KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

DipitySkillful an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Winifred The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

vincentlynch-moonoi Marlene Dietrich has never been high on my list of actresses, although I did rather enjoy her performances in "Judgment at Nuremberg" and "Witness For The Prosecution". Now I can add a third film that I enjoyed her in -- "The Lady Is Willing". I guess for me she seemed just a little more "real", rather than "put on" in this film, and perhaps it's my imagination, but the accent seemed distinctly less strong here. And, her co-star is Fred MacMurray, one of the most currently underrated actors of his era. MacMurray turned in many enjoyable performances in his day, and this is one of them.It's an odd plot -- an eccentric Broadway actress walks off with a baby she was holding for a police officer who had found the baby abandoned. Adoption isn't viable due to the actress not being married...so what better target to marry than a pediatrician -- Fred MacMurray. What begins as a marriage of convenience turns into love, but after a misunderstood situation that nearly tear the couple apart, the baby's health comes into play. MacMurray saves the baby and Dietrich realizes her husband should continue to be her husband.While mostly a comedy, it has some swell romantic and dramatic scenes, as well.In addition to fine performances by the two stars, a number of costars shine here, as well. Particularly noteworthy is Aline MacMahon, whom you'll instantly recognize, but whose name you probably won't know. She never disappoints.This is a thoroughly enjoyable film, though it may not end up on your DVD shelf. But, then again, it just might.

Neil Doyle Whatever faults THE LADY IS WILLING has can be traced immediately to the script. Despite this, Mitchel Leisen's direction guides MARLENE DIETRICH and FRED MacMURRAY through their paces and gets some very good performances from both of them. Marlene, in particular, is surprisingly effective playing a naive, bossy, and very "dumb" Broadway actress who casually walks off with a baby simply because it's cute and she can afford to take care of it.Complications arise, of course, when it's discovered that she's the woman in the screwy hat who took the child away from the scene of an accident. MacMurray is the handsome doctor she calls when she needs help in supervising the child and from then on the story veers between comedy, romance and even drama toward the end.Dietrich is lovingly photographed, perfectly lit by an astute cameraman no matter what the situation is and glamorously gowned throughout. MacMurray is an old hand at screwball comedy and is thoroughly adept at handling his bumbling chores with his usual expertise.A couple of good-natured twins were used for all of the baby's scenes and Dietrich seems to really care about how she interacts with the infant. It's an unusual role for her and she demonstrates an ability to toss off screwball dialog with the best of them.This sort of fluff is given above average handling by Leisen and his stars, although the material itself is decidedly below par screwball comedy that turns maudlin toward the end.

blanche-2 Marlene Dietrich is the lady in "The Lady is Willing," a 1942 film also starring Fred MacMurray and Arline Judge. The beautiful Dietrich plays a musical star, Liza Madden, who walks off with an abandoned baby and takes him home. Though Liza lives well, she owes a fortune to the IRS and gives all of her money away, and she won't be able to adopt the child unless she's either married or solvent. She convinces a pediatrician (MacMurray) to marry her. He does, and they adopt the baby, now called Corey. The marriage is supposed to be in name only, but you know how those things go."The Lady is Willing" is not much of a story or a movie, but Dietrich is just stunning, and her acting is charming. She creates a very lovable character. MacMurray, as the doctor who falls in love with her, turns in a good performance. He's part of a dumb subplot involving rabbits that is dropped along the way. Dietrich's assistant is played by Arline Judge and her maid by Marietta Canty and they are both excellent in their roles. It's just too bad all of these good people had to be in this particular story.Obviously, the baby in question (David James) is unaware that the story is weak; he laughs and plays with telephone cords, Dietrich's hats and smiles at everyone. Just adorable.Definitely worth it for Dietrich and her fashions, and if you like kids, little Corey. Interestingly, one of Dietrich's famous legs was in a cast for part of the film, though it's not noticeable.

robertcicco3035 The Lady is Willing is a disappointing film. It stars Marlene Dietrich as an actress who finds an abandoned baby and decides to take him home. She soon discovers, however, that she can't adopt the baby because she's not married. So she enters into a marriage of convenience with baby doctor Fred MacMurray. Predictable complications then ensue, but this is a comedy without any big laughs. But, the stars are watchable and quite good, considering the material. Dietrich, surprisingly, had a flair for light comedy. All in all, a 4 out of 10.