In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult.

1939 film:
Should a Girl Marry? (1939)

Release date:
June 8, 1939

Cast:
Anne Nagel, Warren Hull, Mayo Methot, Weldon Heyburn, Aileen Pringle, Lester Matthews, Helen Brown, Sarah Padden, Gordon Hart, Edmund Elton, Robert Elliott, Claire Rochelle, Arthur Loft, Harry Hayden, Bess Flowers

Studio:
Crescent Pictures Corporation
Distributed by Monogram Pictures

Director:
Lambert Hillyer

Plot:
Margaret Wilson (Nagel) was born with a secret, but doesn’t know it. She was born in prison and adopted by the Wilsons (Padden, Hart), who have kept the secret from Margaret, who has had a happy childhood and is engaged to young Dr. Benson (Hull). But when a friend, Betty Gilbert (Methot) of Margaret’s birth mother is released from jail, the friend’s no good husband sees a get-rich-quick scheme with blackmailing the Wilsons. In tandem, Dr. Benson is in the running of being selected as the head doctor at the hospital, but another doctor will do anything to ruin his career.

1939 Notes:
• By the numbers:
– Anne Nagel was in six films released in 1939.
– Warren Hull was in five films released in 1939.
– Mayo Methot was in three films released in 1939.
– Weldon Heyburn was in three films released in 1939.
– Aileen Pringle was in five films released in 1939.
– Sarah Padden was in nine films released in 1939.
– Lester Matthews was in six films released in 1939.

Other trivia:
• Also was referenced to in reviews as “Girl From No Where.”
• Remake of Should a Girl Marry? (1928) starring Helen Foster and Donald Keith.

My review: Searching for the “1939 feature”:
I’m never one to turn my nose up at low budget films and many times, they are just as enjoyable as any high budget production. This week’s 1939 film, “Should a Girl Marry?” is a great example of one of those highly enjoyable films.

However, this week’s Watching 1939 film is also a great example of a film that would benefit from a higher budget, and some refined writing. There are two storylines that would separately make their own films, but feel a bit convoluted in one film. Let’s dive in:

Margaret Wilson is engaged to be married to young Dr. Benson and has a whole life of happiness ahead. But there’s a secret she doesn’t know. Margaret was born in a prison ward to Mary Winters, who is in prison of life. Mary never met her daughter, who was adopted by the Wilson, who have never shared the secret. The problem is, now that Margaret is ready to be married and needs a birth certificate. Also to further complicate matters, when Mary’s friend, Betty Gilbert, is released from prison she swears to help keep Mary’s secret. But when Betty’s no-good husband, Harry, finds out about the secret, he’s hatches a get-rich-quick blackmail scheme.

While this blackmail issue is happening, Dr. Benson also gets caught up in a weird, greed scheme at the hospital he works at. When the lead physician retires, the other physicians vie for the role and throw Dr. Benson under the bus.

To me, the most intriguing premise of the film is the blackmail story of the adopted young woman. With a little more budget, this could have been a top notch production. I feel like the story could have delved more into the character of Margaret Wilson learning she is adopted — which is such a brief moment in the film. It would have also been interesting to develop Mayo Methot’s character more who is protecting the memory of her friend Mary Winters.

Honestly, the two storylines with blackmail and the greedy physicians should be two films. Or dumping the physician drama in general.

Despite my criticisms, I really enjoyed this brief, 60 minute film. The first few minutes especially were really intriguing to me. I just only wish they had stuck with one of the plotlines. If you’re curious about this film, it’s easy to find uploaded online.

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