Exploring the Charm of 'Mr. and Mrs. North': A Look Back at 'Pretty Baby'
The 1950s were a golden era for television, with many shows that have become classics. Among them was "Mr. and Mrs. North," a series that brought wit, charm, and a dash of mystery to the small screen. The show starred Richard Denning and Barbara Britton as a married couple living in New York City who find themselves embroiled in various crimes, often solving them before the police do.
One notable episode from this series is "Pretty Baby," which aired in April 1953. This episode is a perfect example of the show's blend of comedy, drama, mystery, and romance. The plot revolves around a toddler who is lost and found numerous times after being left at the North's door. The mother, seeking to escape her race-obsessed bookie husband, leaves the child with the Norths, setting off a series of comedic and suspenseful events.
The episode features a cast of colorful characters, including an incompetent detective, drunks from a bar looking to make a quick buck, and a crabby female cop trying to unravel the story. The narrative is a delightful Runyanesque romp that showcases the show's ability to handle touchy material with humor and grace.
"Pretty Baby" is a testament to the show's sophisticated writing and the era's storytelling style. It's a reminder of a time when television was a new and exciting medium that brought families together. For those interested in revisiting this classic, or discovering it for the first time, the episode is available for viewing online.
"Mr. and Mrs. North" remains a charming snapshot of 1950s television, reflecting the social norms and cultural attitudes of the time. It's a piece of entertainment history that continues to delight audiences with its timeless appeal. Whether you're a fan of classic TV or just love a good mystery, "Mr. and Mrs. North" and episodes like "Pretty Baby" are sure to provide an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
The 1950s were a golden era for television, with many shows that have become classics. Among them was "Mr. and Mrs. North," a series that brought wit, charm, and a dash of mystery to the small screen. The show starred Richard Denning and Barbara Britton as a married couple living in New York City who find themselves embroiled in various crimes, often solving them before the police do.
One notable episode from this series is "Pretty Baby," which aired in April 1953. This episode is a perfect example of the show's blend of comedy, drama, mystery, and romance. The plot revolves around a toddler who is lost and found numerous times after being left at the North's door. The mother, seeking to escape her race-obsessed bookie husband, leaves the child with the Norths, setting off a series of comedic and suspenseful events.
The episode features a cast of colorful characters, including an incompetent detective, drunks from a bar looking to make a quick buck, and a crabby female cop trying to unravel the story. The narrative is a delightful Runyanesque romp that showcases the show's ability to handle touchy material with humor and grace.
"Pretty Baby" is a testament to the show's sophisticated writing and the era's storytelling style. It's a reminder of a time when television was a new and exciting medium that brought families together. For those interested in revisiting this classic, or discovering it for the first time, the episode is available for viewing online.
"Mr. and Mrs. North" remains a charming snapshot of 1950s television, reflecting the social norms and cultural attitudes of the time. It's a piece of entertainment history that continues to delight audiences with its timeless appeal. Whether you're a fan of classic TV or just love a good mystery, "Mr. and Mrs. North" and episodes like "Pretty Baby" are sure to provide an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Mr. and Mrs. North, starring Barbara Britton and Richard Denning.
00:30Coming up next...
00:43Pam.
00:47Pam!
00:48Jerry, not so loud!
00:56Jerry, not so loud.
00:58Hmm?
00:59Is something wrong?
01:00Yes.
01:01Now, don't get excited or anything when I tell you.
01:03When you tell me what?
01:05Jerry, I've got a baby.
01:08Tam, darling.
01:10Wait a minute.
01:11Oh, but you don't say it like that.
01:13I don't say what like what?
01:15I've got a baby.
01:16You say, I'm going to have it.
01:17Oh, don't I, though.
01:18Well, come here.
01:23Look.
01:25Holy smoke.
01:27Hmm.
01:29As I said, I've got a baby.
01:31So I see.
01:32But when?
01:33How?
01:34What happened?
01:35Isn't he scrumptious?
01:36Huh?
01:37Now, look, Pam.
01:38Whose baby is this?
01:39I have the faintest idea.
01:40Right now, I don't care.
01:41But it's got to belong to somebody.
01:43Babies don't just happen.
01:45I know.
01:46Isn't it too bad?
01:48Now, Pam, will you please tell me what this is all about?
01:51Well, somebody left him here with this note.
01:54Please take care of my baby.
01:56I'll be back for him later.
01:58Darnedest thing I ever heard.
02:00I think it's the nicest.
02:02Someday, he may be president.
02:04That's what my mother said about me.
02:09Oh, no, you don't.
02:11No, no.
