Small Town Girl

Small Town Girl

MGM, 1953, Color, 94 minutes, ***

Released April, 1953



Jane Powell and Farley Granger play cat-and-mouse in this charming musical, highlighted by some of Busby Berkelely's snazziest song and dance routines.



When rich and handsome big city boy Rick Livingston (Granger) tries to buy his way out of a speeding ticket in Duck Creek (population 4,516), country Judge Gordon Kimbell sentences him to 30 days in jail. Wishing he were back in New York for his show girl fiancee's (Ann Miller) birthday, he stages a hunger strike. Sympathetic, the judge's pretty daughter Cindy (Jane Powell) sneaks him away, thinking it's his mother's birthday. She learns the truth upon arriving in the Big Apple, but love has blossomed between the two, and Rick may end up with a life sentence.



The stellar cast includes Fay Wray in her first role in eleven years as Mrs. Kimbell; singer and dancer extraordinaire Bobby Van as an aspiring Broadway musical star and Cindy's rejected suitor; S. Z. Sakall as his befuddled father; and a special appearance by Nat King Cole. With exceptional singing and dancing, Small Town Girl is big time fun for all.

Fun film features Bobby Van's famous "pogo" dance, Ann Miller's "I've Got to Hear That Beat" with the orchestra instruments protruding through the floor, and some wonderful singing by Jane Powell. Also features an early guest appearance by Nat "King" Cole.

Produced by: Joe Pasternak

Directed by: Leslie Kardos

Assistant Director: Bert Glazer

Screen Play by: Dorothy Cooper and Dorothy Kingsley

Story by: Dorothy Cooper

Songs: Music by Nicholas Brodszky, Lyrics by Leo Robin

Musical Direction: André Previn

Musical Numbers Staged by: Busby Berkeley

Vocal Supervision: Jeff Alexander

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Emile Kuri

Costumes Designed by: Helen Rose

Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle

Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Joseph Ruttenberg

Montage Sequence by: Peter Ballbusch

Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, Robert Brower

Film Editor: Albert Akst



Awards: Nominated for Best Song Academy Award ("My Flaming Heart")



Cast: Jane Powell [Cindy Kimbell], Farley Granger [Rick Belrow Livingston], Ann Miller [Lisa Bellmount], S. Z. Sakall [Eric Schlemmer], Robert Keith [Judge Gordon Kimbell], Bobby Van [Ludwig Schlemmer], Billie Burke [Mrs. Livingston], Fay Wray [Mrs. Gordon Kimbell], Nat "King" Cole [Himself], Dean Miller [Mac], William Campbell [Ted], Philip Tonge [Hemmingway], Jonathan Cott [Jim the Cop], Bobby Hyatt [Dennis], Rudy Lee [Jimmy], Beverly Wills [Deidre], Gloria Noble [Patsy], Jane Liddell [Betty], Nancy Valentine [Mary], Janet Stewart [Sandra], Pegi McIntire [Susie], Virginia Hall [Girl Friend], Additional Cast: Chill Wills [Happy], Marie Blake [Girl], Bess Flowers [Guest at Mrs. Livingston's party]



Muscial Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:04] Lullaby of the Lord (sung by Jane Powell and Choir in Church); [0:13] Fine, Fine, Fine (sung by Jane Powell, Bobby Van and Chorus, danced by Bobby Van and Jane Powell); [0:22] Small Towns Are Smile Towns (sung by Jane Powell); [0:39] Take Me to Broadway (sung and danced by Bobby Van in his father's store); [0:46] Farfel's Birthday Song (one verse sung a capella by Farley Granger, two verses sung a capella by Jane Powell to Chill Wills); [0:52] Short excerpt of chamber music at Mrs. Livingston's home; [0:54] The Fellow I'd Follow (sung by Jane Powell at Mrs. Livingston's party); [0:58] I've Gotta Hear That Beat (sung and danced by Ann Miller dancing on a set with hands playing musical instruments); [1:03] Farley's Birthday Song (short excerpt reprised by Farley Granger and Ann Miller); [1:06] My Flaming Heart (sung by Nat "King" Cole at the piano in a nightclub visited by Jane Powell and Farley Granger); [1:09] My Flaming Heart (jazzy instrumental arrangement danced by Jane Powell with Farley Granger and other guests at night club); [1:15] My Flaming Heart (sung by Nat "King" Cole on record player in Jane's bedroom); [1:16] Pogo Dance music is part of the background score (Bobby Van's "pogo" dance - sans pogo stick -- astounding! I count only 4 film splices in 3 minutes of hopping); [1:27] My Gaucho (sung and danced by Ann Miller and Mens Chorus); [1:31] Hallelujah Chorus (sung by Jane Powell and Choir)