In an all-girls orphanage

One of the things I wanted to focus on again was the opening of The Good Fairy. Establishing the premise and getting to the point of the story is important in order to be a successfully entertaining film and things are no different here. And while William Wyler is the director of this film, I have to give credit to Preston Sturges because he wrote the script and from the moment a character opens her mouth, it is quite apparent that this is a Preston Sturges screwball comedy.

The opening of the film takes place in the orphanage in which the main character Luisa lives. It's quite sad and dreary-looking. It begins without saying anything but instead showing girls of all ages playing and working together. It almost looked like a commune, which I suppose in a certain sense it is. But what is it that sets this apart from other stories about orphans? It's anything but ordinary. A doorbell rings and a little girl heads for it hurriedly to answer, and the exchange that follows is quite funny, in which people jumble up words and end up saying strange things with straight faces.

The thing about Sturges' dialogue that stands out is that it's not just that it's hilarious, but it's ridiculous. And then the actors themselves deliver the lines as a matter of fact, this is the way things are, you can't help but laugh. But what makes this opening even more standout is that Sturges takes these characters who are quite innocent and naïve but he exaggerates it to move the story forward. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The simple dialogue exchange between Dr Schultz and Shlapkohl establishes from the start the screwballiness of the situation. There have already been misunderstanding with Shlapkohl assuming Dr Schultz is a man, but in their conversation he gets straight to the point. While she wonders if the pants of the uniform are too tight, he says it all depends on the girl. And the truth of it is you have to watch the film, because I don't do it any justice repeating the lines of dialogue.

Soon enough, we meet Luisa, up on top of the ladder, telling fairy stories to the younger girls--this story being essential to the plot of the film. And while she entertains the girls, she sets herself up for a pratfall in which she hangs from the a swinging light fixture from the ceiling and then falls flat on the floor, but still all right. When she's asked if she wants to be an usherette. She agrees, but doesn't know what one is--once again reminding not just Shlapkohl, but the audience how innocent these girls are. Doesn't matter because Shlapkohl is sold. He wants her wrapped up to take home, and he literally says that.

In this brief introduction, Sturges and William Wyler have set up not just the tone of the film, but also set in place essential plot points to the story. The story of the Good Fairy doing her daily good deed, the innocence of Luisa in a world she's only seen from behind the gates of the orphanage, all of it is there before the first ten minutes. But what's most satisfying of it all is that it's thoroughly enjoying and silly. You know that Luisa out in the world will surely find some adventures and that it'll make you laugh the following hour and half away.