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The Major and the Minor

Play trailer Poster for The Major and the Minor 1942 1h 40m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Susan Applegate (Ginger Rogers) decides to leave New York City and take a train back to Iowa, but she has only enough money for a child's ticket. She disguises herself as a young girl and, after being discovered by the train conductor, hides out in the car of Major Kirby (Ray Milland). Kirby believes she is a child and watches after her. But as Kirby's fiancée (Rita Johnson) and others grow suspicious of Susan's ruse, her cleverness is thoroughly tested.
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The Major and the Minor

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Aug 14, 2007
A sparkling and effervescing piece of farce-comedy. Go to Full Review Derek Adams Time Out Jun 24, 2006
Pretty irresistible, nevertheless, with Rogers doing a beautiful job of dovetailing sexual provocation and demure innocence. Go to Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times May 20, 2003
4/5
Miss Rogers and Mr. Milland have played it with spirit and taste. Never once does either permit the suggestion of a leer to creep in. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Nov 8, 2024
9/10
The dialogue is spot-on; rarely has a comedy been designed with such expert pacing for dispensing laughs, as well as a knack for arranging sensationally absurd interactions that feel natural in the context of the story. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Apr 9, 2022
7/10
A comedy from Billy Wilder in which I spend quite a nice time with the romantic adventures of Ray Milland and Ginger Rogers. Full review in Spanish Go to Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Aug 11, 2020
3.5/5
Sure, she has her requisite moment to show off her dancing abilities, but what The Major and the Minor really showcases is Roger's dexterity for comedic timing. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John L @view2views Mar 1, 2026 So I got out of my wet coat.... into a dry martini.... great fun film then and now......Cheers! See more Michael Edwards T @Mikedbigame Nov 16, 2025 Ginger Rogers is better in "The Major and the Minor" than her Oscar winning "Kitty Foyle" See more Alec B @Alec97 Jan 4, 2025 A thoroughly bizzare comedy but it's worth recognizing that the movie somehow never becomes creepy. It maintains a consistently straightforward innocent silliness so no one is going to take any of this seriously. See more Erin H @erinhillharp Jan 2, 2025 One of my favorites! I've seen it twice, and it was just as good the second time. Ray Milland has never been more charming. One interesting note is that Ginger Rogers actual mother plays her character's mother in the movie! See more Steve D @RT35616104 May 27, 2023 embarrassing for all involved. See more Feb 12, 2022 Funny, feel good movie. Ginger Rodgers and Ray Milland, great chemistry. See more Read all reviews
The Major and the Minor

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Cast & Crew

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Billy Wilder

Director

Ginger Rogers

Susan Applegate

Ray Milland

Major Kirby

Rita Johnson

Pamela Hill

Robert Benchley

Mr. Osborne

Diana Lynn

Lucy Hill

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The Major and the Minor

The Major and the Minor (1942) The Major and the Minor (1942) The Major and the Minor (1942) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Susan Applegate (Ginger Rogers) decides to leave New York City and take a train back to Iowa, but she has only enough money for a child's ticket. She disguises herself as a young girl and, after being discovered by the train conductor, hides out in the car of Major Kirby (Ray Milland). Kirby believes she is a child and watches after her. But as Kirby's fiancée (Rita Johnson) and others grow suspicious of Susan's ruse, her cleverness is thoroughly tested.
Director
Billy Wilder
Producer
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 16, 1942, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 22, 2008
Runtime
1h 40m
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