May Robson

(On Cable TV, January 2020) There is a surprisingly wholesome quality to Lady for a Day that keeps going until the very end of the film, as a bunch of cynical high-class New Yorkers come together to help an old poor lady create an illusion of wealth for her visiting daughter. (The daughter is accompanied by her fiancé, and the film makes it clear that he won’t marry her if she comes from a poor family.) Our protagonist is transformed from an apple-selling old woman to a meticulously put-together matriarch, and it takes nearly an entire city to maintain the illusion for the sake of the two lovebirds. Mercifully, the film keeps going to the end and no further, adding to the fairy-tale nature of the story. May Robson does well in the lead role, handling an impressive transformation from near-homeless to near-royalty—and she was nominated for an Oscar for her troubles. Directed by Frank Capra, Lady for a Day is solidly in his tradition of uplifting films, although it’s far less political than many of his other movies. While it takes a solid dose of disbelief to enjoy, and constantly teeters on reality reasserting itself, it’s kind of sweet and a bit unusual for its choice of protagonist.