MovieChat Forums > Miss Annie Rooney (1942) Discussion > Dickie and Shirley Were Adorable

Dickie and Shirley Were Adorable

posted 15 years ago by beckeis
4 replies | jump to latest

I thought this was a lovely movie and I loved the old fashion charm, the manners and the silliness.
And, for the subject line, I thought they were really sweet together.
The rich boy and poor girl together is a common theme but rarely do they have so much charm together.
They just don't make 'em like this anymore!

[–] kjnineseven 15 years ago

I agree!

[–] horae04 10 years ago

I thought it was a lovely movie as well.

~*Nothing gets the blood pumping like a good fall down the steps.*~

[–] NYSiciliana 9 years ago

I think the rich girl/poor boy theme is way more common so I enjoy it when it's reversed! I did really like movie, no matter how hammy it is now. It's a sweet 40s film:)

I💖Minnie Mouse!

[–] mdonln 8 years ago

cornflowerMoon says > I think the rich girl/poor boy theme is way more common so I enjoy it when it's reversed!

You say that like they are interchangeable but I think the rich girl-poor boy relationship is a much harder one to overcome than the rich boy-poor girl variety. I actually thought that while watching the movie. Even today, it's a girl is expected to marry up. She can get absorbed into her husband's family in a way that is seamless. She takes on the name and doesn't have the pressure of supporting the family.

When a rich girl falls for a poor boy she is marrying down in the sense she will have to give up a lot to live the lifestyle he can afford. If he lacks a family connection, an inheritance, or an education, he has a very limited chance of rising above his station in life. His pride and masculinity may be hurt if he has to live off his wife's wealth or her family's charity. If he's brought into the family business and given a cushy job, he may lose the respect of his peers and employees who may feel he did not earn and therefore does not deserve what he has.

A poor woman marrying 'well' may lack the social graces of the class into which she is marrying but those things can be taught. She can be made over to look the part. Having children, running a household, being supportive of her husband, and doing charity work may be her main roles in life. Those things are not exclusive to the rich. In fact, they may be made easier with wealth because she would have a staff to take a lot of the daily burdens off her plate.

Usually when the family of the rich boy has an issue with a poor girl it's because they're worried she may be a gold-digger; her family will not fit into their family, she has a murky, unsavory background.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]