The Mating Season (1951)

The Mating Season demonstrates that even well-worn plots and situations can play as fresh and engaging, as long as Thelma Ritter is on hand. That's an exaggeration, of course, although it's absolutely true that Ritter's wry way with a line, peculiarly endearing personality, and general ability to take command of any situation are an enormous asset to Mating. Still, Ritter has been in other films that she can't quite save, good though she may be, which proves that there's more to Mating than just Ritter. Certainly the rest of the cast deserve credit, from beautiful couple Gene Tierney and John Lund to deliciously hammy Miriam Hopkins. But Mating really works because director Mitchell Leisen and his cadre of screenwriters treat the basic premise respectfully, thus creating a milieu in which Ritter can shine. It doesn't hurt that they also come up with some witty lines, add a few small individual touches to the characters that make them feel more real, and throw in a few neat little twists here and there to keep the audience on their toes. All this combined with Ritter and the rest of the cast make what could have been a forgettable, average little flick into a very memorable comedy. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide