Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

FADE IN:

A very high airplane view of the entire island. Over this, a

Voice, authoritative, impressive.

VOICE:

In any discussion of contemporary

America and how its people live, we

must inevitably start with --

Manhattan -- New York City, U.S.A!

NEW YORK CITY SKYLINE - STOCK

VOICE:

Manhattan -- glistening, modern giant

of concrete and steel reaching to

the heavens and holding in its arms

seven millions!

NEW YORK CITY - ANOTHER VIEW - STOCK

VOICE:

Seven millions -- happy beneficiaries

of the advantages and comforts this

gracious metropolis has to offer...

DISSOLVE:

VOICE:

(OVER DISSOLVE)

Its fine broad streets and boulevards

facilitate the New Yorker's carefree,

orderly existence.

BROADWAY AND FORTY-SECOND STREET - STOCK

An enormous traffic jam, horns honking, etc.

DISSOLVE:

VOICE:

(OVER DISSOLVE)

Kindly, courteous public servants

ever on hand to offer a word of

friendly advice.

TRAFFIC COP AND CAB DRIVER

yelling at each other.

DISSOLVE:

VOICE:

(OVER DISSOLVE)

A transportation system second to

none in speed and comfort!

A SUBWAY DURING RUSH HOUR - STOCK

DISSOLVE:

VOICE:

(OVER DISSOLVE)

Modern recreational facilities for

its children!

A CROWDED LOWER EAST SIDE STREET - STOCK

Kids playing ball in truck-laden street.

DISSOLVE:

VOICE:

(OVER DISSOLVE)

For its adults, the peace and privacy

of a day in the sun!

CONEY ISLAND ON ITS MOST CROWDED DAY - STOCK

DISSOLVE:

VOICE:

(OVER DISSOLVE)

It's delightful changes in climate!

A BLINDING, WINDSWEPT NEW YORK BLIZZARD - STOCK

DISSOLVE:

VOICE:

(OVER DISSOLVE)

Its great institutions of learning!

Open to all. Free of charge.

BUILDING EXCAVATION - DAY

Leaning on a railing looking down into the excavation are a

group of sidewalk supervisors. The CAMERA MOVES UP to a HEAD

CLOSEUP of one of them. It is Bill Cole (Melvyn Douglas), a

well-dressed, intelligent, attractive looking young man.

BILL:

I suppose you're wondering what all

this has to do with Mr. Blandings

and his Dream House? Well, I'll tell

you. Jim Blandings is part of the

fabric of this town. Born and raised

right here, he's as typical a New

Yorker as anyone you'll ever meet.

At least he was.

(confidentially)

And if you want to know the real

story, I guess I'm your boy. Cole's

my name, Bill Cole. I'm Jim's lawyer

and quote, best friend, unquote.

Jim's one of those bright young men

from Yale. Advertising business,

lovely wife, two fine kids, makes

almost fifteen thousand a year. Want

to know why? Just look up there.

A BILLBOARD:

A billboard -- against a white background is a large ham. In

large letters across the ham is printed:

WHAM!

(A WHALE OF A HAM)

And below this in quotes:

"WHEN YOU'VE GOT THE WHIM, SAY 'WHAM!'"

BILL'S VOICE

"When you've got the whim, say

'Wham!'"... Jim Blandings wrote that

slogan. Seven magic words that shine

like a beacon light for the American

housewife!

(impressive; almost

reverently)

"When you've got the whim, say

'Wham!'" Jim Blandings' contribution

to the American Scene.

EXT. A LARGE NEW YORK APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

As CAMERA MOVES UP it and TOWARD a window:

BILL'S VOICE

For fourteen years Jim and Muriel

had been living in their apartment

over on East Seventy-fourth Street.

It was just another of those wonderful

crisp September mornings and the

Blandings were still asleep. Just

like millions of other people in

good old Manhattan -- New York City --

U.S.A.

The CAMERA GOES THROUGH the window and INTO:

INT. THE BLANDINGS' BEDROOM - DAY

Jim (Cary Grant) and Muriel (Myrna Loy) Blandings are asleep

in twin beds.

The room, not large to begin with, gives us the impression

of being cluttered up and overcrowded because the beds,

oversized chest of drawers, dressing table and chaise lounge

take up an inordinate amount of space.

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