02:15Now, look what you've done.
02:25This is my only watch.
02:27This is our only baby.
02:30Well, I think we ought to call Wigan to police somebody.
02:34The note says they'll be back and wants us to take care of him.
02:37I wish you didn't have such a literal mind.
02:43Maybe that's the mother now.
02:47Jerry, don't spoil his fun.
02:49No.
03:17I...
03:35My baby, is he all right, is he?
03:37Of course he is. You're the mother?
03:39Yes.
03:40Oh, you must think I'm terrible to leave him like that, but...
03:42Well, it isn't usual.
03:43Oh, I don't blame you, but you see, I was desperate.
03:45I had to get him away, and your door was open.
03:48He is all right, isn't he?
03:50Of course he is.
03:51We were just getting acquainted.
03:53Oh, I'm so glad. I was really worried.
03:57We were wondering how we were going to get in touch with him.
04:00My baby! He's gone!
04:03Now I will call the police.
04:09Operator, get me police headquarters.
04:15It's him.
04:17It's him.
04:18It's him!
04:19It's him!
04:20It's him!
04:21It's him!
04:22It's him!
04:23It's him!
04:24It's him!
04:25It's him!
04:26It's him!
04:27It's him!
04:29And then when we went to the bedroom, the baby was gone.
04:32And you know...
04:33And the window was open, the one leading to the fire escape.
04:35Nobody can close it!
04:36How do you expect me to get the facts with both of you yammering?
04:39We're sorry, officer.
04:40I think so.
04:41Now, when your baby disappeared...
04:43It wasn't our baby.
04:44Whose was it?
04:45We don't know.
04:46No, no. It was just left here.
04:47A likely story. How did it get in?
04:50Well, I must have left the door open, either when I went shopping,
04:53or when I took the trash and the cans and the bottles.
04:55Bottles?
04:56Now, wait a minute.
04:57Watch your tongue, young man.
04:59Let me remind you, we have extreme penalties
05:01for people having in their possession babies not belonging to them.
05:05But we just told you...
05:06Was this baby related to you?
05:08No.
05:09There, you see?
05:10Now, wait a minute. You saw the note the mother left.
05:12Yes, but that could be a well-planned scheme.
05:15I resent that.
05:17Watch it.
05:18Officer, are you going to do something about this, or aren't you?
05:21Young woman, I've had seven years in the line of duty.
05:24Then do it.
05:25Just don't rush me.
05:29Stand back.
05:34I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find him.
05:36Who was this?
05:37The baby's mother.
05:39Oh, see here, young woman.
05:40What is this nonsense about you leaving your baby here?
05:43I was desperate. I had to.
05:45Abandoning child. This is a serious offense.
05:47But she came back for him.
05:49Purely immaterial. That was after the fact.
05:52Oh, for Pete's sake.
05:54Young man, officer, you've simply got to help me find my baby.
05:58First I must make my report.
06:00You may be subject to arrest.
06:04Possibly all three of you.
06:07How about including the baby?
06:09He stole my watch.
06:17Now we'll call your partner.
06:19Oh, he'll be glad to see you.
06:21Be right there.
06:25Is it good, Pete?
06:41So, I says to him, all my life I've been a good husband to you.
06:44What do you want?
06:45Cadillacs.
06:46My old lady's like that, only she'll sell them for mink.
06:49Minks, I says to Florence.
06:51That's for the birds.
06:52So she says, okay, mink like she's a bird.
06:55So I says, fly away and don't bother me.
07:00Hey, what's that?
07:05It's a creep.
07:06It's a baby. What do you think it is?
07:08Get him out of here or I'll lose my license.
07:10Take it easy, Sam.
07:22Hey.
07:27What do you mean there ain't no answer?
07:29There's gotta be.
07:33Hello? Hello?
07:40Well, I guess we just have to...
07:47Oh.
07:53Hey, get a load of this.
07:58Come on, give the kid back his watch.
08:00What's the matter with you?
08:01Yeah.
08:02Here, kid, take it.
08:06Now, get him out of here.
08:08Sam, ain't you got no heart?
08:10If I knew you was that kind of a guy, I wouldn't come in here.
08:12But look, fellas, I gotta be careful.
08:14The cops here...
08:15Shame on you, Sam.
08:16Yeah.
08:17I'm sorry, fellas, honest.
08:19What do you mean, cops?
08:20The kid ain't drunk.
08:22Nope, he ain't ordered nothing.
08:24Give him a straight shot of milk.
08:26I ain't got none.
08:27How do you like that?
08:29What kind of a crummy place is this?
08:32Oh, now, wait a minute.
