Commentary
“Her Highness and the Bellboy” from 1945 is an MGM film produced by Joe Pasternak starring Hedy Lamarr, Robert Walker, and June Allyson. It has become an obscure film, but it was a big hit for the studio upon its original release. Although made at the height of World War II, the film includes no references to the war. Despite the modern clothing and hairstyles, the story is obviously set in pre-war days, specifically 1938, since one of the characters refers to a radio as “the latest 1938 model.”
This movie was successful and popular because it’s a lovely fairytale. As such, it offered a much-needed escape from the harsh realities of wartime life….