Bachelor Daddy (1941)

60-61 mins | Comedy | 4 June 1941

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HISTORY

The working title of this film was Sandy Steps Out. Although Paul Landres is listed as the editor in the film's credits and contemporary reviews, Philip Cahn is credited with this position by HR production charts and Universal press materials. While extensive footage of a Universal serial entitled The Phantom of the Mesa, starring Red Curry, was shown in the motion picture theater sequence of this film, this was fictional footage, as the studio did not produce such a serial. For additional information on the "Baby Sandy" series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry for Unexepected Father (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.4862). ...

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The working title of this film was Sandy Steps Out. Although Paul Landres is listed as the editor in the film's credits and contemporary reviews, Philip Cahn is credited with this position by HR production charts and Universal press materials. While extensive footage of a Universal serial entitled The Phantom of the Mesa, starring Red Curry, was shown in the motion picture theater sequence of this film, this was fictional footage, as the studio did not produce such a serial. For additional information on the "Baby Sandy" series, please consult the Series Index and see the entry for Unexepected Father (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40; F3.4862).

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Box Office
28 Jun 1941
---
Daily Variety
23 Jun 1941
p. 3
Film Daily
3 Jul 1941
p. 4
Hollywood Reporter
28 Feb 1941
p. 1
Hollywood Reporter
7 Mar 1941
p. 7
Hollywood Reporter
23 Jun 1941
p. 3
Motion Picture Herald Product Digest
14 Jun 1941
p. 159
Variety
28 Apr 1941
p. 42
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Gil Valle
Asst dir
PRODUCER
Assoc prod
WRITERS
Orig scr, Orig scr
Fred Rinaldo
Orig scr, Orig scr
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
ART DIRECTORS
Art dir
Harold H. MacArthur
Assoc
FILM EDITORS
Film ed
Film ed
SET DECORATOR
R. A. Gausman
Set dec
COSTUMES
Gowns
MUSIC
Mus dir
Gen mus dir
SOUND
[Sd] tech
PRODUCTION MISC
Unit pub wrt
DETAILS
Series:
Alternate Title:
Sandy Steps Out
Release Date:
4 June 1941
Production Date:
5 Mar--late Mar 1941
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Universal Pictures Co., inc.
30 June 1941
LP10563
Physical Properties:
Sound
Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
60-61
Length(in feet):
5,457
Country:
United States
PCA No:
7343
SYNOPSIS

When Eleanor Pierce is arrested for selling homemade candy without a license, she tells the court that her name is "Jane Smith" and has her case held over for two weeks. Without any money for bail and realizing that her daughter Sandy is home alone, Eleanor sends a letter to the exclusive "Bachelor's Club," addressed to "Mr. Smith." The Smith Brothers, Joseph, Edward and George, live at the club, but are in poor financial straights. Business is so poor at the brothers' candy factory that Edward, the youngest, is being pressured to marry Beth Chase, the daughter of C. J. Chase, their hated business rival, in hopes of merging the two companies. The brothers read Eleanor's letter, asking that "Mr. Smith" assume the responsibilities of "their child." Edward is accused by his brothers of fathering the unknown child, though all three show up at Eleanor's apartment to claim Sandy. Returning to the club, the brothers are told by Williams, the club manager, that women and children are not allowed. While Edward and George go to keep an appointment with C. J., Joseph is left alone to babysit Sandy. When he takes the little girl to a matinee at a local movie theater, a juvenile riot breaks out. Meanwhile, at the offices of the Krunchy Kandy Co., the Chases meet with George and Edward, and there the engagement of Beth and Edward is announced. Eleanor, meanwhile, learns from probation officer Ethelbert Smith that she can be released on her own recognizance. She rushes to the Bachelor Club, just as the Smiths are sneaking Sandy into their apartment. Using the fire escape, Eleanor ...

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When Eleanor Pierce is arrested for selling homemade candy without a license, she tells the court that her name is "Jane Smith" and has her case held over for two weeks. Without any money for bail and realizing that her daughter Sandy is home alone, Eleanor sends a letter to the exclusive "Bachelor's Club," addressed to "Mr. Smith." The Smith Brothers, Joseph, Edward and George, live at the club, but are in poor financial straights. Business is so poor at the brothers' candy factory that Edward, the youngest, is being pressured to marry Beth Chase, the daughter of C. J. Chase, their hated business rival, in hopes of merging the two companies. The brothers read Eleanor's letter, asking that "Mr. Smith" assume the responsibilities of "their child." Edward is accused by his brothers of fathering the unknown child, though all three show up at Eleanor's apartment to claim Sandy. Returning to the club, the brothers are told by Williams, the club manager, that women and children are not allowed. While Edward and George go to keep an appointment with C. J., Joseph is left alone to babysit Sandy. When he takes the little girl to a matinee at a local movie theater, a juvenile riot breaks out. Meanwhile, at the offices of the Krunchy Kandy Co., the Chases meet with George and Edward, and there the engagement of Beth and Edward is announced. Eleanor, meanwhile, learns from probation officer Ethelbert Smith that she can be released on her own recognizance. She rushes to the Bachelor Club, just as the Smiths are sneaking Sandy into their apartment. Using the fire escape, Eleanor breaks into the brothers' rooms, and is relieved to see what good care Sandy is receiving. Eleanor tells her daughter that she might be better off with her new "uncles" than with her, and when Sandy begins crying, Eleanor is discovered by Joseph and George. Without revealing her true identity, she tells the elder brothers that she wants to show them the new candy bar that she has developed, but is hired instead as Sandy's nursemaid. Despite his drunken state, Edward immediately falls for Eleanor. After an evening of nightclub hopping, Beth breaks her engagement to Edward when Eleanor and Sandy appear on the fire-escape behind the Bachelor Club. Stuck by herself on the fire-escape, Sandy climbs into Judge McGinnis' room, and is soon followed by her mother. McGinnis awakes, locks the two intruders in his closet, then rushes downstairs to report the "break-in" to Williams. While Joseph and George create a diversion, Edward helps Eleanor and Sandy escape. Eleanor then keeps her date with Ethelbert, while C. J. goes to the club to confront Edward. C. J. is about to cancel the merger when he tastes Eleanor's candy. Eleanor and Ethelbert then arrive, wanting to see Sandy. Beth sees Eleanor and Sandy in the apartment window and follows them up the fire-escape. Everyone converges in the living room, where C. J. calls off the merger and the engagement, then gets into a wrestling match with Joseph. Soon Edward and Ethelbert, and Eleanor and Beth are fighting as well, and Sandy wanders off. After Williams and McGinnis arrive, Eleanor's true relationship to Sandy is discovered by all. Sandy, meanwhile, is running the elevator by herself. After the young girl is saved by Edward, Eleanor gives her candy formula to the Smiths and C. J. agrees to the merger. Edward and Eleanor then sneak off to the elevator, only to be followed by its new operator, Sandy.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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