08:34I don't get no call for milk.
08:36Give the kid some milk!
08:39I'm gonna talk to my union.
08:47Well, like I said,
08:49And I pay you a C-note as a private dick.
08:52You couldn't catch a raindrop in a club first.
08:54So I go in because there's a million apartments in the place.
08:57Repeat on the address. I'll come down myself.
09:0024 St. Anne's Place.
09:02That's the village?
09:04I'm practically there.
09:09He up and loses her and the kid.
09:11Is that news?
09:12Why does she do that to me?
09:13Look, chum, no doll is gonna sit back and dream
09:16while you make book and lose all your cabbage.
09:18I promised her once I'd give up gambling.
09:20Now I'm gonna do it!
09:22I'll never take another bet in my whole life!
09:28Uh, you answer that, man.
09:30If they want bluegrass at 5th or Jamaica, give them 6 to 5.
09:32I gotta find a way for money.
09:36Hello?
09:39See the guy at the end of the bar?
09:41Yeah, I'll look him.
09:43He's gonna cry on his beard.
09:49Yeah, Red Ball.
09:51First time I ever seen it.
09:53I've heard about it, though.
10:02Hello?
10:04Why, Mr. Parris, you're mad!
10:06You could say that again.
10:09Don't you fall down?
10:11Don't you feel anything?
10:14Don't you fall down?
10:16Don't you feel anything?
10:18I only feel sad.
10:21Now, about the baby.
10:23Yeah, where is he at and why?
10:25Well, he evaporated.
10:27Right out of the phone booth.
10:31The kid don't know how to use a phone.
10:33And he hasn't got a dime.
10:35Look, if you don't find that kid, I'll get a...
10:38I'll get a sledgehammer and I ain't gonna...
10:40Now, now, don't get mad again, Mr. Parris.
10:42I'll go down one side of the street,
10:44and you go up another.
10:46Yeah, and I'll meet you in Scotland in the morning.
10:48Scotland?
10:50I ain't never been there.
10:55What stamina!
10:57Yeah, you know,
10:59I knew a guy once took a drink to steady himself.
11:02Sometimes he gets so steady, he couldn't move.
11:04Yeah, it was you.
11:13Yeah.
11:15You know all that talk about the baby?
11:17Mm-hmm.
11:19You know what that guy is?
11:21Yeah, a snatcher.
11:23That's serious.
11:25Yeah, it's also a felony.
11:27You know, fellas, I'm just thinking,
11:31what could we do with maybe, say,
11:35two grand?
11:38Oh, I'd go to California.
11:40There's more dames out there than oranges.
11:44Ah, I'd go to Miami.
11:46Boy, I know a dog down there runs a beautiful race.
11:50What about your wife?
11:52I forgot about her.
11:54So I'll leave her home on account we only got one suitcase.
11:57Happy, before we go anyplace,
11:59where do we get the two grand to go with?
12:01We follow him.
12:11I'm sure the police will find him.
12:13Why, of course they will.
12:15I should never have done it, even in spite of Harry.
12:18Oh, now, don't worry.
12:28Hey, here it is.
12:31Yes?
12:33Oh, my baby, my baby.
12:35Oh, a baby.
12:36Just a minute, young woman.
12:37Is this the baby in question?
12:39I found him roaming in the street.
12:40Yes, of course he is.
12:41And I found her roaming with him.
12:43This young man says he's the father.
12:44Is that true?
12:45Well, he was, but not anymore.
12:47That's an injustice, an untruth,
12:49defamation of character and a lie.
12:51Please, may I have my baby?
12:52Not so fast.
12:53This child's had a rough time.
12:55Why don't you put him in the bedroom
12:56and then you can all talk it over?
12:57Well, that's the first sensible thing I've heard yet.
13:01Stay where you are.
13:03You, too.
13:06Ruthie, listen to me.
13:07I wouldn't talk to you on a bum stage.
13:09Don't you Ruthie me.
13:11But, honey, I want you back at the stable.
13:13I miss you and the kids something terrific.
13:16They live in a stable.
13:18He thinks she's a horse.
13:20Just racetrack patter.
13:22Must be a bookie.
13:23I just don't want to talk to you anymore.
13:25I'm making a pitch.
13:27Here I am, all alone in the world.
13:29I've only been gone an hour.
13:31No, an hour and a half.
13:33No, an hour and a half.
13:34And another thing.
13:35I don't want my son to be brought up
13:37thinking the racing farm is a best seller.
13:39Twenty to one, I'll never read anything
13:40but the Wall Street Journal from now on.
13:42Look, honey.
