a_chinn Written by I.A.L. Diamond, the future writing partner of the great Billy Wilder, the script has hints at some of their future collaborations ("The Apartment," Some Like it Hot," "The Fortune Cookie," etc), but is nowhere as good any of those films. This story is about a GI returning home to find his wife has bought a broken-down NYC brownstone as an investment for them to rent out to tenants. What ends up happening is they find themselves caught up in the lives of their various renters, most notably of which is a GI buddy of the husband, "Bobby" short for Roberta, played by a before-she-was-famous Marilyn Monroe. When she made this film, Monroe has just had her memorable small role in "All About Eve" and studio boss Darrly Zanuck took it upon himself to begin shaping her image with a key supporting part in this film. Monroe is quite good in the picture, but is only of the several tenants the film follows. If the film had more prominently featured Monroe or made more out the perceived love triangle between husband, wife, and Monroe, it may have made for a fun farcical door slamming sesx comedy along the lines of "Kiss Me, Stupid." Instead, it's merely a pleasant, but forgettable comedy that's now only of note as an early work by Monroe and Diamond before they went on to bigger and better films; Monroe with "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "The Seven Year Itch" and Diamond co-writing "Love in the Afternoon" and "Monkey Business" (the Hawks comedy, not the Marx Bros. film) before their paths crossing again nine years later in the undeniable American film classic "Some Like it Hot." Overall, if you watch "Love Nest" don't expect anything the caliber of Monroe or Diamond's later work, but instead simply expect a modestly entertaining comedy.

ksf-2 Stars June Haver and William Lundigan as the married couple who buy an apartment building, full of interesting tenants. Soldier "Jim" is returning from war, and comes home to Connie, who is trying to fix the place up, but its turning into a real money pit. Sound familiar ? that story has been done numerous times over the years... Mr. Blanding Builds his Dream House, George Washington Slept Here, and the more recent Money Pit ! Good, solid story, with a couple surprises and twists. Great sound, picture quality. Throw in Marilyn Monroe, with a small-ish part. She does something odd with her voice; it's extra low, as if they coached her to speak in a certain way. She had been in the biz for a couple years by the time she did this one, but clearly she is not one of the leads yet. Directed Joe Newman had been nominated for two Oscars, for A.D. in 1936 and 1937... but that was years prior to this film. Story by Scott Corbett, and jazzed up by IAL Diamond, who did the screenplay for FOUR M.Monroe gigs. It's pretty good. Worth watching.

weezeralfalfa We have the 2 knockout blondes most likely to succeed the aging Betty Grable as the queen of Fox musical comedies, although this is just a moderate comedy without the music. Although they were the same age, June Haver had been groomed since 1945 for this eventual role, whereas Marilyn Monroe was still taking bit parts to test her audience appeal. However, the tables would soon turn, as June was getting weary of the Hollywood scene, and Fox would start putting Marilyn in some lead roles where her sexy screen persona would be emphasized. I definitely prefer June's earthy girl-next-door characterization in this and other films, in contrast to Marylyn's more aloof goddess screen persona. There are 2 main male characters, one played by tall, handsome, smooth-talking William Lundigan, who plays June's husband, freshly arrived in NYC from his post-war army assignment in France. He's very surprised to find that his wife had used the money he sent home for a down payment on a decaying brownstone row house, which she had fixed up to provide a number of apartments or rooms for rent. Continued furnishing and repair bills threaten to cause them to lose their house. They can do some of it, but need specialists for some problems. The code-enforced need to redo their electrical wiring will cost them more than they can muster up or borrow. So, they decide they'll have to sell their house at a loss, since June paid too much for it.Along comes Charley, one of their tenants, who offers to loan them the $800. needed to fix the wiring. They accept. However, before they can spend it, Charley is arrested for bilking quite a few lonely wealthy widows out of their savings. Does Charley consider himself a most wanted sleazy con man? Certainly not! He's just performing a service for an unspecified fee. He even occasionally romances poor lonely widows, such as Eadie, in the same apartment complex, using the money he stole from wealthy widows. He sometimes helps those in need, including impoverished landlords. He's sort of a Robin Hood, he thinks. Unfortunately, the local police and FBI don't see it that way. Lundigan also temporarily lands in the same jail cell as Charley, suspected of being Charley's accomplice. Charley suggests that Lundigan write up his life story as a potential best seller(Lundigan's ambition is to be a writer). Well, this idea works out and the couple use some of the royalties to further fix up their house. Unclear how they survived the wiring problem, and how Charley made a living after he married Eadie when he got out of jail. Perhaps some of royalties from the book?Two minor characters are played by Jack Parr and Marilyn. Parr was attracted by Marilyn who, as Bobbie, was a WAC friend of Lundigan in France, and has come to live in one of his apartments while modeling. Their characters aren't really essential to the plot. However, Marilyn serves as another worry for June, and another knockout blonde to keep the boys' attention.Lundigan and June appear to have great chemistry. They had costarred the year before in the musical "I'll Get By". The present film is unusual in June's film career in not being a musical: she having singing and dancing talent. I believe it's also the only film she was in that was filmed in B&W rather than Technicolor. Speaking of music, the song "Love Nest" was composed for this film, being heard during the opening credits and a little at the end.This was the last film appearance of both Frank Fay, as Charley, and Leatrice Joy, as Eadie. Fay had been very popular on the vaudeville circuit.This film is available as part of the 17 DVD Marilyn Premiere Collection. No doubt, if Marilyn hadn't been in the picture, it wouldn't be available as a DVD. The optional commentary is basically a film biography of the director, plus a biography and psychoanalysis of Marilyn, barely mentioning the lead actors nor anything about this film. For shame!As an impoverished petty landlord myself, I can strongly identify with the problems of this couple. I've needed an "Uncle Charley" a few times to avoid losing the house.

JLRMovieReviews June Haver and William Lundigan star as a married couple who have invested in a small apartment complex to live and manage. At least, June did, while Bill was off serving his country. When he comes home, he finds what she did with their small savings. To say he was disappointed would be an understatement. The place needs repairs and he, with his profession as a writer, needs to get busy to make money. Frank Fay plays an older gentleman who (the viewer sees) goes from one lodgings to another and is preying on ladies' loneliness, finding here another victim. Then, of course, there's Marilyn Monroe who was a "war buddy" of Bill's, and he promised her a room. Jack Paar, a friend of June's, comes around, but Bill, with good reason doesn't like him, but then Jack becomes attached to Marilyn. This is a very enjoyable little film with plenty of activity going on courtesy of its eccentric characters. While it may not seem like much to the hard-to-please, the film is helped by the leads' charm and chemistry, with June Haver providing the foundation and heart of the film. Sit back for a spell and reside in this love nest. The ending may even surprise you!