Inmr inset1/9/2023 ![]() According to the Washington Post, Hodgins and his wife began construction in 1939.It sold in August 2004 for $1.2 million.The house Hodgins built still stands in the town of New Milford, Connecticut. The book was inspired by his own house-building nightmare (affiliate link): In the final scene he’s holding the book by Eric Hodgins that the movie was based on (Amazon affiliate link): So he keeps his job, he keeps his house, and everybody’s happy. When he can’t come up with a promotional strategy for WHAM, his housekeeper Gussie (Louise Beavers, who also played Mamie in Holiday Inn) saves the day by giving him this idea: Jim is so stressed about the house, his work is suffering. ![]() Many thanks to Marija for sharing these with us! □ The Living Room: We didn’t see much of it in the movie, but here are production/promotional stills of the kitchen:Īfter I complained that we didn’t see more of the kitchen in the movie, a reader sent me these stills. The painter turns to the guy next to him. If you send one of your workers to the grocer for a pound of butter and match that, they can’t go wrong.” Not just yellow–something bright and sunshiny. Not as blue-green as a robin’s egg, but not as yellow-green as daffodils. Blandings gives detailed instructions to the painter, explaining what she wants in each room: “Oh, Daddy! Look at this!” The windows on the side of the house aren’t in yet: Jim carries Muriel (Myrna Loy) over the threshold:Īnd right across the wet varnish on the hardwood floors… Blandings Builds His Dream House.” Their neighboring studio, 20th Century Fox, had 2,000 acres of dramatic landscape in the Malibu hills that served as their location ranch, so a deal was made and construction began.ĭespite all the headaches, mixups, and soaring costs, the house is finally finished and moving day arrives: In 1948, RKO Studios needed a rural setting in which to film exteriors for their comedy “Mr. The Blandings decide to bite the bullet and build it despite the soaring costs.Ī real house was built for the film. The architect shows them the rendering of how it will look when it’s finished and the music swells. They already spent $13,000 just on the lot and tearing down the old house. They decide to build on the land instead, but they’re shocked to learn the new house they want to build will cost $12,500. They buy the old Hackett Place, only to discover it can’t be saved. He tells them a story about how the house is an historical landmark because General Gates stopped to water his horses here during the Revolutionary War. The real estate agent knows a couple of suckers when he sees them. This house is known to locals as the Old Hackett Place: They go looking for a place in the country. An old review of the film written in 1948 said, “It’s hard to feel sorry for a man trying to make ends meet on $15,000 a year when most people earn considerably less.” Jim Blandings earns a good living as an advertising exec, we’re told - $15,000 a year. Blandings Builds His Dream House The story starts in New York City, where the Blandings live with their children in a small apartment: Note: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me commission but won’t affect the prices. ![]() They built a real house while shooting it, which is still standing today. Blandings Builds His Dream House. It was based on a true story, which was turned into a bestselling book. When I was growing up, my mom and I used to watch old movies together on Saturday afternoons, and we loved anything with Cary Grant in it.
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