Main Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Arthur O'Connell, Betty Field, Eileen Heckart
Release Year: 1956
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
Plot
In this cinemadaptation of William Inge's Broadway comedy Bus Stop, Marilyn Monroe is cast as Cherie, a fifth-rate nightclub chanteuse who captures the heart of Montana rodeo champ Bo (Don Murray). He, in turn, kidnaps Cherie and bundles her off to the roadside bus stop of the title. Gradually, the headstrong Bo learns that you can't rope a gal the same way you lasso a steer, but before this happens his face is rearranged by gallant bus driver Carl (Robert Bray). By this time, however, Cherie has fallen in love with her impulsive but basically good-hearted abductor. Others in the cast include Arthur O'Connell as Bo's level-headed travelling companion and "protector" Virgil, Betty Field as down-to-earth bus stop proprietress Grace, and Eileen Heckart as Cherie's confidante Vera. The film later inspired a 1961 TV series. A few TV prints of Bus Stop still exist bearing the alternate title Wrong Kind of Girl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Robert Bray - Carl; Hope Lange - Elma Duckworth; Hans Conried - Life Photographer; Casey Adams - Life Reporter; Henry Slate - Manager of Nightclub; Terry Kelman - Gerald; Linda Brace - Evelyn; Greta Thyssen - Cover Girl; Helen Mayon - Landlady; Lucille Knox - Blonde on Street; Budd Buster - Elderly Passenger; Mary Carroll - Cashier; Kate MacKenna - Elderly Passenger; Phil J. Much - Preacher; Kim Katugi Noda - Japanese Cook
Unlike most of Marilyn Monroe's movies, Bus Stop is neither a full-fledged comedy nor a musical, but rather a dramatic piece. Monroe does however sing one song: "That Old Black Magic" (by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer). Bus Stop was based on two plays by William Inge, People in the Wind and Bus Stop. The inspiration for the play Bus Stop came from people Inge met in Tonganoxie, Kansas.[1]
In the 1961-62 season, ABC adapted the play and film into a television series of the same name, Bus Stop starring Marilyn Maxwell as the owner of the bus station and diner. In the segment "Chérie" which most closely follows the film, Tuesday Weld performed the role of Marilyn Monroe, and Gary Lockwood appeared as the Don Murray character.
When cowboy Beau and his friend Virgil take the bus from Montana to Phoenix, Arizona, to participate in the rodeo, Beau is also hoping to find his "angel". There, virginal Beau falls in love with cafe singer "hillbilly" Chérie performing "That Old Black Magic" and plans to take her back to Montana. The next day, he intends to marry her after the rodeo, but she escapes. She wants to go Hollywood, where she hopes to be discovered. But Beau tracks her down, and forces her on the bus back to Montana. On the way, they stop at Grace's Diner. The road ahead is blocked by snow, and by now all have learned that Beau is kidnapping and bullying the girl. The men subdue Beau until he promises to leave Chérie alone. Later, the road is cleared, and contrite Beau, after getting beaten in a scuffle with the bus driver the previous night, apologizes for his rude behavior and is ready to depart without her. Chérie forgives him, and discovering his nicer side, decides on her own to go with him.