13:43This is a situation with great embarrassment.
13:46My heart is going like a sprinter in the last eight.
13:49I am perspiring with affection for you.
13:54Are you, Harry?
13:56No, I told you before it was the last time and I meant it.
14:00Famous last words.
14:02I wish we could help them.
14:04I just don't want to listen to you anymore, Harry.
14:07You've told me too many times.
14:08But I love you, honey.
14:09You know I do.
14:11She loves him too.
14:13I can see it.
14:14Then I must be blind and deaf.
14:20Now, I want to get a few facts from you too.
14:32Harry.
14:48Married in Philadelphia.
14:50Tuesday, five o'clock.
15:02Harry.
15:20Now, you say you were married in Philadelphia.
15:22Yeah, we just came up from Pimpego.
15:24I had three mothers.
15:25On account it was raining.
15:27What's a mother?
15:28Such an ignorant question.
15:30A mother is a bangtail who loves the goo.
15:33Young man, watch your language.
15:35Yes, ma'am.
15:36As for you, young lady, you're lucky I'm not arresting you.
15:39The next time will be quite a different story.
15:42I'm sorry, officer.
15:43I really am.
15:44Well, I guess you can have the baby.
15:47I'll get him.
15:52He's gone.
15:53Gone?
16:01Well, kid, we made it.
16:03Yep.
16:04When Chuck Mahoney goes on a job, it gets done.
16:07Now, Mr. Barrett won't be mad no more.
16:10Hey.
16:11That's a nice, fancy hunk of stuff.
16:14If I was back at my old trade, I could take that away from you
16:18without you even knowing it.
16:20But I see my folly and I change my mind.
16:26Uh-oh.
16:27We've got to do something about you.
16:35Now, like I was saying, say you was carrying a wallet in your hip pocket.
16:40I'd have it before you could say beads.
16:43Well, now we're in trouble.
16:45I'm going to have to get you out of here.
16:48I'm going to have to get you out of here.
16:50I'm going to have to get you out of here.
16:52Say beads.
16:54Well, now we're in business.
16:56I saw my sister do this with her kid.
17:00Let's see.
17:03Over.
17:05Fold.
17:07Print.
17:11Arms up.
17:13Around.
17:15Print.
17:17There we are.
17:18Now stand up and let me have a gander at you.
17:23Not bad.
17:25Okay, I'll put your pants on.
17:37Here.
17:42Hey, how about some grub?
17:45I'm starved.
17:47I'll go in and fix us a couple of hamburgers with onions, pickles, and rubbish.
17:53Just relax.
18:01How do you like yours?
18:03Medium rare or well done?
18:08Ain't I saying that?
18:22Hey, kid.
18:23What do you want, mustard or prickly oil?
18:26Okay, so you'll get prickly oil, you liar.
18:32No, leave me alone.
18:34Well, I guess I deserve it.
18:37It's all my fault.
18:39It certainly is.
18:41You and your gambling and staying out nights.
18:44I just couldn't stand it.
18:46Gambling is a curse worse than profanity.
18:49Horses.
18:50Dice and cards.
18:52I won't even play solitaire.
18:54It's too late.
18:56Our baby's gone and we'll never see him again.
18:59That's another item which is on my fault list.
19:03No, it was me.
19:05I never should have done it.
19:06I must have been out of my mind.
19:08I made you do it, honey, if I just hadn't been so selfish.
19:11No.
19:13Take our baby and leave it.
19:15No matter how wrong you were.
19:18You're right, I was wrong.
19:20No, it was me.
19:22Hey, look, sweetheart, I've been a handicap all my life.
19:24I know when the odds are against me.
19:27Harry Barrett, are you trying to tell me
19:29I can't take the blame for my own mistakes?
19:32Then I'll get you 20 on the responsible party.
19:37I know perfectly well what you're trying to say.
19:40But when something is my fault, I'll take the blame for it.
19:43Now, don't be silly.
19:45Oh, so now I'm being silly.
19:47Hey, I'd better do something about this.
19:49Oh, I didn't mean that.
19:50Well, then why did you say that?
19:52I only said...
19:53That I was being silly.
19:55I didn't say that.
19:56You did so.
19:58Hey, I never said that.
20:00You did so.
20:02Now, wait a minute.
20:03Hey, you're crowding the entry.
20:04Stay off the track.
20:05Yes, please mind your own business.
20:07Look, I know you're both upset and I don't blame you.
20:09Now, maybe your wife was...
20:11Do you realize that's the woman who shares my name and debts?
20:14But I only meant that maybe you were wrong, too.
