If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Blistering performances.

I have decided that James Stewart had chemistry with every single actress he was ever paired with. Unfortunately, the sizzle he and Ginger Rogers generate is wasted in this otherwise mediocre comedy.This film hands its audience a sitcom premise and then expects us to just accept the situations that result, whether or not they really make any sense in context of the characters. The jokes fall flat, and one spends most of the film's running time wondering why the considerable talent amassed for this film, both behind and in front of the camera, couldn't result in something less blah."Vivacious Lady" was Oscar nominated for both Best Cinematography and Best Sound Recording, and I have no idea why.Grade: C+

I freely admit to a penchant for the light and even 'screwball' comedies of the 30s/40s and so never having seen or even heard of Vivacious Lady I snapped it up when I found it on a budget CD, on the strength of the two leads and the director. Viewing it for the first time in 2016 I found it somewhat pedestrian and predictable and, given the talent listed above, something of a disappointment and I attributed this to the third key element in any movie, i.e. the writing. Rogers was served much better by Billy Wilder in The Major And The Minor, and had more chemistry with David Niven in Bachelor Mother. This is not to say that Vivacious Lady is a total dog or even unwatchable; it is certainly watchable - once.

Botany professor James Stewart (as Peter Morgan) arrives in Manhattan to retrieve handsome cousin James Ellison (as Keith Morgan) from a partying binge, then marries mutually admired nightclub singer Ginger Rogers (as Francey Brent). At his "Old Sharon" college town home, Mr. Stewart must introduce beautiful but lower class Ms. Rogers to conservative parents Charles Coburn and Beulah Bondi (as Peter and Martha Morgan). Believe it or not, Stewart and Rogers also have trouble finding a place to be consummate the marriage. "Vivacious Lady" is stereotypical without the satirical wit in either script or performance to make it a classic, but it has producer/director George Stevens and a good cast. Co-stars Rogers and Stewart are an especially dynamic team, and this is unfortunately their only feature together.***** Vivacious Lady (5/10/38) George Stevens ~ Ginger Rogers, James Stewart, James Ellison, Beulah Bondi

Director George Stevens put together a gem in this movie whose comedy still holds up well even though this movie was made in 1938. Ginger Rodgers is absolutely great in this movie. Jimmy Stewart is hitting his stride here too. The script is a little screw ball but holds together really well.The real secret here is how well Stewart & Rodgers play off a great support cast. Charles Coburn is great in this movie as Stewarts Father. A difficult role, it is his job to throw up all the road blocks that the plot centers around - Peter Morgan Jr.. being unable to tell his parents he has married Francey (Rogers). Coburn plays this role just perfect as he nearly destroys hi own marriage much less his sons. Franklin Pangborn and Grady Sutton are along for the ride in some great support. Phyllis Kennedy does a fine job as Jenny. This is one of the best RKO films of the year it came out. Everything nearly falls apart until a family reunion at the end of the movie gets things right.The ending is classic in that a sign stops the action at the end.