MGM knew they had a valuable property in Frank Morgan. Not only was the twice-Oscar nominated actor a consummate professional on set, but he had a likeable versatility that added pathos or levity to projects ranging from Lubitsch-directed romantic comedies like The Shop Around The Corner (1940) to more serious pictures like the WWII drama The Mortal Storm (1940). Determined to create a dependable vehicle that could showcase the amiable actor, they tapped legendary screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz to create the first of a planned series about a small-town husband and wife (Morgan and Irene Rich) and their three daughters (Ann Rutherford, Gloria DeHaven, and young Virginia Weidler, who gets the best and zingiest Mankiewicz lines). Strangely, despite the warmth and good humor of the end result, MGM never honored their plan for a continuing series and only returned to these characters one more time in This Time For Keeps (1942) -- but this time without Morgan.

By Violet LeVoit