20:16Harry, are you going to let him talk to you like that?
20:18Indeed, I won't.
20:19He's a character that needs some convincing.
20:23Jerry!
20:24How dare you strike my husband?
20:26How dare you hit my husband?
20:28Yeah, hold everything.
20:30Now, look, suppose you and I had a family fight
20:32and some outsider tried to butt in.
20:33Wouldn't we gang up against him?
20:35Well, naturally, if we love each other.
20:37Well, sure.
20:38Love each other.
20:39Of course, that's what I wanted to find out.
20:41Oh, now I'm sure the baby will come back.
20:47Yeah, I wonder who he belongs to.
20:49Look, I give you guys credit for drinks,
20:51but not for any brains.
20:53Now, get out of here and take this kid with you.
20:55It's getting late.
20:56Yeah.
20:57It means my license if he's seen in here.
21:00Where are we going?
21:01You're right.
21:03Kid should be sleeping at night.
21:05I wonder who he belongs to.
21:07Look, I give you guys credit for drinks,
21:09but not for any brains.
21:11Now, get out of here and take this kid with you.
21:13It's getting late.
21:14Yeah.
21:15I wonder what time it is.
21:18Hmm, quarter past.
21:20Nice watch.
21:22There's something written on the back.
21:24To Jerry North, with love from Pam.
21:27This must be the owners of the kid.
21:29Hey, I know this North guy.
21:32He lives a couple of houses down the street.
21:34Well, what are we waiting for?
21:37Now, you don't.
21:38Give the kid back the watch.
21:41Come on, let's go.
21:44Come on, baby.
21:45Come on.
21:46Take a pretzel.
21:47That's it.
21:58This is it.
22:01Now, before we go in, leave us confirmed.
22:07How much should we ask for?
22:1010 grand.
22:12Say, 20 grand.
22:14We could overhead an operating expenses.
22:16Right.
22:17And taxes, too.
22:18Yeah.
22:19And then it happens.
22:21I'm in the kitchen, and I yell out,
22:22do you want mustard or pick a lily?
22:24What was that for?
22:25For the hamburgers, Natch.
22:27Hamburgers?
22:28For the baby?
22:29Also with onions and honey.
22:31You have reached the wire.
22:33Hold it.
22:34Oh, I'll get it.
22:40Good evening, madam.
22:41We are the bearers of important news.
22:44Well, come in.
22:47My words will be welcome.
22:4920 grand, to be exact.
22:56We would settle for 10.
23:03We'll even arbitrate.
23:06Tell you what we'll do.
23:07We'll sell it for 500 bucks.
23:13250.
23:15Listen, you two.
23:17We've had enough double talk around here already.
23:19Cut it out, or I'll run you in.
23:21Would you mind telling me what this is all about?
23:26The baby.
23:30Oh, the darling.
23:32The photo finished.
23:35Give it back.
23:37Hey, that's my watch.
23:39Jerry.
23:48You're all under arrest.
23:50The count.
23:51The end.
23:52Good night, everybody.
23:53Good night, all.
23:56Hey, how about a reward?
23:58Anything.
24:01Three beers?
24:02It's a deal.
24:05Thanks for everything.
24:06And me too.
24:07Good night.
24:08What do I do with this?
24:34What do I do with this?
24:35What do I do with this?
24:36What do I do with this?
24:37What do I do with this?
24:38What do I do with this?
24:39What do I do with this?
24:40What do I do with this?
24:41What do I do with this?
24:42What do I do with this?
24:43What do I do with this?
24:44What do I do with this?
24:45What do I do with this?
24:46What do I do with this?
24:47What do I do with this?
24:48What do I do with this?
24:49What do I do with this?
24:50What do I do with this?
24:51What do I do with this?
24:52What do I do with this?
24:53What do I do with this?
24:54What do I do with this?
24:55What do I do with this?
24:56What do I do with this?
24:57What do I do with this?
24:58What do I do with this?
24:59What do I do with this?
25:00What do I do with this?
25:01What do I do with this?
25:02What do I do with this?
25:03What do I do with this?
25:04What do I do with this?
25:05What do I do with this?
25:06What do I do with this?
25:07What do I do with this?
25:08What do I do with this?
25:09What do I do with this?
25:10What do I do with this?
25:11What do I do with this?
25:12What do I do with this?
25:13What do I do with this?
25:14What do I do with this?
25:15What do I do with this?
25:16What do I do with this?
25:17What do I do with this?
25:18What do I do with this?
25:19What do I do with this?
25:20What do I do with this?
25:21What do I do with this?
25:22This has been a film presentation.