Page 21 - Boca Club News - March '25

Boca Club News, Page 21
Film Review:

“Good Morning, Miss Dove”

By Nils A. Shapiro a firm disciplinarian. But She knew that I had just made the varsity football team,
It is not unusual for me to watch a dozen or more her students learn…not told me that I had the journalistic writing skills for being
films during the average month in order to find one that only their school lessons, an editor and advised me to take a course in typewriting
I consider deserving of bringing to your attention in my but as they come to realize to prepare for the new responsibility. Not only did Miss
review column. Indeed, I must confess that of late I have later and throughout their Minuto instill in me the confidence that I had what it takes
often been turning many off before they end, tired of the lives the experience with to consider a career in journalism—which changed my life
sameness of the new releases’ subject matter or just plain Miss Dove has been a completely—but none of us knew in that pre-computer
failure to motivate audience involvement. truly meaningful one. age how critical the ability to type would become!
So it was with some degree of hope that I came What most families I have thought of her thousands of times since then.
across a surprising film offering on Amazon Prime that in the town do not realize Good Morning, Miss Dove may put you in that kind
I had never heard of, but whose brief, albeit unfinished, when they think of Miss of mood. A recommended film in these chaotic times.
description of its story line seemed promising—at least Dove as a never-married, Streaming now on Amazon Prime.
different: “Miss Dove is a well-respected teacher who prim spinster with no
has inspired her students to greatness. One day during children—but which
school, Miss Dove experiences great pain in her back. we in the audience have
After class she asks one of her students to get a doctor, witnessed in heartbreaking scenes—are the sacrifices
Thomas, a do…” that Miss Dove has made in her own life that brought her
Although my technical skills don’t extend to knowing to the school classroom and those generations of young
how to finish reading that description, I figured that students: her decision to turn down an offer of marriage
sounded interesting enough for me. But my wife, Linda, from a successful young man she loved, and giving up her
noting that the film had been produced in 1955—70 years own career opportunity in order to commit to repaying
ago—had second thoughts about my decision. the financial debt her late father owed to the bank he had
(Suffice it to say that halfway through the film Linda served as its president…which she does over time by
turned to me and, wiping her eyes, said, “This movie is staying home and working for decades as a teacher.
making me cry.”) I understood perfectly. And so will you. It is only when Miss Dove suddenly falls ill, her
Good Morning, Miss Dove was based on a bestselling former students now doctors and nurses at the local
1954 novel by Frances Gray Patton. It was directed by hospital are there to treat her—and all of the town’s
Henry Koster, whose name may be unfamiliar to many of present students make their feelings about her known—
this column’s readers but in his day was an extraordinarily that it becomes clear the “childless” Miss Dove truly has
successful director of 47 movies, including such diverse won the love of more children than anyone could possibly
classics as James Stewart’s Harvey (1950), the Biblical imagine.
story, The Robe (1953), My Man Godfrey (1957) and A sentimental film? Yes. One that sparked an
Flower Drum Song (1961). interesting conversation between my wife and me as
One of the era’s most popular (and beautiful) the end credits rolled down the TV screen. Linda asked
actresses, Jennifer Jones, stars in Good Morning, Miss whether I could recall any special teacher from all of my
Dove, with a wonderful supporting cast that includes elementary, high school and college years who stood out
Robert Stack, Chuck Connors, Peggy Knudsen and Robert in my memory. I replied immediately: Miss Marie Minuto,
Douglas. Jennifer Jones is in the lead role here as the my English teacher at Theodore Roosevelt High School
best-known—and strictest—elementary school teacher in in The Bronx, New York, who appointed me Editor of the
the small town of Liberty Grove. She is austere and stern, sports page of the school newspaper for the coming year.

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