Magnificent Doll

Neat to see Ginger Rogers in a non-musical role. Her costumes here are quite fantastic. Nothing---costumes, plot, characters---is period accurate. Everyone is too dramatic. Still, it was an interesting setting. Fav scene: going to the tavern with Burr and a coat trimmed with two dozen dead ermine.

Ginger Rogers is surprisingly convincing as the future First Lady Dolly Payne Madison. The central romantic threesome plot between her, Madison and Aaron Burr is far from historical correct, although the great production design does feel historical accurate. The romance is the least interesting part of the movie, still the movie was enjoyable in its depiction of early American politics. The emphasis on big American values might be more a result of its production time than the depicted time.

Though it toys with history quite a bit & doesn't always hit the mark in what it's going for, it's still a very solid historical drama with romantic flair & great performances by Rogers, Meredith & Nivens. The story is intriguing, the love-triangle never feels too played out, & the development of all three central characters is well done. It also never drags on for too long & maintains a surprisingly quick pace. Not phenomenal, but a pretty good ride overall. Worth a look.

With it's quality selection of actors and historical presence, Magnificent Doll (1946), about the First Lady, wife of the 4th US President James Madison, Dolly Payne Madison, is certainly a watchable costume drama. Unfortunately it's one of those that doesn't leave much of a mark, except as one of Ginger Rogers least successful films.