Film - Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
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“There’s no place like home.” – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz The idea of what makes a house a home, and explorations of how and where Americans live, have powerfully informed many significant films over the years, in ways both subtly thought-provoking and farcically over-the-top. The National Building Museum is proud to partner with the American Film Institute (AFI) Silver Theatre and Cultural Center to present a film series associated with the Museum’s exhibition House & Home. "Reel Estate: The American Home on Film" presents a wide-ranging series of films focusing on the American home, from nostalgic classics like Gone With the Wind, to post-WWII suburban melodramas like No Down Payment, and to subversive comedies like Hal Ashby’s The Landlord. Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House* With his cramped New York apartment crimping his style, advertising exec Jim Blandings (Cary Grant) decides to move his wife Muriel (Myrna Loy), two daughters and housekeeper Gussie (Louise Beavers) to a more spacious home in Connecticut. Foolishly overpaying for a crumbling old farmhouse, Blandings soon discovers that his “dream” home cannot be repaired but must be rebuilt, setting into motion a series of increasingly expensive—and hilarious—events as he must hire contractors to fix problem after problem. The film’s source originated as a story in a housing-focused issue of Fortune Magazine, (April 1946), which was based on author Eric Hodgins’ costly misadventures in realizing his own dream home. Over 70 families eventually occupied “Blandings” homes that were built to promote the film, sponsored by RKO and outfitted exclusively with GE kitchen appliances. Ticket Information: The AFI Silver Theatre is located at 8633 Colesville Road in Silver Spring, Maryland, Silver Spring Metro, Red Line.
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