"The Stork Club" is one very funny movie. The plot is ideal for much hilarious goings on. And the cast are just right for a cleverly written screenplay. I can't imagine anyone other than Barry Fitgerald in the role of Jerry "J. B." Bates, for the humor the character generates. After Betty Hutton's Judy Peabody saves him from drowning in the ocean, J. B. wants to do something to reward her and help her in life. She thought he was a poor man and wanted to help him get a job. He tells his attorney, Tom Curtis, played by Robert Benchley, that he wants to remain anonymous. Curtis is to offer her gifts, and J. B. doesn't think she'll want much.
So, when Judy accepts the lavish hotel suite and expensive charge accounts, and even buys a mink coat for her friend, Gwen, the penny-pinching millionaire Bates grimaces. But there's a lot of fun and much more to this story, as Judy tries to figure out who her mysterious benefactor is - who doesn't want any favors from her in return. And, when Judy's boyfriend gets home from the war, more complications and troubles add to the comedy.
The film is also a musical with Hutton singing a couple of songs. But this is mostly a very funny and entertaining comedy romance. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
MacFiske, J. B.'s butler, "I'm sure Mrs. Bates would be inconsolable, sir." J. B., "Naw, she wouldn't shed a tear. Well, maybe one or two just to be polite."
MacFiske, "I'm certain Mrs. Bates loved you very much and always will, sir." J. B., "Then why did she up and leave me?" MacFiske, "You told her to." J. B., "That's no excuse."
Tom Curtis, toasting for J. B., "To Judy, who works at the Stork Club, and whose wants are small - I wonder."
Judy Peabody, "What happened?" J. B. Bates, "Me wife left me six months ago." Judy, "Why?" J. B., "I'll tell it. There was a slight complication - another man, Clarence Bascom." Judy, "Was Bascom any younger than you?" J. B., "No, sixty-five." Judy, "Oh, he had money?" J. B., "Not as much as I." Gwen, "She left you for another bum? I don't get it."
Gwen, "I think the whole thing must've been your fault." J. B., "Why does everyone side with Edith, I..." Judy, "Now, now, Pop. Till you get yourself straightened out, you better stay here with me."
J. B., "How dare you say you didn't know me!" Tom Curtis, "Well, you told me not to let her know who you are." J. B., "Never mind what I tell you to do, you do what I tell you." Tom, "Ha, ha. I'll try to remember that."
Judy, "Why do girls always have to go for dumb guys?" Gwen, "Maybe because it makes us look smart."
Judy, "We can't go on like this, Mr. Billingsley." Sherman Billingsley, "Like what?" Judy, "I'm in love with Danny." Billingsley, "Well, that's all right with me." Judy, "Well, it's not with him." Billingsley, "You're all mixed up." Judy, "I know I am, and I don't wanna be. He's as jealous as..." Billingsley, "Jealous?" Judy, "Well, certainly. Who wouldn't be after all the things you've given me?" Billingsley, "I've given you?" Judy, "Oh, Sherman, don't be so anonymous." Billingsley, "Hey, listen, I'm a married man." Judy, "That's why you oughta be ashamed of yourself."
Billingsley, "Oh, I've gotta get you straightened out. Now get this - I never gave you anything. Ever." Judy, "Huh?" Billingsley, "Why should I? What are you in my life"" Judy, "Well, I don't know, but somebody's behind this."
Billingsley, walking out of his office with an arm around Judy's shoulder, "We'll be very happy together." Danny, who's been waiting outside his office, "I understand, Mr. Billingsley." Billingsley, "No you don't, but you will. Come in. I wanna straighten you out too."
Danny Wilton, "Mr. Billingsley, what would you do if you were in my spot?" Billingsley, "I'd stop bothering me."
J. B., "Love should be tolerant till truth breaks through the clouds of doubt." Judy, "Gee, that's beautiful, Pop. Who said that?" J. B., "I did."
