While this film might be dated and generic, I actually found it rather delightful.
If everything had gone to plan for Katrin Holstrom (Loretta Young), then we wouldn't have had this film. Her plans for nursing school falls through so she needs work immediately and gets a temporary job as a maid for the politician Glen Morely (Joseph Cotton) and his wise mother, Agatha (Ethel Barrymore). And of course, she stays on and Glen falls in love with her, all completely predictable but then she gets a chance for run for Congress herself, for the opposite party. And everyone seems to love how wholesome and sweet and genuine she is so Katie quickly climbs in the polls until something threatens to derail not only her campaign but her reputation as well. Remember, this is 1947 and that stuff actually matter.
Fortunately, Glen breaks party lines and disavows his running mate and throws his supports behind Katie and gets the jerkface Adolph (Rhys Williams), who tried to claim that Katie spent the night in a hotel with him when she wasn't married, to state that his story was a lie, and he proposes to Katie to boot so she gets it all, the job and the guy. Happy endings all around, just like a Hallmark movie, only with true acting, and yet, despite the relatively predictable plot, it managed to seem fresh. And Katie was a strong character and values her own opinion. Young gives a brilliant performance which won her an Oscar and she was solid. Cotton was never more delightful and he was in Citizen Kane. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-The Capitol City is never named, the political parties are never named nor is the Klan truly called out, though it is heavily implied.
-I loved how Katie's brothers were named Peter, Olaf and Sven, and I couldn't help but think of Frozen.
-Charles Bickford won his second supporting actor Oscar nomination as the butler Mr. Clancy who is firm but kind and supportive of Katie and can't resist making a bet with Agatha.
-While women appear in basically every scene though minorities never appear.
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