Featuring the filmmaker's penchant for slapstick humor, whimsical dialogue, and subtlety-biting satire, Preston Sturges' The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is a fast-paced, enjoyable comedy that sets its sights on satirizing American Armed forces overseas, patriotism, society's definition of masculinity, and the feminine servitude expected during in the time period. The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is story of Trudy Kockenlocker, a man-crazy single girl who essentially believes it's her mission and duty to entertain every GI who happens to pass through town. One morning after a particularly wild night, Trudy learns that she may have married a soldier named Ratzkywatzky in her drunken stupor. Evidently something certainly happened that night between Ratzkywatzky and Trudy, as she soon learns she's pregnant as well, though Trudy hides the information from her bombastic policeman father. Enter Norval Jones, Trudy's hapless man companion, whose a bit of putz, pining for Trudy's affection at every turn. This is quite the predicament for Trudy to be in, given the fact that she has no idea who the father truly is, and along with Norval, seh concocts a plan that entails Norval takes on the assumed name of Ratzkywatzky and posesas a GI, claiming to be the father of this unborn child. Unfortunately, their deception leads to more chaos, with Norval even getting arrested for deceiving the U.S. Military, with a mini-miracle in the form of sextuplets being what saves both Norval and Trudy from prosecution in the end. The Miracle of Morgan's Creek is very fun, fast-paced wild experience that finds Sturges quietly and maliciously deconstruct the time period's flawed definition of masculinity. Norval is a character who has essentially been deemed worthless by society, a character isn't capable of military service. His inability to serve has essentially branded him as a putz, and while Judy enjoys his company it's clear, early on at least, that she is much more interested in the G.I. men who are serving their country overseas. Through this wild narrative, Sturges reveals how Norval is in fact a man who should be praised for his commitment to Judy, a character who essentially sacrifices his livelihood for the sake of the woman he loves. Norval is a character who is deemed as irrelevant by society, but as The Miracle of Morgan's Creek unfolds, Sturges makes sure to subtlely attack those members of society deemed respectable, such as politicians, policeman, soldiers, and magistrates, contrasting their deemed respectability with that of Norval's plight, a man who is taking responsibility for something he doesn't even have to. Much of Miracle of Morgan's Creek is about the duty and responsibility those of us have for our country. Through the character of Norval, a man who doesn't actually serve his country, Sturges reveals the true sense of responsibility, juxtaposing a soldier's service to his country with Norval's service to his kin and perceived family, as The Miracle of Morgan's Creek delivers a delightful, chaotic comedy that reveals some of the shortcomings of societies pre-conceived notions about masculinity, duty, and responsibility.
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June 2023
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