Mrs. Bates, "Well, Mr. Bates, explain yourself." J. B., "Now, Edith, are you gonna believe me or what you see?"
Mrs. Bates, "Who could believe you, you scoundrel, you philanderer, you viper, you snake in the grass?"
J. B., "The gods have done me in. They were layin' for me."
So, when Judy accepts the lavish hotel suite and expensive charge accounts, and even buys a mink coat for her friend, Gwen, the penny-pinching millionaire Bates grimaces. But there's a lot of fun and much more to this story, as Judy tries to figure out who her mysterious benefactor is - who doesn't want any favors from her in return. And, when Judy's boyfriend gets home from the war, more complications and troubles add to the comedy.
The film is also a musical with Hutton singing a couple of songs. But this is mostly a very funny and entertaining comedy romance. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
MacFiske, J. B.'s butler, "I'm sure Mrs. Bates would be inconsolable, sir." J. B., "Naw, she wouldn't shed a tear. Well, maybe one or two just to be polite."
MacFiske, "I'm certain Mrs. Bates loved you very much and always will, sir." J. B., "Then why did she up and leave me?" MacFiske, "You told her to." J. B., "That's no excuse."
Tom Curtis, toasting for J. B., "To Judy, who works at the Stork Club, and whose wants are small - I wonder."
Judy Peabody, "What happened?" J. B. Bates, "Me wife left me six months ago." Judy, "Why?" J. B., "I'll tell it. There was a slight complication - another man, Clarence Bascom." Judy, "Was Bascom any younger than you?" J. B., "No, sixty-five." Judy, "Oh, he had money?" J. B., "Not as much as I." Gwen, "She left you for another bum? I don't get it."
Gwen, "I think the whole thing must've been your fault." J. B., "Why does everyone side with Edith, I..." Judy, "Now, now, Pop. Till you get yourself straightened out, you better stay here with me."
J. B., "How dare you say you didn't know me!" Tom Curtis, "Well, you told me not to let her know who you are." J. B., "Never mind what I tell you to do, you do what I tell you." Tom, "Ha, ha. I'll try to remember that."
Judy, "Why do girls always have to go for dumb guys?" Gwen, "Maybe because it makes us look smart."
Judy, "We can't go on like this, Mr. Billingsley." Sherman Billingsley, "Like what?" Judy, "I'm in love with Danny." Billingsley, "Well, that's all right with me." Judy, "Well, it's not with him." Billingsley, "You're all mixed up." Judy, "I know I am, and I don't wanna be. He's as jealous as..." Billingsley, "Jealous?" Judy, "Well, certainly. Who wouldn't be after all the things you've given me?" Billingsley, "I've given you?" Judy, "Oh, Sherman, don't be so anonymous." Billingsley, "Hey, listen, I'm a married man." Judy, "That's why you oughta be ashamed of yourself."
Billingsley, "Oh, I've gotta get you straightened out. Now get this - I never gave you anything. Ever." Judy, "Huh?" Billingsley, "Why should I? What are you in my life"" Judy, "Well, I don't know, but somebody's behind this."
Billingsley, walking out of his office with an arm around Judy's shoulder, "We'll be very happy together." Danny, who's been waiting outside his office, "I understand, Mr. Billingsley." Billingsley, "No you don't, but you will. Come in. I wanna straighten you out too."
Danny Wilton, "Mr. Billingsley, what would you do if you were in my spot?" Billingsley, "I'd stop bothering me."
J. B., "Love should be tolerant till truth breaks through the clouds of doubt." Judy, "Gee, that's beautiful, Pop. Who said that?" J. B., "I did."
Mrs. Bates, "Well, Mr. Bates, explain yourself." J. B., "Now, Edith, are you gonna believe me or what you see?"
Mrs. Bates, "Who could believe you, you scoundrel, you philanderer, you viper, you snake in the grass?"
J. B., "The gods have done me in. They were layin' for me."