New Blu-ray debut for that Billy Wilder delight, THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR

How this film buff and Billy Wilder enthusiast managed to miss THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR -- one of the noted director/ writer's most ebullient and charming films -- remains a mystery to me (did I not realize it was a Wilder movie?), but thanks to Arrow Academy's new Blu-ray transfer of the film, I have now caught up. And what a delightful surprise -- unusual, too, considering that it comes via Mr. Wilder (shown below) -- this made-in-1942 movie turns out to be.

Folk around the advanced age of TrustMovies probably best remember this noted auteur for films that seemed singularly cynical, if often darkly (sometimes downright nastily) funny: from Ace in the Hole and Sunset Boulevard through The Apartment, Kiss Me Stupid, and The Fortune Cookie. His most famous and popular work may be Some Like It Hot, but that dark cynicism adheres to most everything in his oeuvre. Except maybe to The Major and the Minor.

Mind you, this little darling of a movie is perfectly aware of how the world works. Note how the very "connected" fiancee of the one of the leading characters (played by Ray Milland, below) does everything in her power to keep her man from serving active duty during World War II. Not particularly patriotic!

The other lead character (Ginger Rogers, below, in one of the best of her many fine performances) scams just about everybody she meets in the course of the movie. Yet there is such a genuine sweetness -- honesty, too -- at the heart of this film (its co-writer was Charles Brackett) that you'll find it difficult to escape its singular, enticing hold.

I suspect that it's Wilder's wry wit and unending skepticism pressed upon what would seem to be an awfully "cute" tale that consistently keeps the film from turning saccharine. The result is a real and highly original classic comedy of disguise and disinformation (not unlike Some Like It Hot in this regard, but one hell of a lot sweeter).

The story begins with a much put-upon Ms Rogers giving up her try at living and working in New York City and instead returning to her midwest home. Because the train fare has risen since she arrived in the city, however, she doesn't have enough money to buy a ticket. How she circumvents this becomes one of the cleverest, long-running comedic situations in movie history (The moment at which Rogers reappears, after entering the ladies room, is hilarious and magical.)

Her disguise leads her into the life of military man Milland, his fiance (an excellent Rita Johnson, above, left, with the very funny Robert Benchley) and a bevy of smitten military cadets (below).

How this comedy of manners, military and otherwise, resolves proves both surprising and surprisingly smart -- encompassing an unexpected array of emotions and ideas in its final several minutes,

while allowing both Rogers and Milland to demonstrates their rich versatility. What fine actors these two were! Milland in particular is so wonderfully loose and easy here, you may find yourself amazed of what he is capable.

In a wonderful supporting cast, the stand-out is probably young Diana Lynn (below), who absolutely nails her character, the worldly-wise younger sister of that nasty fiancee. The terrifically-written scenes between Lynn and Rogers sparkle like crazy.

From Arrow Video, distributed here in the USA via MVD Visual/MVD Entertainment Group, and running 100 minutes, the Blu-ray -- in a wonderful restoration from the original negativer that makes the film seem new all over again -- hits the street this coming Tuesday, September 24, for purchase and (I hope) rental. The plentiful Bonus Features include a must-see-and-hear, newly filmed appreciation of the movie by critic Neil Sinyard. What Mr. Sinyard has to say -- about so many things -- is very much worth hearing. And he says it all so well.