Cary Grant is hilarious as a successful New York advertising executive who wants to escape the confines of his family's tiny midtown apartment. So he designs his dream home in the suburbs and discovers the project wasn't ... more »as easy as it seemed. The house gets larger. The bills get bigger. The problems just won't go away. Eventually, the whole affair becomes a nightmare-a very funny nightmare-that left audiences laughing in 1948 and will have you in stitches, too. This is the comedic masterpiece that inspired the popular 1987 movie "The Money Pit." It's an adventure in homeowning that strikes a familiar chord with everyone who's ever bought a house. Year: 1948 Director: H.C. Potter Starring: Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Melvyn Douglas« less
A black and white classic that some will really enjoy while others will not.
Sharon F. (Shar) from AVON PARK, FL Reviewed on 8/1/2023...
It's almost hard to believe that this film is as old as I am! This movie reminds me of The Money Pit (with Tom Hanks). I think it was a funnier movie, but back in the day, their sense of humor wasn't as deep as ours is now. I loved Myrna Loy as the straight man in the comedy bits.
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie Reviews
Means we gotta blast......
Archmaker | California | 12/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yeeup! As Mr. Tersander would say. This is one of my favorite films. While not exactly bust-a-gut funny, it is warmly amusing throughout with a couple of classic lines & scenes (the perplexing storeroom, the "letch", the well, the all-night Wam session etc.), played to perfection with ease and charm (my God those are lost arts, aren't they?) by a cast of pros who are immediately likeable and comfortable to be around.
The story of a New York adman building his dream house in Connecticut being snookered by the "hicks" and then the series of disasters and cost overruns that befall him, the film is played with just the right tone, light and with great good humor, from the falling lintels to the Zuzz-Zuzz water softener.
Some may question the 5 stars, and although it may not be a great movie, I give it all 5 because Grant, Loy and Douglas are a lost breed of irreplaceable class players, and this kind of effortless amusement is pretty much an extinct genre.
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If you work with software, you want to see this flick
"I'm a real fan of classic movies as you can tell from some of my other reviews.
Mr. Blandings Build His Dream House makes a great analogy for systems and software development. Even though this film hit the street in 1948, the situations in which the Blandings find themselves is relevant for any project today. This story of a man who wishs to fulfill his life dream of ruling his estate in the country contains almost every gotcha ever seen on a project:
- Scope changes
- Conflicting executive sponsorship
- Changes, Changes control, and the cost of change
- Conflicting goals
- Users who want it all for almost nothing
- Poor project planning
My favourite scene is when Mr. and Mrs. Blandings grab some pencils and start 'tweaking' the architect's drawings.
This film was remade as 'The Money Pit', but I wouldn't recommend that version.
This film will be remade again in 2005 and I doubt it could live up to the tempered choas shown by Cary Grant nor the calm, straigt faced comedy of Myrna Loy.
If you see this film you won't regret it. If you buy it you will watch it often"
Very funny...
ehakus | New York, NY United States | 07/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Often imitated but never quite surpassed, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is a classic comedy about a topic still as current now as it was in the 1940s. Silly but very funny, this movie is really great - featuring the ever hilarious Cary Grant, and Myrna Loy. Essentially, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House is about a family that decides to move to the country and get away from the overcrowding in the apartment. Instead of making life easier, however, their decision to move causes disaster after disaster. This movie is a hilarious example of how whatever can go wrong will! Although the topic could have easily degenerated into stupidity, the script, the directing and, most of all, the cast, turn the movie into a classic. The script is witty and very funny, and it is directed with style - but mainly, Cary Grant is terrific! His double takes and reactions will never be equalled...any scene that he is in in pretty much guaranteed to be hysterical. Myrna Loy does a good job of cooling balancing Grant's screwball character, and the supporting cast is good as well. Anyhow, this is a funny movie for the whole family - it is highly recommended!"
Been There, Done That
James L. | 07/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Cary Grant and Myrna Loy have a very comfortable chemistry together in this comedy about a couple that decides to get out of their cramped city apartment and move out into the country. Through stubborness and sheer ignorance, they end up making a number of expensive errors as they attempt to build their dream house. The story is narrated by their friend and lawyer Bill, well played by Melvyn Douglas, a cynical man who learns it's easier to just let them make their mistakes. Grant is the perfect actor to express the exasperation of the whole process. The man had amazing comedic timing, deceptively making it look easy. The script hits all of the potential problems with building, and the film is smoothly produced. This is the kind of comedy that will appeal to most people, because almost everyone has had the opportunity to experience the joy that is remodelling, landscaping, decorating, or building. There's something in here for everyone to appreciate."
A True Story
Karen in VA | 02/25/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House" is a witty movie in the wry style not often seen today. Cary Grant and Myrna Loy are wonderful, as is Melvyn Douglas.
This endearing movie is actually based on a true story. Architectural Digest ran an article about it titled "Mr Blandings' Dream House - Revisiting an American Icon in Connecticut" in June 1991.
According to the article, Mr Hodgins (the original Mr Blandings) began building his dream house in 1939 in New Milford, Connecticut. At the time of the article the home still stood and was known as Blandings Way. The Hollywood version of the house was built in Malibu Creek State Park and was also standing in 1991.
The house's original budget was $11,000 but the final cost came to a dizzying $56,000. Mr Hodgins was nearly bankrupted and was forced to sell his dream house just two years after moving in. It was then that he told his story in "Mr Blandings Builds His Castle" and the sequel "Blandings Way". When Mr Hodgins was paid $200,000 for the film rights to his book he offered the entire amount to the (then) current owners of his dream house, but they refused to sell.
This is a great movie true to the original story -- right down to the flower room! Recommend."