Thelma Ritter received a worthy Oscar nomination for her earthy performance as the proprietress of a diner who, due to lack of funds, has to leave the business behind and go to live with her son (miscast John Lund); he has just gotten married to a wealthy beauty with a harpy mother, and when Ritter is mistaken for the new cook, she accepts the job willingly. Though based upon a play, "The Mating Season" isn't stagy or static at all--in fact, just the opposite, it is too hectic and over-plotted for its own good. It isn't enough to have one deception going on, there are also incredibly involved confusions and assumptions with Lund's co-workers, their relatives and his boss. Lund is too icy to be comfortable as a newlywed (he'd be better cast as the villain of the piece), but Gene Tierney is lovely as his wife and Ritter is a delight. The movie isn't the frothy farce one might hope it'll be, but the fairy tale ending is sweet and there are some engaging characters along the way. **1/2 from ****