Movie Monday Review: It Happened to Jane

Doris Day and Jack Lemmon

It Happened to Jane (1959)

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Doris Day, Ernie Kovacs, Steve Forrest, and Mary Wickes

Summary

Young widow Jane Osgood (Doris Day) lives in a small town in Maine where she and her children farm lobster and ship them to restaurants. When big-time train owner Harry Foster Malone (Ernie Kovacs) refuses accurate compensation for poor train shipments, Jane and her good friend George Denham (Jack Lemmon), who is a small town lawyer, decide to fight him legally. With neither Malone nor Jane willing to back down, what ensues is a crisis in the rail schedule. Additionally, the town has to decide whether they back Jane, who is in the right, or throw in the towel for convenience to Malone.

With the help of news reporter Larry Hall (Steve Forrest), Jane goes on television programs, trying to get public opinion behind her. Larry is beginning to show interest in the pretty widow and now she must choose between this new entry in her life, or the loyal friend in George who loves her, her children, and is willing to help Jane no matter what.

As she makes her decisions and lives her life, you’ll understand why it can only have happened to Jane!

Jack Lemmon with Sam the Lobster

Review

It Happened to Jane is a fun sort of movie! The scenes of summer in Maine and the small town happenings make for a movie that makes you feel at home. The everyday happenings that occur throughout the movie help the movie seem a little more realistic and the individual characters that appear, develop the small town feeling. It is obvious that Doris Day belongs with Jack Lemmon, who has known her since childhood and is actively involved in her life. Nevertheless, no matter how obvious it is to the viewer, it is not apparently obvious to her. Which makes it all the sweeter in the end.

Doris Day sings a couple of token songs, as must be in any movie she’s in, making for a merry time. Ernie Kovacs plays the jerk well and it is with complete satisfaction when all of his formally loyal minions leave him and he is forced to quit the tirade he is on. We find that he has a nice side to him under his hard business shell. Of course, there is humor in the film, especially whenever the family pet lobster gets into the wrong side of the pool or is left out too long. Numerous times throughout the movie, one of the characters has to run across the yard to put him back in the water!

Toward the end of the movie, Doris Day realizes that her focus was singular, whereas Jack Lemmon finds his voice and is able to show the town that it was also them that were self-focused. Jack Lemmon, who has tried forever to be a town selectman, now is able to win without trying, because he can bring the town together for a worthy cause.

A worthy family film that makes you feel encouraged about your family, your town, and your life! Not to mention, makes you want to have some lobster. 😉

Ellen Nolan

Trying to ship their lobsters by themselves, they come in contact with Harry Foster Malone

#MovieMonday #Reviews