You Were Never Lovelier

Synopsis: The Acunas, a rich Argentine family, have the tradition that the daughters have to get married in order, oldest first. When sister #1 gets married, sisters #3 and #4 put pressure on Maria, sister #2, because they have their husbands picked out already. But Maria hasn't yet met a man she likes. Eduardo Acuna, believing that men aren't romantic enough these days, sends his daughter flowers and anonymous love letters, creating a "mystery man" for her to fall in love with. He intends to pick out an appropriate beau for her later, to fill the role. But Robert Davis, an American dancer looking for work, stumbles into the picture. Maria falls for him, but the father does not approve.
Director(s): William A. Seiter
Production: Columbia Pictures Corporation
 
IMDB:
7.3
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
APPROVED
Year:
1942
97 min
187 Views


Hotel Acuna, please.

- What's his name?

- Eduardo Acuna. He's the big boss.

- Here's his office.

- Oh, thanks.

Oh, boy.

I'll get you later. Thanks.

I absolutely, positively

cannot interrupt Mr. Acuna.

He is busy.

Sorry, those are my orders.

Please don't blame me.

- When he's free, I'd like to see him.

- I ask myself the same question.

Why see Mr. Acuna when there are so

many pleasant people they could see?

Tell him Robert Davis

of New York is here.

- Robert Davis.

- Yes?

Mr. Robert Davis of New York

to see you, Mr. Acuna.

I never heard of him.

Tell him to go away.

Well, I must say, I'm used to

more cordiality than that.

He's making a big mistake.

Mr. Davis, you impress me.

What did you want to see him about?

That.

What?

That.

- I only asked you a civil question.

- And I answered you.

- You don't mind if I wait?

- No, but it won't do you any good.

That's very nice. The wedding dress

and the lingerie, I approve.

You may go, and thank you.

Well, darling,

what's been going on here?

Eduardo had a slight disagreement

with Delfina about Julia's trousseau...

...so now he's picking out

one himself.

It's my invariable rule to distrust

women's taste in clothes.

That's why he asked me to come by.

First time I heard of a father

selecting a trousseau.

You know as well as I do that women

dress for one another, not for men.

Delfina's mother put her in fluff

when I married her.

She's been in fluff ever since.

Does your son like fluff?

My dear, for the first few weeks,

he won't know what Julia's wearing.

- Will your wife forgive you for this?

- Forgive me? I expect to be thanked.

- And thank you, Maria, for coming.

- That's all right. Goodbye, Eduardo.

- Who are you, the florist?

- Do I look like a florist?

How do I know what a florist

looks like? Who are you?

Xavier Cugat, remember me?

Didn't I bring you down here

from New York for something?

My orchestra has packed

your Sky Room for the past two weeks.

That is something!

I never go to the Sky Room.

My cover charge is too high.

Of course! You're to play

at my daughter's wedding tomorrow.

Very well.

Play this softly and remotely,

as though you were not there.

Mr. Acuna, you can forget my name,

stay away from the Sky Room...

...underpay me, but you cannot

dictate how my orchestra should play.

You play this softly.

How I wish I was back at the Waldorf.

- Bob Davis!

- Cugie!

What are you doing here?

I just came down for a holiday.

I didn't know you were here.

A holiday? You didn't know

there was a racetrack here?

- Well, yes, and...

- And now you're broke again?

Yep, I gotta put these feet

back to work for a while.

But, gee, I like it here. You know,

the people, the city, the horses.

But this fellow, Acuna, he's tough.

He won't see me.

Acuna won't see him?

Why, in New York,

he won't see Acuna.

This, Fernando,

is the greatest man in the world.

Tell Acuna that Mr. Davis will give him

just two minutes of his time.

Oh, no. You tell him.

Yes, Mr. Acuna?

Remind me to give Cugat back

to the Waldorf. He annoys me.

Very funny man.

He kills me.

You know, actually I have a great deal

of influence with Acuna. What's that?

I didn't say a thing.

Just minding my own business.

Come along. I've a show to do. While

we play, we'll think of something.

Terrific! I've made up my mind.

We'll work together again!

- With you, we'll be better than terrific.

- I don't like Acuna's attitude.

- I'm going to change it right now.

- No, I have a better way.

I'm playing at his daughter's wedding.

You will sing, you will dance.

You will be sensational!

Acuna will come to you on his knees.

It's almost time, Julia.

Here's your something old, sis, and

a new coin for your something new.

Thanks, Lita.

And Mama's handkerchief

for something borrowed.

Here's something blue, Julia.

The bridegroom's supposed

to sleep on it, or something.

I suppose I should put

the coin in my shoe.

You'll be the next bride

in the family, Maria.

- Oh, no. Not me.

- Oh, but you have to be.

Papa made it very clear that we can't

get married until after you do.

He says it's our family tradition

that the girls be disposed of...

...one, two, three, four.

And you'll be the oldest now.

Papa will get over that silly tradition.

No, he won't.

Papa never gets over anything.

You don't expect to marry those

two tennis-playing Romeos, do you?

But we love Tony and Roddy

passionately.

They've even given us

their signet rings, see?

Why, you're babies.

You just don't know what it's like to be

so much in love that you cry all night.

You're right there.

It's all right for you to talk.

You turn men down by the dozens.

You've got an ice cube for a heart.

- Unaccustomed as I am to getting a...

- There's something wrong with Maria.

- She says she'll never get married.

- I did not say that.

You know, Papa, I think you'd better

put a cooling system in their room.

Now, you leave Maria to me.

Don't worry, she's next...

...and then will come your turn,

and then yours.

- Do we have to wait for Maria?

- Yes.

And this is a fine way to act

on your sister's wedding day.

Now, run along

and fix your pretty faces.

Getting nervous, dear?

We're going to miss you.

Has Mama forgiven you yet

for picking out my trousseau?

I don't know. Her door was locked.

She broke down and confessed

that she liked my dress.

These skirmishes I have with your

mother are not typical of married life.

- Aren't they, Father?

- No, they're just typical of me.

- I'm very difficult to live with.

- No, you're not, darling.

You're really just a little boy,

and I love you.

And I love you too, darling.

Will you hook me, Eduardo?

Delfina, don't you think it's about time

you learned to dress yourself?

It's so hard for me to believe I'm old

enough to have a married daughter.

It doesn't put any strain on me.

Julia.

Where are the rest of my girls?

Oh, Maria! Lita! Cecy!

- Coming, Mother.

- Coming, Mama!

I want to see you all in a row.

Oh! I'm going to cry tonight.

You'd better start now. It's getting late.

Do you want some last-minute advice?

Just don't act too intelligent

on your honeymoon.

I made that mistake with your father.

That reminds me. Tell me something

clever to say after the wedding.

Oh, dear, I'm so happy.

Hurry, girls.

Now remember, keep in step.

I am going to cry.

I'm going to cry right now.

He didn't even look around.

Have your son pass the word. I have

three more where Julia came from.

- You two ask Papa now.

- While he's laughing.

Come on.

- Mr. Acuna.

- Yes?

We've been going with your daughters

Cecy and Lita for two years now and...

What do you want, a pension?

- All right, who's going to be next?

- I am.

- Maria has to catch it.

- Yes.

But I don't want it.

- Here's a volunteer groom.

- Let's have a double wedding.

- I'm between engagements.

- Here I am.

How about me?

Oh, you're all much too kind.

Papa! Papa! Did you see Maria?

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Michael Fessier

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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