Apartment for Peggy is a 1948 film directed by George Seaton (“Miracle on 34th Street”) and starring Edmund Gwenn (also of “Miracle”), William Holden and Jeanne Crain. It was based on the novelette An Apartment for Jenny written by Faith Baldwin.
Gwenn plays Professor Henry Barnes, whose spirits are lifted when he rents part of his home to a couple. The husband Jason Taylor (Holden) is a returning soldier, studying at the university, courtesy of the G.I. Bill. His wife, Peggy (Crain) is youthful and vibrant and ultimately the catalyst for pulling Professor Barnes from the path of depression, renewing his lease on the joys of life.
What I like most about this film is the cast. While Gwenn is largely known for being St. Nick, he was quite the accomplished and varied actor. Jeanne Crain is always a screen presence that for me at least projected a kind of warmth and feeling of comfort. And then there is William Holden – dreamy William Holden. While this film does not fall into category of his “breakthrough” years (all started in 1950 with his performance in Sunset Boulevard on through to performances in Stalag 17 and Bridge On the River Kwai), here his performance is solid enough turn as a G.I. (which he was in real life) returning to the home front and adjusting to life.
Granted this film is sorta lightweight (in spite of the fact that the subject of suicide DOES come up), I think that it is worth a look-see at the very least. Check out other forgotten/overlooked films at Todd Mason’s blog – Sweet Freedom.
