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Love is a Ball (1963) - Glenn Ford & Hope Lange

Classic Robb's Glenn Ford Channel・52 minutes read

John Davis needs money for a boat, but Mr. Pim offers to repair it in exchange for teaching Gaspar refinement and skills. Gaspar is revealed to be the grand duke and faces pressure for a potential marriage, leading to romantic entanglements and a decision to pursue a more authentic path.

Insights

  • John Davis agrees to Mr. Pim's proposal to groom Gaspar de Cruzo into a refined gentleman, teaching him driving and horsemanship in exchange for repairing his boat and covering expenses, leading to a successful venture.
  • Gaspar de Cruzo, revealed to be the grand duke and last descendant of the sultan of Granada, faces pressure for a strategic marriage with an American heiress, but ultimately rebels against manipulative intentions, choosing a path of honesty and self-respect over wealth and societal expectations.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Gaspar de Cruzo?

    Gaspar de Cruzo is a character in the story who is groomed by John Davis to become a refined gentleman.

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Summary

00:00

John Davis: Boat Repair for Gentleman Training

  • John Davis needs $3,500 for a boat, crucial for his livelihood.
  • A man named Mr. Pim wants to engage John's services, not his boat.
  • Mr. Pim, along with Gaspar de Cruzo, wants John to groom Gaspar into a refined gentleman.
  • Mr. Pim also wants John to teach Gaspar driving and horsemanship.
  • In return for his services, Mr. Pim offers to repair John's boat and pay all expenses.
  • John agrees to Mr. Pim's proposal, leading to a successful venture.
  • The group, including John and Gaspar, finds a new home for their activities.
  • They prepare the new home for the arrival of the Grand Duke Gaspar Closer from Barcelona.
  • John teaches Gaspar various skills, including driving and making love gently.
  • Despite some challenges, the group continues their activities and conversations, focusing on refinement and education.

27:42

Gaspar's Horse Riding Skills and Marriage Plan

  • Gaspar is practicing his horse riding skills with encouragement from others.
  • Gaspar is compared to his skills in playing gin rummy while practicing horse riding.
  • Gaspar is being trained and prepared for a specific purpose.
  • A plan is revealed involving Gaspar and a potential marriage.
  • Gaspar is revealed to be the grand duke and the last descendant of the great sultan of Granada.
  • Gaspar's suitability for a marriage with an American woman named Millicent Mehaffey, who has a substantial inheritance, is discussed.
  • Gaspar's role in the plan is clarified, involving a meeting with Millicent.
  • A new chauffeur, Davis, is introduced as part of the plan.
  • Davis impresses with his knowledge and skills, leading to his hiring as a chauffeur.
  • Davis and Millicent have a tense interaction, establishing their dynamic.

49:18

Young niece resists pressure, finds love.

  • A party is planned for a young niece, and the host wants the Grand Duke to attend.
  • The niece is unaware of the party and expresses disinterest in marriage and babies.
  • The host insists on the niece meeting potential suitors, including the Grand Duke.
  • The niece resists the pressure to meet men and expresses her desire to choose her own partner.
  • The niece's chauffeur, Davis, quits after a disagreement with her.
  • The niece visits a ballet school and expresses her interest in racing cars.
  • The niece meets a man named Freddie, who proposes to her.
  • The Grand Duke and the niece have a romantic encounter while horseback riding.
  • The niece's chauffeur, Johnny, and a woman named Nino have a conversation about money and values.
  • The niece reflects on the day as one of the happiest times of her life.

01:20:16

Gaspar's Risky Behavior Sparks Romantic Tension

  • A crisis meeting is held to discuss Gaspar's risky behavior before the international grand prix.
  • Gaspar's actions are jeopardizing the plans of the group, leading to concerns about her safety.
  • Suggestions are sought from the group to prevent Gaspar from participating in the race.
  • Gaspar's chauffeur, Johnny, is instructed to ensure she doesn't race by faking engine trouble.
  • Despite Gaspar's protests, Johnny follows through with the plan to prevent her from racing.
  • Gaspar's love life becomes complicated as she falls for Johnny, causing tension and misunderstandings.
  • A plan is devised to create a romantic setting for Gaspar and Johnny to resolve their issues.
  • Gaspar is taken to a secluded island for a romantic getaway to help her relationship with Johnny.
  • Gaspar's friends plot to marry her off to Gaspar, but she rebels against their manipulative intentions.
  • Gaspar decides to leave her wealthy lifestyle behind and pursue a more honest and self-respecting path.

01:50:00

Grandfather's Delivery Sparks Emotional Response

  • A package arrives for a woman, urging immediate opening.
  • The package was delivered by a gentleman to the back door.
  • The woman's grandfather went through great effort to bring the gentleman to her.
  • The woman is emotional upon receiving the package.
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