Rafter Romance 1933

Mary Ginger Rogers is a spirited young woman from upstate New York who arrives in New York City with big dreams of finding a stable job and building a successful career. When she first starts out, her financial situation is precarious, and she is quickly running low on money. At the same time, she shares a building in Greenwich Village with Jack Norman Foster, an aspiring artist who is determined to make a name for himself. Jack is a creative soul, living a somewhat bohemian lifestyle, and the two are complete strangers who happen to share the same apartment, but at different times.

Their landlord, Max Eckbaum, a kindly but practical man, notices their difficulties and comes up with an innovative solution to help them both: he suggests that Mary move into Jack’s loft apartment, and they should share the space by shift, so they never see each other. Jack would sleep during the day since he works at night, and Mary would sell refrigerators over the phone during the daytime. The arrangement is meant to be discreet—so much so that they don’t know each other’s true identities. However, this setup leads to a series of comic misunderstandings as each begins to form quick opinions about the other based on little clues and mistaken assumptions, especially when they spot articles of clothing or personal belongings left out.

Initially, both are quick to assume the worst of each other. Jack, playing a harmless prank, places a bucket in the shower, which unexpectedly falls on Mary when she goes to use it. Conversely, Mary retaliates by soaking Jack’s suit in the shower. Mischievous acts escalate as Jack saws Mary’s bed in half, causing her to fall apart unexpectedly. These humorous but frustrating moments lay the groundwork for their comical rivalry, which quickly transforms into something more complicated when, outside their apartment, they accidentally meet—still unaware of each other’s identities. Despite their mutual misunderstandings, they find themselves increasingly attracted to each other, sparking a tender, confusing romantic connection.

Things become more tangled when Mary’s H. Harrington Hubbell, her flirtatious and somewhat lecherous boss, tries to invite her to dinner, complicating the situation. Meanwhile, Jack is pursued by Elise Peabody Willington Smythe, a wealthy, lonely woman with a strong interest in him and an intent to dominate his affections. What begins as innocent flirtation between Jack and Elise turns into a power struggle, adding more tension and comedy to the story.

The story takes a humorous turn at a company picnic when Jack and Mary slip away from the crowd and miss the return bus, forcing them to take a taxi instead. As they arrive at Jack’s apartment, Mary realizes with shock that Jack is her roommate, which prompts Jack to confront her, believing she might suspect the secretive arrangement. He openly denounces Jack the same way she has, not knowing they are the same person. Their confrontation is interrupted when their landlord, George Sidney (playing her father or a similar authority figure), arrives and clears up the confusion.

In the chaos that follows, Elise and Hubbell show up at the apartment, each with their own schemes—Elise tries to bribe Mary, hoping to win Jack over, while Hubbell gets a punch from a protective taxi driver, Fritzie (played by Guinn “Big Boy” Williams), mistaking him for Jack. The taxi driver, realizing his mistake, is about to punch Jack—only to be stopped by Mary, who intervenes just in time.

The story culminates in a warm, comedic moment as Jack and Mary, now fully aware of each other’s true identities and feelings, share a kiss in the backseat of the taxi. In a charming finale, their landlord humorously remarks on their engagement, saying “I arranged it,” sealing the happy ending of this romantic comedy full of misunderstandings, pranks, and genuine affection.