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The Major and the Minor (1942)

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Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 15
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 0

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Movie Info

A woman's attempt to disguise herself as an underage girl mushrooms into a series of humorous deceptions in this romantic comedy. Ginger Rogers stars as Susan Applegate, a young woman living in New York who, nearly broke and sick of the city, decides to head home to Iowa. Lacking the money for a regular ticket, she pretends to be an unusually tall 11-year old girl named Sue-Sue in order to pay half-price. The train conductors catch on to her scheme, however, forcing her to take refuge in the car

Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.

Drama, Classics, Comedy

Directed By: Billy Wilder

Written By: Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1942 Limited

On DVD: Apr 22, 2008

Cast

Ginger Rogers
Susan Applegate
Ray Milland
Maj. Kirby
Diana Lynn
Lucy Hill
Robert Benchley
Mr. Osborne
Rita Johnson
Pamela Hill
Norma Varden
Mrs. Osborne
Edward Fielding
Col. Hill
Frankie Thomas
Cadet Osborne
Raymond Roe
Cadet Wigton
Charles Smith
Cadet Korner
Larry Nunn
Cadet Babcock
Billy Dawson
Cadet Miller
Lela E. Rogers
Mrs. Applegate
Aldrich Bowker
Rev. Doyle
Boyd Irwin
Maj. Griscom
Byron Shores
Cap. Durand
Richard Fiske
Will Duffy
Gretl Dupont
Mrs. Shackleford
George Anderson
Man with Esquire Magazi...
Stanley Andrews
First Conductor
Marie Blake
Bertha
Dick Chandlee
Cadet
Bill Clauson
Ethel Clayton
Bit Woman
Billy Cook
Dell Henderson
Doorman
Carlotta Jelm
Little Girl in Railroad...
Milt Kibbee
Station Agent
Tom McGuire
News Vendor
Freddie Mercer
Little Boy in Railroad ...
William Newell
Ticket Agent
Emory Parnell
Conductor
Edward Peil Sr.
Stationmaster
Archie Twitchell
Sergeant
Guy Wilkerson
Farmer Truck Driver
Will Wright
First Ticket Agent
Mary Field
Mother in Railroad Stat...
Dick Jones
Tom Dugan
Deadbeat
Alice Keating
Nurse
Gloria Williams
Bit Woman
John Bogden
Ken Lundy
Elevator Boy
David McKim
Cadet
Donald Wilmot
Cadet
Billy Ray
Cadet Summerville

Critic Reviews for The Major and the Minor

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (0) | DVD (5)

A sparkling and effervescing piece of farce-comedy.

August 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Miss Rogers and Mr. Milland have played it with spirit and taste. Never once does either permit the suggestion of a leer to creep in.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

The Wilder ironies and favorite themes--sexual deception, innuendo, the power of words to slice up and serve a character -- are all present in abundance.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

The effervescent farce proved to be a classic comedy.

June 25, 2011 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Full delectation

March 13, 2010 Full Review Source: CinePassion

| Comment

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

If anybody could manage a fizzy romantic comedy of sexual repression in 1942, it was Billy Wilder, already with three screenwriting Oscar nominations under his belt and making his American directorial debut, with The Major and the Minor.

April 16, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review

| Comment

Jonathan Kiefer

Sacramento News & Review

Early Billy Wilder comedy starring Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland.

March 22, 2008 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Pretty irresistible, nevertheless, with Rogers doing a beautiful job of dovetailing sexual provocation and demure innocence.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Derek Adams

Time Out

Wilder's first film isn't his best, but it's an auspicious debut.

December 4, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

The Major and the Minor sails along breezily from its very first scenes until its romantic ending.

July 30, 2003 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

A fine entertainment and proof that Billy Wilder had what it took from the very start of his career.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

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Audience Reviews for The Major and the Minor

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A very funny movie and an interesting story, but you really have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to mistaking Ginger Rogers for a pre-teen girl.

September 5, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

Something that could never be made today but coming from a more innocent time this is a sweet little comedy. Ginger is sly and funny as the masquerading lass, Ray Milland properly befuddled and Diana Lynn great as the wised up sister. All done with a light touch by Wilder.

April 15, 2010

jay nixon

Super Reviewer

The Major and the Minor Quotes

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1. Mr. Osborne: Why don't you get out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)

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