The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty


Goldwyn / RKO, 1947, Color, 105 minutes, ****

Premiere release August, 1947

General release September, 1947


Walter Mitty, a daydreaming accountant with an overprotective mother, likes to imagine himself as a hero experiencing great adventures. His dream becomes true when he accidently meets a mysterious woman who hands him a little black book. According to her it contains the locations of the Dutch crown jewels hidden since World War II. Soon Mitty finds himself in the middle of a confusing conspiracy and has to admit that being a hero in real life isn't that easy.



Produced by: Samuel Goldwyn

Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod

Screen Play by: Ken Englund and Everett Freeman

From a story by James Thurber

Words and Music for "Symphony for Unstrung Tongue" and "Anatole of Paris" by Sylvia Fine

Music: David Raksin

Musical Direction: Emil Newman

Art Direction: George Jenkins, Perry Ferguson

Set Decorations: Casey Roberts

Costume Designer: Sharaff

Makeup: Robert Stephanoff

Hair Stylist: Marie Clark

Sound Recorder: Fred Lau

Director of Photography: Lee Garmes

Special Effects: John Tulton

In Technicolor

Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus

Associate: Mitchell Kovaleski

Film Editor: Monica Collingwood



Cast: Danny Kaye [Walter Mitty], Virginia Mayo [Rosalind van Hoorn], Boris Karloff [Dr. Hollingshead], Fay Bainter [Mrs. Mitty], Ann Rutherford [Gertrude Griswald], Thurston Hall [Bruce Pierce], Gordon Jones [Tubby Wadsworth], Florence Bates [Mrs. Griswald], Konstantin Shayne [Peter van Hoorn], Reginald Denny [Colonel], Henry Corden [Hendrick], Doris Lloyd [Mrs. Follinsbee], Fritz Feld [Anatole], Frank Reicher [Maasdam], Milton Parsons [Butler], The Goldwyn Girls [Models], Additional Cast: Mary Forbes [Mrs. Pierce], Helen Jerome Eddy [Lingerie Saleswoman], Bess Flowers [Illustrator]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:21] Symphony for Unstrung Tongue (The Little Fiddle) (performed by Danny Kaye and Orchestra); [1:11] Anatole of Paris (performed by Danny Kaye); "Beautiful Dreamer" is a theme in the background score.