A Feather in Her Hat

This is a sweet, homey little tale of a mother's love for her son and her desire to see him become a success, rising above his poor upbringing. She wants him to become a gentleman, so one day she brings home a kindly, though mildly alcoholic, ex-gentleman called Captain Randolph Courtney. And what better gentleman to mentor him than the great Basil Rathbone, whose mannered performance is a nice change from the usual despicable film villains he was known for. Though a bit cliched, it's an enjoyable little 'ditty', if you will.

Would I recommend? Yes, to those who don't mind something a bit quaint and pleasantly old-fashioned.

Maybe not quite the birthday gift that "Richard" (Louis Hayward) would want, but at his small 21st anniversary celebration his mother "Clarissa" (Pauline Lord) gives him a bank book with a rather large sum of money deposited, then announces to him and to their close family intimate - and lover of a snifter - "Capt. Courtney" (Basil Rathbone) that she is not, in fact, his mother. A little scrutinising and some detective work soon establishes the true identity of that particular woman and "Richard" takes up lodgings with the now married "Julia" (Billie Burke) and her step-daughter "Pauline" (Wendy Barrie). There's a bit of a love triangle developing now between these two and his first love "Emily" (Nydia Westman) whilst "Pauline" must contend...