The Good Fairy (1935) in Color — Starring Margaret Sullavan & Herbert Marshall

The Good Fairy (1935) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the delightful screwball comedy of The Good Fairy (1935) in color for just €15.00. Directed by William Wyler, this whimsical tale of mistaken identities and good-hearted deception stars the radiant Margaret Sullavan as a naive orphan who tries to spread happiness in Budapest and creates hilarious chaos instead. Available now as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for instant viewing on any device.

Plot Summary

Luisa Ginglebusher (Margaret Sullavan) has spent her entire life in a Budapest orphanage, emerging into the world at eighteen with boundless optimism, zero worldly experience, and a determination to be a “good fairy” who helps everyone she meets. She lands a job as an usherette at a movie theater but quickly discovers that the real world does not operate with the simple moral clarity of the films she watches all day.

When wealthy meat-packing magnate Konrad (Reginald Owen) takes Luisa to dinner at a grand hotel and makes romantic advances, she panics and invents a husband to fend him off. Plucking a name randomly from the telephone directory, she claims to be married to Dr. Max Sporum (Herbert Marshall), a struggling lawyer she has never met. Konrad, impressed by Luisa’s supposed husband, decides to throw his legal business to Sporum, transforming the bewildered attorney’s practice overnight.

Meanwhile, the charm-resistant Detlaff (Frank Morgan), a waiter who has become Luisa’s reluctant advisor, tries to guide her through the increasingly tangled web of lies. When Sporum tracks down the mysterious woman responsible for his sudden good fortune, he falls genuinely in love with Luisa. But Konrad also grows more infatuated, and Luisa’s innocent deceptions multiply until every character is operating under a different set of false assumptions. The film builds to a brilliantly orchestrated comic climax where all the misunderstandings converge simultaneously.

Cast & Crew

Director: William Wyler

Stars: Margaret Sullavan, Herbert Marshall, Frank Morgan, Reginald Owen, Eric Blore, Beulah Bondi, Alan Hale, Cesar Romero

Margaret Sullavan is luminous as Luisa, bringing a combination of wide-eyed innocence and unexpected cleverness that makes her character irresistible. Herbert Marshall provides suave romantic chemistry as the bewildered Dr. Sporum. Frank Morgan, later immortalized as the Wizard of Oz, nearly steals the film as the world-weary waiter Detlaff, delivering cynical wisdom with impeccable comic timing.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition of The Good Fairy brings 1930s Budapest glamour to sparkling life. The grand hotel ballroom, the elegant restaurant scenes, and Margaret Sullavan’s charming wardrobe gain period-perfect visual richness. The Art Deco interiors and the contrast between Luisa’s modest origins and the wealthy world she stumbles into become beautifully apparent in color. Now also available in colour.

Buy your DRM-free MP4 copy today for just €15.00 and enjoy instant download access on any device.

Historical Significance

Released in 1935, The Good Fairy marked Margaret Sullavan’s star-making Hollywood turn and represents an early directorial achievement by William Wyler, who would become one of cinema’s most honored filmmakers. Adapted from Ferenc Molnár’s celebrated play by Preston Sturges, the film showcases the witty dialogue and farcical situations that would define Sturges’ legendary screenwriting career. Through colorization, this sparkling pre-Code comedy is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, from original black-and-white
• Audio: Original English mono
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play on any device
• Instant download: Delivered immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Who wrote the screenplay for The Good Fairy?
A: The screenplay was written by Preston Sturges, who would later become one of Hollywood’s greatest writer-directors. His adaptation of Ferenc Molnár’s play showcases the verbal wit and farcical construction that defined his legendary career.

Q: What makes Margaret Sullavan’s performance special?
A: Sullavan brings a unique combination of childlike innocence and sharp intelligence to Luisa Ginglebusher. She makes the character’s naive attempts at doing good genuinely charming rather than foolish, and her comic timing with the escalating deceptions is impeccable.

Q: Is this film connected to the 1947 remake?
A: Yes, The Good Fairy was remade in 1947 as I’ll Be Yours, starring Deanna Durbin. However, critics generally consider the original superior, largely due to Margaret Sullavan’s irreplaceable performance and Sturges’ sharper screenplay.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is this download DRM-free?
A: Yes, the file has no digital rights management restrictions, so you can watch it on any device without limitations.

Q: How quickly will I receive my download?
A: Instantly — a download link appears on screen and is also sent to your email immediately after purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Gay Deception (1935)
• It Happened One Night (1934)
• My Man Godfrey (1936)
• The Awful Truth (1937)
• Bringing Up Baby (1938)