The Unsinkable Molly Brown 1964

The Unsinkable Molly Brown


MGM, 1964, Color, 128 minutes, ***½

Released June, 1964


The story is loosely based on the life of Molly Brown, who really did marry J.J. Brown, owner of a number of gold and silver mines in Colorado. And she really did survive the Titanic disaster. The story is basically true-to-life, though the details are certainly fictionalized. Highlights include the "Belly Up to the Bar, Boys" number by Debbie Reynolds and Ensemble and the "He's My Friend" number by most of the cast. Fun movie!



Some scenes filmed in Black Canyon, Gunnison National Monument, Colorado



Producer: Lawrence Weingarten

Associate Producer: Roger Edens

Directed by: Charles Walters

Assistant Director: Hank Moonjean

Screen Play by: Helen Deutsch

Based on the Musical Play "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson, Book by Richard Morris, as presented on the Stage by The Theatre Guild and Dore Schary

Music Conducted and Supervised by: Robert Armbruster

Orchestrations: Calvin Jackson, Leo Arnaud, Jack Elliott, Alexander Courage

Choreography by: Peter Gennaro

Art Direction: George W. Davis and Preston Ames

Set Decoration: Henry Grace, Hugh Hunt

Costumes Designed by: Morton Haack

Make-Up Supervision: William Tuttle

Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff

Recording Supervisor: Franklin Milton

Director of Photography: Daniel L. Fapp

Special Visual Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie, Robert R. Hoag, J. McMillan Johnson

In Panavision and Metrocolor

Film Editor: Fredric Steinkamp



Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Actress (Debbie Reynolds), Best Color Cinematography (Daniel L. Fapp), Best Adapted Score, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration - Color, Best Costume Design - Color (Morton Haack), Best Sound



Cast: Debbie Reynolds [Molly Brown], Harve Presnell [Johnny Brown], Ed Begley [Shamus Tobin], Jack Kruschen [Christmas Morgan], Hermione Baddeley [Mrs. Grogan], Vassili Lambrinos [Prince Louis de Laniere], Fred Essler [Baron Karl Ludwig von Ettenburg], Harvey Lembeck [Polak], Lauren Gilbert [Mr. Fitzgerald], Kathryn Card [Mrs. Wadlington], Hayden Rorke [Broderick], Harry Holcombe [Mr. Wadlington], Amy Douglass [Mrs. Fitzgerald], George Mitchell [Monsignor Ryan], Martita Hunt [Grand Duchess Elise Lupovinova], Vaughn Taylor [Mr. Cartwright], Anthony Eustrel [Roberts], Audrey Christie [Mrs. McGraw], Grover Dale [Jam], Brendan Dillon [Murphy], Maria Karnilova [Daphne], Gus Trikonis [Joe], Mary Ann Niles [Dancehall Girl], Anna Lee [Passenger], George Nicholson [Hotchkiss], Ramsey Hill [Lord Simon Primdale], Moyna MacGill [Lady Primdale], Pat Benedetto [Count Feranti], Mary Andre [Countess Feranti], Pat Moran [Vicar], Herb Vigran [Spieler], Eleanor Audley [Mrs. Cartwright]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind introductory scene and behind titles); [0:03] Belly Up to the Bar, Boys (sung by Ed Begley and Brendan Dillon); [0:07] I Ain't Down Yet (sung and danced by Debbie Reynolds and Brothers); [0:15] Colorado, My Home (sung by Harve Presnell); [0:28] Belly Up to the Bar, Boys (sung and danced by Debbie Reynolds and Ensemble); [0:40] I'll Never Say No (sung by Harve Presnell); [0:30] Wedding March (Here Comes the Bride) / I Ain't Down Yet (sung by Wedding Guests Ensemble); [1:21] I'll Never Say No (sung by Debbie Reynolds); [1:22] I Ain't Down Yet (sung and danced by Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell); [1:26] unidentified opera aria (sung by unseen tenor); [1:28] Belly Up to the Bar, Boys (performed by Paris Party Ensemble); [1:31] Leadville Johnny Brown (Soliloquy) (sung by Harve Presnell); [1:37] Belly Up to the Bar, Boys (instrumental played at party); [1:38] He's My Friend (sung and danced by Harve Presnell, Ed Begley, Jack Kruschen, Hermione Baddeley, Martita Hunt, Debbie Reynolds, Vassili Lambrinos and Ensemble); [1:51] I'll Never Say No (sung by Harve Presnell and Debbie Reynolds)