Saturated in Ameche

I must admit that I never knew who Don Ameche was until last week. I had heard the name and seen the face, but never put 1 and 2 together. Thanks to Netflix, the movie Midnight with Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche and John Barrymore arrived in my mailbox on Monday. I put it in the player and was introduced to my first (knowingly) Ameche movie. So cute!

The movie follows penniless but determined Colbert in her pursuit of a wealthy life. Sound familiar? The story line isn't anything new... but the humor in this movie more than makes up for the often-done plot. Colbert first meets a charming taxi driver... Ameche. He drives her around while she unsuccessfully auditions for nightclub singing acts. Through the course of the evening, Ameche becomes smitten with the ever witty Colbert, but the feeling isn't mutual. She is determined to marry wealthy (or acquire wealth somehow). A taxi driver, however cute, just isn't in her plans. She ditches him while he pumps gas and wanders into a high class private party. She meets and plays cards with rich so and sos and loses quite a bit of money in friendly betting. Barrymore, after careful snooping, discovers that Colbert is not in fact a member of the Paris elite, but sneaks the money to cover her bets into her purse.

Barrymore then offers her cash to woo a rich playboy away from Barrymore's wandering wife. Colbert agrees and begins her mission. Ameche, meanwhile organizes a taxi-man hunt to look for Colbert. He finds her, poses as her Baron husband and begins to win over her affection.

The movie is so very entertaining, its funny, romantic and proves that, no matter his age, Barrymore was always a class act! I found Colbert delightful and I am now a full-fledged Ameche fan. I quickly rummaged through my "too watch" movie pile and pulled out Love is News. Ameche was only a supporting player... but oh so handsome!

The movie centers around Tyrone and the always lovely Loretta Young. To get back at a scheming reporter (Power) a rich heiress (Young) fabricates a story that the two are engaged, turning the reporter into front page news. Ameche plays Power's boss. He feels duped by his employee due to their paper being the only one in town without the breaking story. This movie is positively adorable. Well casted, great tempo and such a sweet story. Can't wait to get my hands on more Ameche!