Granny Get Your Gun (1940)

One of my all time favorites.

Beautiful, moving film.

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

"Granny Get Your Gun" is an old-fashioned star vehicle, in the sense that the star (in this case, May Robson) is in about 90% of the scenes, and all the other characters are supporting. Luckily, Robson is a delight, especially in a courtroom sequence where she switches from "sweet old lady" to "tough old broad" at the drop of a hat. I also liked the little mystery clues that are planted and come into play later on. At 56 minutes, the film is just the right length - it does not outstay its welcome. **1/2 out of 4.

What an actress May Robson was – this time out she shows how deft she was at comedy. Robson's comments about- and to - her great granddaughter are particularly amusing as is her court scene. Her character, Minerva Hatton returns to Nevada to be with her granddaughter who is in Nevada getting a divorce from her odious husband played by Hardie Albright (who plays his role to a tee). Years earlier Minerva had lived in Nevada and made a bundle of money there during the boom years. She also retained the skills she learned there such as how to use a gun (she's a crack shot) and her country way of being plain spoken. She still has a lot of friends there including Nate Paulson (Harry Davenport), an attorney and Smokey (Clem Bevans), an office gopher and big fan of true detective magazines. A murder occurs and Minerva, Nate, and Smokey must find the killer. And they do. It was so refreshing seeing oldsters as the lead actors - and they were so entertaining. I do hope to be able to get a copy of this movie – it was delightful.

This comedy/drama is done in the style of a "Frank Capra" movie. Mary Robson plays a resourceful "granny" (Minerva Hatton) who is trying to protect her granddaughter from being hung up on a "murder" charge. She is being defended by an old attorney friend (Nate Paulson) played by Harry Davenport. Minerva and Nate are a 2 headed Columbo who won't stop until they get to the truth. Granny is a very independent and forceful woman for her time. She is very persuasive and usually gets her way. Her character is the true definition of what "feminism" should have been then and now for that matter. Her character is not afraid to step on toes once in a while. The ends surely justifies the means here. Her movie sidekicks are all the familiar faces from that genre of movies in the late 30's, early 40's. While this movie is short in length, it really packs a punch and keeps you riveted. The editing in this movie is very good for its time and should have been nominated. This movie has all the right elements that work together for it to work successfully. I would have hoped that this may have developed into a series like that of the "Thin Man". Unfortunately, Mary Robson died 2 years after this movie was released, on October 20th, 1942. She has the notoriety of being the oldest born actress (1856) to ever be nominated for an academy award (Lady for a day-directed by Frank Capra). This is a movie that everyone could enjoy. Please check this out, you won't be disappointed.

A rowdy, straight-shooting old lady turns amateur sleuth to discover the murderer of her granddaughter's ex-husband. There's bound to be plenty of gunplay when both ladies become prime suspects.Every bit as rambunctious as its elderly heroine, GRANNY GET YOUR GUN is a very pleasant bit of film fluff - light and easygoing. It's a shame the film is hard to find & seldom seen, as it gives a rare chance for senior citizen stars to shine for a blessed change.The movie is a showcase for the talents of 82-year old veteran character actress May Robson. The old darling is nothing less than delightful. Born Mary Robinson in 1858 in Melbourne, Australia, Robson had began appearing in movies in 1915. By the time of GRANNY, Robson had given solid support in some of Hollywood's finest films from its Golden Age (LADY FOR A DAY, A STAR IS BORN, BRINGING UP BABY, etc.). Playing grumpy or gracious equally well, Robson never failed to entertain.Here, she pushes her five feet, two inches into one amusing situation after another, whether prospecting for gold with mule & chauffeur-driven limousine, or stealing a jalopy to dash after a dangerous killer. The scene where she disguises herself as a gentle, soft-spoken, sweet-tempered old lady, so as to beat a murder rap, is hilarious. Miss May Robson would appear in four more films after GRANNY. She died in 1942.Old-timers Harry Davenport (as Robson's lawyer beau), Clem Bevans (as an old codger who loves reading true mystery magazines) and Vera Lewis (as Robson's elderly companion) all add to the fun of the proceedings.Erle Stanley Gardner, creator of Perry Mason, contributed the original novel, The Case of the Dangerous Dowager, upon which this film was based.