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She
Wouldn't Say Yes 
Alfalfa delivers a huge lilac arrangement to Dr. Susan Lane (Rosalind Russell). In another of his "service sector" roles, Alfalfa plays a messenger who delivers a large lilac arrangement to Rosalind Russell in this romantic comedy about a psychiatrist (Russell) who falls for one of her test subjects (Lee Bowman as "Nixie"). Bowman is a wartime cartoonist who returns home with a case of mild battle fatigue, and he is used by Russell to prove her theory that people should suppress their emotions. About two-thirds of the way through the film, Bowman sends Russell the large lilac arrangement, delivered by an eighteen-year-old Alfalfa: Alfalfa [after knocking on Russell's office door and having it answered]: Doctor Lane? Russell: Yes, I'm Doctor Lane. Alfalfa: These are for you [presents flowers to a shocked Russell, who does not react]...They ain't poison ivy, lady, they're lilacs. Russell: I know. Pittsy [Russell's secretary, played by Susan Haden]: I'll take care of them. Russell: No, I'll take care of them. They were sent to me. [To Alfalfa:] Thank you. Alfalfa [cheerfully]: You know... I'm nuts about lilacs myself. I guess it's because they bloom so early in the spring. They always seem like they stand for the beginning of something. Pittsy [annoyed]: For pity's sake, go away! Alfalfa [as he is being pushed out the door]: Sure.... During
this period of his career, Alfalfa had created for himself almost
a niche role of a slightly goofy, over-enthusiastic service worker
who is only too eager to volunteer his comments on the matter at
hand, usually to disinterested listeners. Between 1945 and 1952,
Alfalfa had similar unbilled, small roles as an elevator operator
in Together Again, a bellhop in State
of the Union, a messenger in Letter To
Three Wives, and a busboy in Pat and
Mike.
Rosalind Russell was one of Hollywood's most admired performers. Later in her career she achieved renewed fame on Broadway, especially in the musical "Mame". She later played the same title character in the film version. In the sixties, Russell developed rheumatoid arthritis, and, rather than keeping the condition hidden, decided to make it public in a successful attempt to raise public awareness of the disease. In 1972, Russell was the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards at that year's Oscar™ ceremonies. Her work in this area led to the establishment of the Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis at the University of California at San Francisco. Below:
Alfalfa is ushered out by an impatient Sarah Haden,
"She Wouldn't Say Yes" was also notable for the screen debut of a young Darrin McGavin in minor role. The film was directed by Alexander Hall, whose most well-known picture was probably 1941's "Here Comes Mr. Jordan", upon which Warren Beatty's "Heaven Can Wait" was based.
Above:
Russell in "She Wouldn't Say Yes", and,
Below:
Contemporary lobby card for "She Wouldn't |
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Commentary © 4alfalfa.com |
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