Queen for a Day Reviews

This film is a series of vignettes linked by the popular game show of the late 1940s and early 1950s "Queen for a Day." Sandwiched between the stories is supposed TV studio footage featuring "Queen" host Bailey and his sidekicks, Morgan and Pearson. The first story, "The Gossamer World," is a simplistic drama featuring Avery, McGavin, and Lee as the perfect suburban family. They're bound for tragedy, which comes in the form of polio for darling son Lee. Next is "High Diver," starring Williams as a poor son of immigrants eager for a college education. He'll do anything to earn money to get to school and ends up as a carnival high diver. Orzazewski and Ben-Astar, his parents, nervously watch their son plummet from on high into a vat of water. Szold, the drunken diver whom Williams replaces, is a character of pathos. The first two stories are average, though entertaining enough, but the final vignette is the best, thanks to a story by the wonderful humorist Parker. Meiser is the title character of "Horsie," a homely spinster who cares for a newborn infant. The baby belongs to Tobin and Cavitt, the former being an important radio executive who, along with wife Cavitt, all but ignores the kindhearted woman. They're glad when she leaves and are surprised to see her later on--you guessed it--"Queen for a Day." They are even more surprised when she wins and asks only for an electric razor for her former employer, who has been "so nice to her." The various writers of the vignettes and studio links make this a mixed bag of a film. The Parker story is funny and human but its characters lose some of their charm when in the world of the TV studio. All in all this is a cute film that glows in spots and gets by in others. Its tie-in to the television show was well exploited. It was advertised on the show a year before release with a special contest. The winner would have the film premiere in her home town!