Product Details

• Actors: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Rita Johnson, Robert Benchley, Diana Lynn
• Directors: Billy Wilder
• Writers: Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett, Edward Childs Carpenter, Fanny Kilbourne
• Producers: Arthur Hornblow Jr.
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: Unrated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: May 26, 1998
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 078321894X
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,325 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Video > Classics > Classic Comedies > Farce
  #11 in	Video > Comedy > Comedy Directors > Billy Wilder
  #71 in	Video > Comedy > By Year > 1940-1949

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

On her first day of work, Sue Applegate (Ginger Rogers) has to escape the clutches of a lecherous client (Robert Benchley, whose favorite line is "Why don't you slip out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?"). Fed up with the big city, Sue decides to head home to Iowa with the precious $27.50 train fare she's kept in a sealed envelope since her arrival. The fare has gone up, however, and she is forced to pose as a 12-year-old to buy a half-price ticket. On the train, she has to dodge the suspicious conductors and bursts into the compartment of Major Phillip Kirby (Ray Milland), who falls for Sue's masquerade and harbors her for the night. The situation is further complicated by the major's fiancée (Rita Johnson) and her savvy 12-year-old sister (Diana Lynn), the only one who sees through the ruse. Add a stay at the major's academy and some escapades with young, hormone-driven cadets, and you have an enjoyable, if not quite classic, silly comedy, well paced by Billy Wilder in his first directorial effort. Rogers's real-life mother appears in a small role as Sue's mother. Rogers is only occasionally convincing as a 12-year-old, but after all she was 30 at the time. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "You should be very glad I'm not 12. I was a very straightforward child. I used to spit"., February 20, 2008

By	Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Major and the Minor (Universal Cinema Classics) (DVD)

Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland star in master director Billy Wilder's 1942 screwball comedy classic THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR, a rollercoaster ride of laughs from beginning to end.

Fed up with her life in New York, Susan Applegate (Ginger Rogers) decides to go back to her small town in Iowa. Flat broke except for the $27.50 train fare which will carry her home, Susan discovers to her horror that the fares have increased. Disguising herself as a 12-year-old girl, "Su-Su" qualifies for the cheaper train fare but later gets sprung by the conductors. Seeking refuge in the first-class compartment belonging to Major Philip Kirby (Ray Milland), "Su-Su"'s kiddie act works and the near-sighted Major is completely charmed by the 'youngster'. But all hell breaks loose when Kirby invites her to stay with his fiancee's family at their house in the cadet academy! As Susan struggles to uphold her masquerade, she finds herself falling for the dashing Major...

In my opinion, THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR is Ginger Rogers' best movie aside from her Academy Award-winning triumph in "Kitty Foyle". She's an absolute riot with her performance, which runs the complete spectrum during her scenes as alter-ego "Su-Su". Ray Milland likewise follows suit with a well-judged performance as Major Kirby. The talented cast also boasts top performances from Diana Lynn and Rita Johnson. The laugh-a-minute screenplay by Billy Wilder and frequent collaborator Charles Brackett is still remarkably fresh. It was loosely-based on a story by Fanny Kilbourne entitled "Sunny Goes Home"; later turned into a play ("Connie Goes Home") by Edward Childs Carpenter.

This movie has been a long time coming to DVD. Part of Universal's Cinema Classics line, the disc will also include a special introduction from Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne.

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars classic, May 26, 2004

By	Steven L. Katz "H.S Katz" (Newton, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

who says this movie isn't classic? it's one of the funniest. Ginger somehow manages to be a surprisingly good little girl. (if not 12, then 14 maybe, but who cares?) she should have been nominated for an oscar at least. i don't know how this one made it past the censors untouched! on the train, when Ginger wakes because of the lightning, and Ray MIlland comes down to comfort her in her bed (he doesn't know she's really an adult) we can only imaginge what's going through her mind! and when she presse her cheek against his chest? HOLY MACKERAL! He thinks she's shaking because of the lightning, but we know better, heh heh...
Ginger is also Hilarious with all the looks and wisecracks that she gives. One of the best lines she has is, after being compared to a lightbulb (moths like lightbulbs) when Ray sees a cadet smooch her. He explains ( in another risque conversation!) that she should be careful around the boys, becase they're attracted to her. She replies: I'll try to be a well behaved lightbulb! Also watch for a little tap-dancing on her part, brings back memories of the thirties. But this movie is definately one of my favories dancing or no.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comedy at its best, January 19, 2005

By	M. Ferrer "Mónica Ferrer" (SPAIN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When Fernando Trueba won the oscar for Belle Epoque, he said "I do not believe in God, but I believe in Billy Wilder". It was said that a few days later phone rang at Trueba's house, he picked it up and said hello. The voice at the other side said: Hello This is God.

I have alwyas being a great fan of Mr Wilder, and this film being his first in America, just shown how wonderful director he was.

Susan Applegate after a series of misfortunes in the big city is tired, and she wants go home, but she has no money for the train ticket, so disguises as a minor she is in her way home.At the train she mets Major Kirby (Ray Milland), worried for a poor 12 years old gril travelling along he takes care of her, and takes her to the military academy where he is teaching.

From this moment on there is a funny film, with the struggles of Sue to leave the place and the difficult situation for Kirby who is attracted to a minor. Wilder makes a great script and you will be laughing all the time. This is one film that can be considered as a classic comedy with funny Robert Benchley and Ray Milland, who although not one of my favourites, certainly is perfect in this film.

But Ginger Rogers is the best. Her scene at the train when she meets Kirby is hilarious and she keeps the high level of the comedy all the time. If you think she could only dance with Fred better think it twice, because she will surprise you.