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The Major and the Minor (Universal Cinema Classics)

Ginger Rogers (Actor), Ray Milland (Actor), Billy Wilder (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.8 out of 5 stars 560
IMDb7.4/10.0
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DVD
April 22, 2008
DVD
1
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$37.98
$37.98 $37.99
Genre Comedy/Romantic Comedies, Comedy
Format NTSC, Black & White
Contributor Ray Milland, Ginger Rogers, Billy Wilder
Initial release date 2008-04-22
Language English

Product Description

Academy Award® winners Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland sparkle in this debut comedy from Academy Award®-winning writer-director Billy Wilder. A frustrated city girl (Rogers) decides to disguise herself as a youngster in order to get a cheaper train ticket home. But little "Sue Sue" finds herself in a whole heap of grown-up trouble when she hides out in a compartment with handsome Major Kirby (Milland) and he insists on taking her to his military academy after the train is stalled. This "memorable comedy" (Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide) is a laugh-out-loud classic for all ages!


Bonus Content:

  • Exclusive Introduction by Turner Classic Movies Host and Film Historian Robert Osborne
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
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Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 1100481
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Billy Wilder
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Black & White
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 41 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ April 22, 2008
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English, French
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0012GVMIU
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 560

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
560 global ratings
A Billy Wilder Classic
5 Stars
A Billy Wilder Classic
One of the classic films of the 40's from one of the best directors of all time. Like Some Like It Hot we have a ridiculous imitation of a 31 year old lady portraying herself as a 12 year old to get the fair cut in order to get home with the limited money she had. The interesting thing about that is that Ginger Rogers mom made her do thins in real life so it wasn't a stretch for Ginger's role in this movie. Such a wonderful, light heart, heartfelt, comedy well worth watching haven't seen this film before, or even if you have.The only bad with this order was they sent a smashed case but luckily the disc was fine and luckily I have normal Bluray cases I could use as replacement. The other disappointing thing was for a REMASTERED port to Bluray, it wasn't a stellar remaster, a bit grainy. Even though it's still worth the purchase if you enjoy the classics as I do.
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Top reviews from the United States

Shirley Furnari
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun movie
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
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Fun light hearted movie and a good cast
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Steve Mason
5.0 out of 5 stars A Billy Wilder Classic
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023
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One of the classic films of the 40's from one of the best directors of all time. Like Some Like It Hot we have a ridiculous imitation of a 31 year old lady portraying herself as a 12 year old to get the fair cut in order to get home with the limited money she had. The interesting thing about that is that Ginger Rogers mom made her do thins in real life so it wasn't a stretch for Ginger's role in this movie. Such a wonderful, light heart, heartfelt, comedy well worth watching haven't seen this film before, or even if you have.

The only bad with this order was they sent a smashed case but luckily the disc was fine and luckily I have normal Bluray cases I could use as replacement. The other disappointing thing was for a REMASTERED port to Bluray, it wasn't a stellar remaster, a bit grainy. Even though it's still worth the purchase if you enjoy the classics as I do.
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Steve Mason
5.0 out of 5 stars A Billy Wilder Classic
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023
One of the classic films of the 40's from one of the best directors of all time. Like Some Like It Hot we have a ridiculous imitation of a 31 year old lady portraying herself as a 12 year old to get the fair cut in order to get home with the limited money she had. The interesting thing about that is that Ginger Rogers mom made her do thins in real life so it wasn't a stretch for Ginger's role in this movie. Such a wonderful, light heart, heartfelt, comedy well worth watching haven't seen this film before, or even if you have.

The only bad with this order was they sent a smashed case but luckily the disc was fine and luckily I have normal Bluray cases I could use as replacement. The other disappointing thing was for a REMASTERED port to Bluray, it wasn't a stellar remaster, a bit grainy. Even though it's still worth the purchase if you enjoy the classics as I do.
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Retrogurl
5.0 out of 5 stars Rogers and Wilder magic!
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2015
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Let's face it, nobody could do the little girl thing better than Ginger Rogers. Just take a look at her in 'Kitty Foyle', 'Primrose Path', 'Monkey Business', and 'Lady in the Dark'. In all these films, at some point, Ginger appears as an adolescent girl. Ginger had a talent for mimicry and light comedy as well as a flair for conveying girlish ness in a way that is believable, and not annoying. In 'The Major and the Minor', miss Rogers plays her best little girl yet.

