Ralph and his pal, book agents who have not made a sale in weeks, are down to their last half dollar when they meet a society beauty who is collecting for a charity. She gets the lone coin as a donation and then invites herself to be their guest at lunch.
Is "Good Morning, Madam!" worth watching today? The short answer is a resounding yes, but with the crucial caveat that your appreciation hinges on a genuine fondness for the rapid-fire, often slapstick, charm of early silent comedies. This film is a delightful diversion for enthusiasts of the era's unique comedic timin...
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Comparing the cinematic DNA and archive impact of two defining moments in cult history.
Lloyd Bacon
Edgar Jones
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"Good Morning, Madam!" plunges into the precarious existence of Ralph and his perpetually impecunious associate, two book agents teetering on the brink of destitution, their last half-dollar a testament to weeks of fruitless endeavor. Their fortunes take an unexpected, if initially humiliating, turn with the arrival of a radiant society woman, ostensibly collecting for charity. Ralph, in a gesture of desperate gallantry or perhaps sheer resignation, surrenders his final coin. What follows is a delightful subversion of expectations: the benefactress invites herself to lunch, only to discover her new acquaintance's dire financial state and, with an understated grace, assumes the cost of their meal. This peculiar, almost transactional first meeting, however, ignites an instant, undeniable spark. The narrative swiftly propels them towards a second, pivotal encounter where Ralph, with an audacious display of affection, thwarts her impending, father-approved marriage, securing their own improbable union. It's a testament to love's capacity to bloom in the most unlikeliest of economic climates.
"Is "Good Morning, Madam!" worth watching today? The short answer is a resounding yes, but with the crucial caveat that your appreciation hinges on a genuine fondness for the rapid-fire, often slapstick, charm of early silent comedies. This film is a delightful diversion for enthusiasts of the era's unique comedic timing and narrative simplicity, but it will likely prove a challenging watch for those accustomed to modern storytelling conventions and a slower, more character-driven pace. It’s a br..."
Ewart Adamson, Percy Heath, Al Giebler, Jefferson Moffitt, Vernon Smith
United States
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