Golden Boy Blogaton- Apartment For Peggy

It’s that time of year again- time to celebrate the Golden Boy of Hollywood’s birthday!- and there’s no better way to do so that with a post for my good friend Ginnie’s Golden Boy Blogathon. (BTW- My Mr. Golden Holden would have been 99 this year- BEST. LOOKING. 99 YEAR-OLD-EVER.)

My entry this year is for one of Bill Holden’s lesser known but still really awesome film, Apartment for Peggy (directed by George Seaton, who also directed Bill in The Country Girl) from 1948. Yes- a pre-Sunset Blvd. Bill, and in color too!

I’ve got to say, I must give my mother credit for getting me to watch this film, because I had no idea  this was  even part of Bill’s filmography. It was my mom who saw it on the TCM line up and insisted we watch it together- and yes- she was correct as it turned out to be a wonderful film!

In Apartment for Peggy Bill plays Jason, a young GI studying chemistry in college.  He is married to Peggy, played by the under-rated Jeanne Crain.  Co-starring in the movie is Edmund Gwenn, who plays a professor who loans out his attic turned “apartment for Peggy”. It’s almost fate of how Jason and Peggy meet the Professor and how much they need each other, Jason and Peggy need a place to stay, and the Professor in his old age is lonely and need of company. It’s a perfect match when Peggy arranges for her and Jason to stay in the attic of the Professor’s house. And of course along the way the three of them form an adorable friendship!!!

If you’ve ever wanted to make the most of small space you’ve got- just watch the scene of when Jason and Peggy present their apartment to the professor- it’s impressive!! There’s enough room for the two of them, company and even a cute little dog!!!! 🙂

What I love most about this film, is that while it may be not as well known, it still tells a great story of how young Americans lived after World War 2. It gives a great look at how the GI bill helped returning soldiers academically, but how they still struggled financially. The film still holds truth of how hard it is to get going as a young adult, and I think some people forget that. It’s no easier to get started today than it was in 1948.

Personally, I love the color element of the film, as it’s a rare  for a movie of this type to be in color- it’s not a musical or epic- it’s just a little  post war melodrama

As for Mr. Holden, yes, it’s true that he plays second fiddle to Jeanne Crain, but the scenes that he is a part of, he certainly is the scene stealer!!! Hes charming, sweet and just so good to look at- ahh young Bill!

Let’s take a glance, shall we??

 MR HOLDEN SO YOUNG and adorable!! (hugs him through the screen!)

Chemistry never looked more interesting!

WIth Ms Crain; they are so fabulous together!!!

This film is a rarity, but to me its a hidden gem- it’s so cute! and rarely on TV- so the next time it’s on TCM WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!  Please!!!!!

As for you Mr Holden, as this, today , the date of this post, would have been your 99th birthday, I have this to say: You’re one of my favorite actors, and while not everyone may know who you are, to me you’ll always have a place in my heart, and in my life. Your movies are timeless, and I understand why the late Mr Robert Osborne considered you his favorite- like he said you spoke “always an honest word” when you were on screen. Happy Birthday, and as always, I bet you’re still good lookin’.