The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)

What is the American Dream? Having a job that pays you well (and maybe you can be making a difference), starting a family of your own, and having a home are all a part of that expectation. In 2024…that might be a little harder. But back in 1948, this was the perfect time to strive for the actualization. Post WWII, America was shifting into the “perfect” time that occurred after all our young men returned from the war. Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House is a comedy that finds that hope so perfectly as it is drenched in humor and charm. A successful man and his wife leave the big city to be living a quieter lifestyle with much more space.

How did director H.C. Porter capture such a period in time? Well…to say simply. There is a great grasp of society at the time even if some of those elements have not aged well. The film looks at an upper-class family who can afford a maid and cook who are struggling for space in New York City (which is still an issue today). Many of us have been in that situation where we have been frustrated with the space we have and the home that we reside in. It is always better to have that extra room you want for your hobby. It would be nice to have your own bathroom where you can have some peace. The film also finds the opposite in such an impactful way. The film finds a house construction project where everything could possibly go wrong. If you have ever had work done on your home…you certainly know the feeling. This also resonates even if you have ever been on a project and trying to accomplish something. There are always roadblocks along the way. There are some filmmaking elements that feel tired as well including the voiceover that feels overdone for sure (but was quite popular at the time).

Do all the story elements deliver? Everything that relates to the home construction story works. You understand it. The frustration. The hope. But there are some relationship elements that feel weird. One of the most fun elements of the film is the banter between Grant’s Jim and his lawyer and “friend” Bill Cole. But Cole’s connection to Jim’s wife Muriel feels so odd and unnecessarily added on. Sure, it creates even more drama, but it feels unnecessary when there is plenty of home related drama that shakes the trust of this marriage. The shaken marriage is a key piece to the whole drama of the film but those added elements feel so strange. Luckily, Grant and Myrna Loy have great chemistry and can sell all their tension. The work-related frustration is never focused on enough to make it work from a dramatic standpoint. But it does stick to a fun landing (mostly) as the story wraps up.

Not all the drama works but what about the humor? The strongest element of the film is just how funny this screenplay is (written by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank). First off, Grant is hilarious. His dialogue pops and that works so well because of Grant’s screen presence and confidence. He is also able to deliver so much with his physicality. This is something that stands out a lot when you see the morning sequence at the beginning of the film. Watching Grant and Loy fighting over a bathroom with barely any dialogue is pitch perfect. Douglas is hilarious as well as peppers Grant with so many zingers throughout the runtime. Douglas also delivers that opening voiceover about how “great” New York City is. His vocal performance delivers the goods so well.

Is Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House a hilarious gem from Old Hollywood? This little flick is certainly packed full of laughs. The film steers into some serious themes related to relationships but it thrives when it is having a good time. There are some inspired elements (including some of the earlier scenes in the film) that will keep you interested and engaged. Grant is a great lead and anchors this one down with the rest of the cast as well.

Special thanks to Patrice Downing for the nomination of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House!