It's usually not a good sign when, as I sit watching a film, I keep questioning to myself whether it's a good film or not. And I that throughout this film.

On the plus side, it's really nice to see Gary Cooper in something that is quite different than his usual work. It's not exactly a screwball comedy, but it approaches that. And, he's cute with the baby; no question about that. And, it's nice to see one of my favorite character actors -- Frank Morgan -- in the film, although...I don't know...it seemed like the part (not so much Morgan) was trying too hard with his character. A good character actress here is Mary Treen.

On the other hand, we see darned little of the romantic lead in the film -- Teresa Wright. But, I guess that made it clear that this was Cooper's picture.

What bothered me the most, however, were the improbabilities that I found a little hard to swallow. Chief among them that a man can kidnap a baby and not be chased by the police.

Bottom line here...despite loving old films, this is one I had somehow missed. I'm glad I saw it...but once is enough.

Gary Cooper was equally at home doing drama or comedy, as he proves in "Cassanova Brown", a 1944 Paramount vehicle that reunited the winning team of "The Pride of the Yankess". Sam Wood directed again and Teresa Wright played the female lead. Based on a play co-written by veteran actor Thomas Mitchell, this hardly seen movie is worth a look whenever it shows on cable. Nunnally Johnson, one of the geniuses of that era in Hollywood adapted the material for the screen and produced it.

Mr. Cooper makes a great contribution to the film as the absent minded English professor who returns back to his small mid western town vowing never to set foot in New York. Casanova, or Cass, asks Madge to marry him and just as they are about to say "I do", a letter, somewhat mysterious, arrives from a maternity hospital in Chicago. Intrigued by the missive, he decides to solve the puzzle, but little does he know what is in store for him.

In flashbacks we get to know what happened to Cass in New York. It involved his having fallen in love with the beautiful Isabel Drury. As he is about to ask for her hand, Mrs. Drury, a woman who is into horoscopes, planets, and stars, sees trouble ahead. An incident with a lit cigarette butt causes much unhappiness to all and he flees in horror, leaving Isabel to fend for herself.

When Cass arrives at the hospital, he is made to take a physical that Dr. Zernerke has ordered. After the tests, Cass finds out the real reason for his being there, Isabel has delivered a healthy baby and it's going to be given for adoption! Cass takes an instant attachment to the baby girl and takes her away to his hotel. Eventually Isabel traces him and they are reunited, much to the consternation of the Drurys and the would be in-laws, the Ferris.

Although Mr. Cooper and Ms. Wright are more than perfect in their roles, some of the joy we found in the movie was watching superior performances by Frank Morgan, Jill Esmond and Patricia Collinge, who as Mrs. Drury, is marvelous. Mary Treen and Emory Parnell play the maid and the bellhop that help Cass take care of the baby. Anita Louise appears as Madge Ferris.

"Casanova Brown" is a fun film, so tune in whenever it shows again.