radio, and less annoying than in Easy to Wed. So, in a word, unless you really like Van Heflin, don't stop for this film.
posted by Rebecca at 9:28 PM
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