I won't go into the details of the plot, because other reviews probably already did.

Some think it's ridiculous that we are supposed to buy into ultra gorgeous 30 year old Ginger Rogers with her knockout bod, playing a precocious 12 year old girl. Well, WE are not supposed to. We have to believe that the other characters buy into it. The movie is so much fun to watch, that you forget about it pretty soon, and suspend disbelief...mostly due to the writing, acting, directing, and dialog being so wonderful. Miss Rogers was instrumental in getting Billy Wilder hired for this, his first directing gig, and thank heavens she did.. He really should have given Ginger more credit for kick starting his prolific career.

This is the movie that turned me into a hard core Ginger Rogers fan (Gingerologist), and in turn, made Billy Wilder one of my favorite directors. Do yourself a favor and buy 'The Major and the Minor'. It's a joy from beginning to end!
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Retrogurl
5.0 out of 5 stars Rogers and Wilder magic!
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2015
Let's face it, nobody could do the little girl thing better than Ginger Rogers. Just take a look at her in 'Kitty Foyle', 'Primrose Path', 'Monkey Business', and 'Lady in the Dark'. In all these films, at some point, Ginger appears as an adolescent girl. Ginger had a talent for mimicry and light comedy as well as a flair for conveying girlish ness in a way that is believable, and not annoying. In 'The Major and the Minor', miss Rogers plays her best little girl yet.

I won't go into the details of the plot, because other reviews probably already did.

Some think it's ridiculous that we are supposed to buy into ultra gorgeous 30 year old Ginger Rogers with her knockout bod, playing a precocious 12 year old girl. Well, WE are not supposed to. We have to believe that the other characters buy into it. The movie is so much fun to watch, that you forget about it pretty soon, and suspend disbelief...mostly due to the writing, acting, directing, and dialog being so wonderful. Miss Rogers was instrumental in getting Billy Wilder hired for this, his first directing gig, and thank heavens she did.. He really should have given Ginger more credit for kick starting his prolific career.

This is the movie that turned me into a hard core Ginger Rogers fan (Gingerologist), and in turn, made Billy Wilder one of my favorite directors. Do yourself a favor and buy 'The Major and the Minor'. It's a joy from beginning to end!
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11 people found this helpful
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Hannah S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great family feel good movie
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023
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Loved watching this with my mom when I was a teenager. Funny story line. Good clean entertainment
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Delta D.
4.0 out of 5 stars A fun film for the viewer who can impose a huge suspension of disbelief
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2020
Verified Purchase
Putting a 30-year old Ginger Rogers into a 12-year old's clothing requires a huge suspension of disbelief. However, for the viewer who can accomplish this, there is a fun film in store.

The film is significant for being Billy Wilder's first American direction. It cannot be expected to reveal his full genius, but there are several signs of what was to come. Underneath the obvious flippancy, there are the serious psychological issues of a mature woman interacting with hormonal teenagers, an older man being sexually attracted to someone he believes to be a 12-year-old girl and Wilder's general cynicism about adult relationships which perhaps reached its best exposition in The Apartment.

Ginger Rogers clearly revels in her role. Her facial expressions in the challenges of being an older woman pretending to be a 12-year old are a constant joy throughout the film.

4* without hesitation.
2 people found this helpful
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Sue Squires
5.0 out of 5 stars A good laugh revisited
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2009
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I have always loved this movie. Can't afford the full train fare, so you disguise yourself as a child? Delays on the way, and an overprotective eligible man takes you under his wing? Too totally unbelievable to be true? Then let's make a comedy that we can come back to time and again.

