Good News (1947 film)

Good News

Poster for the 1947 film
Directed by Charles Walters
Produced by Arthur Freed
Screenplay by Betty Comden
Adolph Green
Based on Good News
1927 musical
by Lew Brown
Laurence Schwab
Frank Mandel
Buddy G. DeSylva
Ray Henderson
Starring June Allyson
Peter Lawford
Patricia Marshall
Music by Conrad Salinger
Cinematography Charles Schoenbaum
Edited by Albert Akst
Production
company
MGM
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • December 26, 1947 (1947-12-26)
Running time
 93 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1,715,000[1]
Box office $2,956,000[1]

Good News is a 1947 American MGM musical film based on the 1927 stage production of the same name. It starred June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Mel Tormé, and Joan McCracken. The screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green was directed by Charles Walters in Technicolor.

Three additional songs were written for the film: "The French Lesson", "Pass That Peace Pipe", and "An Easier Way", the last of which was cut from the released film.[2]

Good News was the second adaptation of the stage musical, after the 1930 film Good News. The 1947 film was a more sanitized version of the musical; the 1930 version included Pre-Code content, such as sexual innuendo and lewd suggestive humor.

Plot

The film is set in 1927 at fictional Tait College, where football is all the rage. ("Tait Song"/"Good News")

Tait's football star Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford) is a prime catch for the college girls. Tommy tells his friend and non-playing teammate Bobby Turner (McDonald) that the trick to attracting girls is to show no interest. ("Be a Ladies' Man")

New student Pat McClellan (Marshall) resists his advances, cutting Tommy down to size at a party. ("Lucky in Love") Pat is interested in French, so Tommy enlists part-time school librarian Connie Lane (June Allyson) to help him study the language. ("The French Lesson")

He gradually falls for Connie, who comes from a poor background, which does not bother her. ("The Best Things in Life are Free") Meanwhile, Babe Doolittle (McCracken) is seeking to leave a relationship with football player Beef (Tindall) so she can get involved with Bobby Turner.

At a local soda shop, Babe advises Pat not to lose her temper. ("Pass the Peace Pipe")

Connie grows attracted to Tommy, who she feels is not interested. ("Just Imagine") Tommy asks Connie to the prom, but reneges when Pat shows interest. He changes his mind again. In the end, Tait wins the big game, Tommy pairs off with Connie, Beef pairs off with Pat, and Babe pairs off with Bobby Turner. The college bursts out into song in a production number. ("Varsity Drag")

Cast

Soundtrack

Deleted song

"An Easier Way", sung by June Allyson and Patricia Marshall, was filmed but cut from the released version. This musical number survives and is included as an "extra" on the DVD.[2][3]

Reception

The film was a box office disappointment, earning $2,545,000 in the US and Canada and $411,000 elsewhere, recording a loss of $7,000.[1][4][5]

Awards and nominations

Edens, Martin and Blane were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song for "Pass That Peace Pipe".

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. 1 2 Good News at DVD Verdict
  3. ↑ June Allyson and Patricia Marshall - audio pre-recording of "An Easier Way" on YouTube
  4. ↑ Eyman, Scott (2005). Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer. Robson. p. 401.
  5. ↑ "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety 5 January 1949 p 46

External links

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