One Touch of Venus

One Touch of Venus

Universal, 1948, B/W, 81 minutes, ***

Released August, 1948



Delightful fable about a department store statue of Venus that's brought to life by a window dresser's kiss. Ava Gardner is radiant as the goddess of romance, who returns to spread love throughout the world. Co-stars Robert Walker, Dick Haymes, Eve Arden. The Ogden Nash / Kurt Weill songs include "Speak Low" and "The Trouble with Women".



Produced by: Lester Cowan

Associate Producer: John Beck

Directed by: William A. Seiter

Screenplay: Harry Kurnitz, Frank Tashlin

Based on the musical play suggested by "The Tinted Venus" by F. Anstey; Music by Kurt Weill, Book by S. J. Perelman and Ogden Nash, Lyrics by Ogden Nash; musical play produced by Crawford and Wildberg, staged by Elia Kazan

Musical Score and New Lyrics: Ann Ronell

Songs Arranged and Conducted by: Leo Arnaud

Dance Director: Billy Daniels

Art Direction: Bernard Herzbrun, Emrich Nicholson

Set Decorations: Russell A. Gausman, Al Fields

Gowns: Orry Kelly

Hair Stylist: Carmen Dirigo

Make-Up: Bud Westmore

Sound: Leslie I. Carey, Joe Lapis

Director of Photography: Frank Planer

Special Photography: David S. Horsley

Film Editor: Otto Ludwig



Cast: Robert Walker [Eddie Hatch], Ava Gardner [Venus], Dick Haymes [Joe], Eve Arden [Molly Grant], Olga San Juan [Gloria], Tom Conway [Whitfield Savory], James Flavin [Corrigan], Sara Allgood [Mrs. Gogarty, the Landlady], Hugh Herbert [Mercury], Mary Benoit, Russ Conway, Anne Nagel, Arthur O'Connell, Kenneth Patterson, Joan Miller, Jerry Marlowe, Ralph Brooks [Reporters], George J. Lewis, Eddie Parker [Detectives], Pat Shade [Newsboy], John Valentine [Stammers], Ralph Peters [Taxi Driver], George Meeker [Mr. Crust], Helen Francell, Harriett Bennett [Women], Josephine Whittell [Dowager], Philip Garris [Counter Man], Richard Gordon [Guest], Martha Montgomery [Pretty Girl], Pat Parrish, Yvette Renard [Girls], Eileen Wilson [singing voice of Ava Gardner]



Musical Program: [0:00] Don't Look Now But My Heart Is Showing / The Trouble with Women (sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:33] Speak Low (Ava Gardner and Dick Haymes; Eileen Wilson dubbing for Ava Gardner); [0:59] Don't Look Now But My Heart Is Showing (Dick Haymes, Olga San Juan, Robert Walker and Eileen Wilson dubbing for Ava Gardner); [1:16] Speak Low (Eileen Wilson dubbing for Ava Gardner)