Every now and then, over the years, I would catch this movie on the TV, but never remembered the name. Well, I've finally found it, immediately got myself a copy, and find that my memory of it isn't even as good as the movie. Although even as a child I couldn't figure out why anybody would mistake Ginger Rogers for a child, the story was well done, with a number of memorably humorous scenarios (especially like the young scientific girl -- the only one who figures out that Su-su wasn't who she said she was; and the devious nature of the young (all male, in those days) cadets for cadging a kiss). I also loved Jerry Lewis (You're Never Too Young) when it was done again several years later, but The Major and the Minor will always remain my favourite version.

Ss
2 people found this helpful
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Steven L. Katz
5.0 out of 5 stars classic
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2004
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who says this movie isn't classic? it's one of the funniest. Ginger somehow manages to be a surprisingly good little girl. (if not 12, then 14 maybe, but who cares?) she should have been nominated for an oscar at least. i don't know how this one made it past the censors untouched! on the train, when Ginger wakes because of the lightning, and Ray MIlland comes down to comfort her in her bed (he doesn't know she's really an adult) we can only imaginge what's going through her mind! and when she presse her cheek against his chest? HOLY MACKERAL! He thinks she's shaking because of the lightning, but we know better, heh heh...
Ginger is also Hilarious with all the looks and wisecracks that she gives. One of the best lines she has is, after being compared to a lightbulb (moths like lightbulbs) when Ray sees a cadet smooch her. He explains ( in another risque conversation!) that she should be careful around the boys, becase they're attracted to her. She replies: I'll try to be a well behaved lightbulb! Also watch for a little tap-dancing on her part, brings back memories of the thirties. But this movie is definately one of my favories dancing or no.
31 people found this helpful
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Geri Bethel
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun movie
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021
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This is a fun romp. A lady tries to make a living in the city. She had put up the money for a return bus trip if it didn't work out. Unfortunately there was a price increase so she didn't have enough money for the bus ticket. She saw a girl pretending to be younger for a child's ticket. She decided to give it a try. A major decided she needed protection. Fun ensues.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Mr. R. W. Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars She's Not 12
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2024
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A grown woman pretends to be a 12 year old girl for a cheap train ticket and is taken under the wing of an army major and taken to his military academy. Fun and hilarious early Billy Wilder screwball comedy with excellent performances from Ginger Rogers who in no way looks 12 making the whole thing ridiculous but still very funny and Ray Milland. You can guess where it's going but it's still a fun watch.
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Barry Lane
5.0 out of 5 stars Ginger's show.
Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2021
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Billy Wilder before he became a nasty old man, was a nasty youngish one. Ginger Rogers services older men with scalp massages; and if you cannot figure out how that was a way around censorship, you are not as smart and cute as you must be. The lead was prepared for Cary Grant, but Ray Milland did it and nailed his part.
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JOSE M BASAGOITI CAYCOYA
4.0 out of 5 stars Entretenida
Reviewed in Mexico on October 27, 2017
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Simpática situación y buena para pasar el rato. Aunque sea antigua , está buena y entretiene de manera cándida y agradable
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iris
5.0 out of 5 stars film
Reviewed in France on May 4, 2018
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super film !!! passe à la télévision tard au cinéma de minuit et introuvable en replay ou dvd .... j ai été ravie de pouvoir le trouver
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RobMat
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!! - region 1 DVD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2015
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I don't know how anyone couldn't like this movie, as for me it's one of the most hilarious movies I've ever seen!!! I am a Billy Wilder aficionado, as you'd put it, and this is one of my very favorites!! Love his dramas, but oh boy his comedies!! So hilarious! And this is one of them. Billy Wilder's script are perfection. Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland are great actors, and they are ever so great in both drama AND comedy. As I understand, not everyone liked the movie or found it funny, so I wouldn't know if suggest it to you. But my personal opinion is this one.

I know that for some people region 1 DVDs are a problem, as they don't play in region 2 DVD player, as the ones we have in Europe. For me it's no problem, as I play DVDs with region 2 in the DVD player, and the DVDs region 1 on the computer, connecting the computer to the TV. But I know that for someone is. So, just to warn you, this IS a region 1 DVD, and it will play only on multi-region DVD players, or on computer.
3 people found this helpful
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