Room for One More

"Sister, if it had been me, I'd have bitten both your ankles!"

Anna Rose (Drake) has a big heart, consistently providing food and shelter for homeless animals.  One day, Anna is approached about taking in a foster child, who has had a troubled life.  Her husband, George "Poppy" (Grant), says no, since they already have three children: Trot (Gordon), Tim (Cassell), and Teenie (Winslow).  But they end up bringing the girl, Jane (Mann), into their home for a trial period.  A few weeks later, they bring in a second troubled child Jimmy John (Tatum Jr).  Can they be a family, or will personality differences prove to be too great?


I discovered this film during TCM's Summer Under the Stars today (8/21/11).  Cary Grant is one of my favorite actors, so I was excited to discover more of his films (I love TCM).

Grant is great as the harried husband, trying to keep the family happy and fed, while secretly loving the chaos.  Betty Drake excels as the woman with enough love to reach 5 children, making each one feel loved and accepted.  Grant and Drake have excellent chemistry, they were married at the time.

The kids are a delight.  Especially George Winslow, in his film debut.  Winslow is best know for his deep voice at a young age.  He appeared again with Grant in the film Monkey Business, also in 1952.  Winslow plays the youngest of the Rose children, with the most to say.  He says it like it is, and gets the best laughs.  The other Rose children are minor players, revolving around their parents and foster siblings.  They each get some good lines, but don't have been great moments.  Iris Mann, as Jane, and Clifford Tatum Jr., as Jimmy John, are abrasive at first, but grow on you as they grow on the family.  They both do a good job, but are upstaged by the dog, who joins the family around the same time they do.

A heart-warming, goofball comedy.  Check it out!

Room for One More (1952) 98 minutes
Director: Norman Taurog
Starring: Cary Grant as George "Poppy" Rose
Betsy Drake as Anna Rose
Iris Mann as Jane Miller
George Winslow as Teenie Rose
Clifford Tatum Jr. as Jimmy John Wilson
Gay Gordon as Trot Rose
Malcolm Cassell as Tim Rose