Central Park Meets the “5th Avenue Girl”

Directed by Gregory LaCava, 5th Avenue Girl (1939) is a Depression-era screwball comedy starring Ginger Rogers alongside Walter Connolly, Verree Teasdale, Tim Holt, James Ellison, and Kathryn Adams. The story begins with wealthy industrialist Timothy Borden (Walter Connolly), who feels thoroughly neglected and unappreciated by his self-absorbed family. On his birthday, left entirely alone in his sprawling Fifth Avenue mansion, Timothy strolls into Central Park and strikes up a conversation with Mary Grey (Ginger Rogers), a pragmatic, down-on-her-luck young woman who is unemployed and hungry. To celebrate his birthday, Timothy takes her out for a lively evening at a high-end nightclub, where they unexpectedly cross paths with Timothy’s straying wife.

When Timothy realizes how much his sudden late-night outing scandalizes his snobbish, indifferent family, he hatches a clever scheme. He invites Mary to live at his estate and pay her to act as his mistress, aiming to shake up his household and teach his family a lesson. Mary’s grounded presence and sharp wit quickly turn the household upside down. As Timothy conspicuously ignores his business to go out on the town with Mary, his spoiled son, Tim Jr. (Tim Holt), is forced to take responsibility at the family pump factory, while his wife Martha (Verree Teasdale) begins staying home to protect her marriage.

Meanwhile, Mary acts as a catalyst for genuine change, helping Timothy’s daughter Katherine (Kathryn Adams) navigate a romance with the family's politically vocal chauffeur, Mike (James Ellison). Tim Jr. initially tries to bribe Mary to leave, but as he gets to know her, he falls in love with her instead. Ultimately, Timothy and Martha rediscover their bond after reminiscing over their humble origins, leading to a heartwarming resolution where the charade is exposed, relationships are mended, and Mary is welcomed as a true member of the family.

 

Gregory LaCava (1892 – 1952) was an American film director and writer who rose to prominence during Hollywood's Golden Age, best known for his sharp social satires and contributions to the screwball comedy genre. Beginning his career as an animator and silent film gag writer, he developed an instinctive sense of comedic timing and ensemble pacing. LaCava gained widespread critical acclaim in the 1930s with classics such as My Man Godfrey (1936) and Stage Door (1937), earning two Academy Award nominations for Best Director. Known for his collaborative set atmosphere and reliance on unscripted improvisation, he consistently brought out nuanced, human performances from his cast members.

Ginger Rogers (1911 – 1995) was an iconic American actress, dancer, and singer whose versatile career spanned vaudeville, Broadway, and decades of cinema. While worldwide fame came from her legendary screen partnership with Fred Astaire in RKO musical comedies, Rogers was equally lauded for her dramatic and comedic acting prowess. Her leading role in 5th Avenue Girl demonstrated her signature charm and comedic finesse, paving the way for her Oscar-winning dramatic performance in Kitty Foyle (1940). Across more than 70 films, Rogers remained one of the most bankable and enduring stars of classic Hollywood.

Walter Connolly (1887 – 1940) was a prominent American stage and character actor whose warm screen presence and expressive comedic timing made him a staple of 1930s cinema. After an extensive career on the Broadway stage, Connolly transitioned to Hollywood sound pictures, quickly becoming one of the industry’s premier character leads. He frequently portrayed exasperated, soft-hearted patriarchs and wealthy figures, most notably in Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night (1934) and Twentieth Century (1934). His performance in 5th Avenue Girl served as one of his final feature film roles before his untimely passing.

James Ellison (1910 - 1993) was an American film actor who appeared in nearly 70 motion pictures throughout a career spanning three decades. Initially breaking into Hollywood as a handsome romantic lead, he achieved early prominence playing Buffalo Bill in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Plainsman (1936) and starring as Johnny Nelson alongside William Boyd in RKO’s popular Hopalong Cassidy Western series. Outside of Westerns, Ellison demonstrated strong versatility in romantic comedies and dramas, portraying the politically outspoken chauffeur Mike in 5th Avenue Girl (1939), as well as starring in notable features such as Jacques Tourneur’s horror classic I Walked with a Zombie (1943) and Busby Berkeley's Technicolor musical The Gang's All Here (1943).

Tim Holt (1919 - 1973) was an American actor who became one of Hollywood’s most popular Western stars and an accomplished dramatic lead in several iconic films. Born into a theatrical family as the son of silent film actor Jack Holt, he made his screen debut as a child before establishing himself as a versatile leading man in the late 1930s. Beyond his prominent supporting role as the spoiled son Tim Jr. in 5th Avenue Girl, Holt earned critical acclaim for his standout performances in John Ford’s My Darling Clementine (1946), Orson Welles’s The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), and John Huston’s The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). A decorated combat veteran who served as a B-29 bombardier during World War II, Holt anchored dozens of top-grossing B-Westerns for RKO Radio Pictures throughout his four-decade career.

Click HERE to watch the movie on the ok.ru website.

Click HERE to join the discussion on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation and a link to join the discussion on Zoom.

 

Ginger Rogers and Tim Holt

5^th Avenue Girl trivia

Director Gregory LaCava’s reunion with Ginger Rogers on this film came shortly after their success on Stage Door (1937), where LaCava famously joked to interviewers that the only way he could get Rogers to cry on set was to tell her that her house was on fire.

Future legendary director Robert Wise worked on the film as a co-editor alongside William Hamilton early in his Hollywood career before moving on to direct classics like The Sound of Music.

The screenplay, written by Allan Scott, features uncredited writing contributions from both director Gregory LaCava and famous Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Morrie Ryskind.

Character actor Franklin Pangborn, renowned for playing flustered authority figures and pompous hotel managers throughout classic Hollywood, appears in the film as the estate’s stoic butler, Higgins.

Discussion Questions

How does 5th Avenue Girl reflect Great Depression-era attitudes toward wealth, privilege, and class distinctions in American society?

In what ways does Mary Grey serve as an agent of chaos and renewal within the Borden household dynamics?

How does Gregory LaCava use screwball comedy conventions to explore themes of marital disillusionment and family neglect?

How does Ginger Rogers’ comedic performance in this non-musical role compare to her performances in her famous musical collaborations with Fred Astaire?

If you would like to explore another classic film or need additional discussion materials, please let me know!