The Lady Is Willing

Synopsis: In order to adopt an abandoned baby, an actress arranges a marriage of convenience with a doctor.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Director(s): Mitchell Leisen
Production: Columbia Pictures
 
IMDB:
6.3
PASSED
Year:
1942
92 min
63 Views


Have your autograph,

Miss Madden?

Gee, Miss Madden, I think

you're just wonderful.

Miss Madden, if I print my address,

will you send me a picture?

Miss Madden, can I have

your autograph?

Good afternoon.

Miss Madden isn't at home,

but I'm her business representative

and she doesn't want to buy anything.

You've mistaken me for someone else.

I'm the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Oh, the income tax, huh?

Well, come in, come in.

Yes, Mr Gensler, I understand.

Very soon.

Don't tell me a month's

gone by already.

Another short subject

before the feature.

You're the 1940 man, aren't you?

No, I'm the 1941 man.

Oh, yes, I remember.

The '40 man has a moustache.

He comes on the 1st and 15th.

You come on the 7th and 22nd.

Thank you.

Another ten weeks

and you'll be paid up.

Then you won't be

seeing me anymore.

Except in my sleep.

Thank you for

the passes to the play.

Miss Madden is

a wonderful actress, isn't she?

Oh, yes, she's great.

I'll be running along.

I'll see you on the 22nd.

Buddy.

Liza? Is that you?

Yes.

Buddy, call a doctor, quick.

Doctor...?

An obstetrician.

An obstet... Liza!

A what?

Look.

What...? What's that?

A baby.

That's what I thought.

Hurry, Buddy, call somebody

important. Find the best

obstetrician in town.

It's a little late

for an obstetrician, isn't it?

Get the apartment manager.

I want him to come right up.

And call someone

who knows about toys.

But I... Well, I...

Never mind, I'll call

everybody myself.

Maybe you mean a paediatrician.

I want the manager,

please, and hurry.

Isn't she a darling?

This is Miss Madden.

Will you come up to my apartment

right away. I need more

room now with a baby.

Yes, I said a baby.

What?

Why, that's ridiculous.

Is there something in my lease

that says I can't have a baby?

But how could I tell you?

I didn't know it myself

until about 15 minutes ago.

Oh, I don't care about your rules

for having babies.

That's silly anyway.

Oh, wait a minute.

Do you happen to know the best

obstetrician in New York?

Obstetrician. A baby doctor.

What was the name again?

Doctor McBain?

Doctor Corey T McBain.

Thank you.

Hurry, Buddy.

Doctor McBain, right away, somewhere

on East 60-something Street.

You let Rome burn and all the time

this poor little thing might

catch something from Ken.

Go sterilize yourself, Ken.

All the money you handle

and everything.

I didn't know

you had a baby, Miss Madden.

You didn't?

No.

Isn't she adorable?

Yes. Hello.

She has a smile

just like yours.

Now, that's sweet of you.

Well, I'll be

saying goodbye.

Goodbye.

Who was that nice man?

He came here with a special request

from Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

He did?

Yes.

When you get back to Washington,

remember me to Eleanor.

Yes, Miss Madden.

- Liza, will you please tell us...

- Doctor McBain's on the phone.

Have him rush right over.

No, no. Give me the phone.

Doctor, this is Elizabeth Madden.

Would you rush right over here

and take a look at my baby?

Symptoms?

Doctor, if I could recognise

symptoms, I would be a doctor,

not an actress.

What age?

About 2.

Oh, doctor, please rush

right over here instead

of arguing with me this way.

The address is 25 East... 85th Street.

Thank you. Stupid of me.

I thought

I was past surprise.

Liza, will you please take

your mind off that kid and tell us...

Whose little act of God

is this you swiped?

Isn't she wonderful?

Isn't she extravagantly beautiful?

Doesn't she feel nice?

Yes, yes, but whose is it?

Mine.

Now, take it easy.

Stop schmoozing all over that kid

and tell us where you got it.

I took her.

Ken!

You mean you kidnapped her?

Oh, Ken, you've got an obscene mind.

And you're a bad influence.

Buddy, when the manager gets here,

tell him to have some

workmen remove that bar.

It's no atmosphere

for a growing child.

Keep her from growing up

for just a few minutes.

I've got to get in shape

to save you from

the Lindbergh law.

Ken.

Well, what is it?

At least you might hide

that bottle of G-I-N.

Now, Liza, will you please sit down

and let's start talking sense.

No matter how much you may

want to, you just can't play

foundling home without a licence.

Now, sit down and tell Papa

and Mama all about it.

Now, tell us, just where

did you kidnap the kid?

Ken, I've asked you not

to use that awful word.

I did not kidnap her,

I just took her.

I was coming back from

the theatre in a cab,

up Eighth Avenue.

You know that awful block

where all those frightful

rooming houses are.

There was a traffic jam

with police cars and everything.

I got out to see what it was all about.

Naturally.

There was an excitable Italian

talking to some policemen.

Some people had abandoned

this precious little darling

in one of his rooms.

Can you imagine anybody so

completely lacking in feeling?

But don't you worry, angel.

Mommy's got you now.

There was an excitable Italian

talking to some policemen.

And Jo was just crying

fit to break your heart.

Jo?

That's what I've decided to call her.

Jo for Johanna.

It's odd and it's cute.

Johanna Madden.

So I said to the policeman,

"Give me that baby. You don't

know how to hold her."

And you do?

Naturally.

Every woman knows how to

hold a baby. Maternal instinct.

It's like sewing on buttons

or beating an egg.

Careful, Jo, darling.

Mommy's got you.

The minute I took hold

of her, she stopped

crying and smiled at me.

We are meant for each other.

So I just walked out

and brought her home

where she belongs.

Let's turn her over right now

to the proper authorities.

Perhaps you can adopt her later.

And have her in a bleak

and dismal institution?

Maybe weeks before I can get her?

I should say not.

Ours not to reason why.

Johanna is home.

And here she stays.

Miss Liz, is that

a baby you got there?

Look, Mary Lou, isn't she an angel?

Angel right from heaven.

Ain't you, chuckle-face?

Miss Liz, who this pink

cherub belong to?

She's mine, Mary Lou.

Isn't it wonderful? All mine.

So that's why you had me

take a vacation last year.

Didn't even trust old Mary Lou.

You sure a sly one, Miss Liz.

But, Mary Lou,

you mustn't think that I...

Oh, no, Mary Lou.

Over there, sir.

Oh, thanks.

Excuse me.

I gotta go to the stores.

I'm Doctor McBain. I was...

Just go right on in, sir.

I want the whole nursery

in pale pink and aquamarine.

And that door isn't wide enough.

Have it made larger so that

we can wheel Johanna's

perambulator through if we want to.

And, Buddy,

remember about the toys.

But I want you to realise

I must have a special

dispensation from the owners.

I'm not allowed to rent

to families with children.

I don't wish to intrude,

but I'm here on an emergency.

I'm Doctor McBain.

Hello, doctor.

Buddy, tell the decorator

we need a piano.

A musical education

is essential to a girl.

Yes?

I am Doctor Corey T.McBain.

I was called here on

a serious emergency.

Oh, yes, yes.

Would you come with me?

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James Edward Grant

James Edward Grant (July 2, 1905 – February 19, 1966) was an American short story writer and screenwriter who contributed to more than fifty films between 1935 and 1971. He collaborated with John Wayne on twelve projects, starting with Angel and the Badman (which he also directed) in 1947 through Circus World in 1964. Support Your Local Gunfighter was released in 1971, five years after his death. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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