Margie
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Margie
Plot
Nostalgic and sweet, this tuneful comedy centers on a mother's reminiscence of her wild time as a 1920s teenage flapper. Margie is first seen fully grown telling her stories to her own teenage daughter. Back then, Margie was a typical adolescent, crazy about boys (especially those in raccoon coats) and an expert on the day's fashions. Margie was quite the cat's meow back then and found herself pursued by a handsome young man. Unfortuantely for him, Margie and the other girls only have eyes for the dashing new French teacher. Though busy vying for the teacher's affections, the teens still have time to perform many of the 1920's most popular songs. ~ Sandra Brennan, RoviReview
It seems that people who like Margie like it a LOT -- certainly far out of proportion to its actual worth as a movie. In fact, if looked at objectively and without the rosy glow of nostalgia and a willingness to forgive all in the name of innocence, Margie is a decidedly dull film. There's nothing in Margie that hasn't been seen before, and while originality of content is not always a requirement of a good film, originality of execution is. Fredrick Hugh Herbert's screenplay is content to simply present one well-worn situation after another, and director Henry King is content to simply film them as if they were fresh and newly-minted. This being a musical, of course, it's possible that the score might save the film, but most of Margie's songs are period pieces. Most are good, but so familiar that it would take a lively new interpretation or an intriguing new staging to make them interesting, and they get neither here. With all this going against it, Margie needs a dynamic, vivacious talent to anchor it and make it come to life. What it gets is Jeanne Crain, a most attractive woman and pleasant personality who simply doesn't have the dramatic talent or the personality required to light up the screen. Still, as noted before, there are some who don't care a bit about any of this; for them, Margie is a charming time capsule that takes them back to a simpler, happier time. If this doesn't sound like you, you are probably better advised to give Margie a pass. ~ Craig Butler, RoviCast
- Lynn Bari - Miss Isabelle Palmer
- Vanessa Brown - Wanda
- Hobart Cavanaugh - Mr. McDuff
- Jeanne Crain - Margie McDuff
- Esther Dale - Grandma McSweeney
Credit
Lyle Wheeler - Art Director, Kay Nelson - Costume Designer, Henry King - Director, Barbara McLean - Editor, Alfred Newman - Composer (Music Score), Alfred Newman - Musical Direction/Supervision, James Basevi - Production Designer, Russell J. Spencer - Production Designer, Charles G. Clarke - Cinematographer, Walter Morosco - Producer, Fred Sersen - Special Effects, Frederick Hugh Herbert - Screenwriter, Richard Bransten - Short Story Author, Ruth McKenney - Short Story Author| Margie (1940 Film), Margarita Happy Hour (2001 Film) | |
| Margin Call (2011 Film), Margin for Error (1943 Film) |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Margie (film)
| Margie | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Henry King |
| Produced by | Walter Morosco |
| Written by | F. Hugh Herbert Ruth McKenney Richard Bransten |
| Starring | Jeanne Crain |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Charles G. Clarke |
| Editing by | Barbara McLean |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | October 16, 1946 |
| Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,680,000 |
Margie is a 1946 American film directed by Henry King.
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Contents
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Plot
Starting in 1946, Margie is a housewife who looks back to her teenage life in the 1920s. Back then, she was a joyful, high-spirited girl living with her dominant but good-hearted grandmother McSweeney. She did not have many friends, except for her neighbor Marybelle Tenor, an outgoing teen who had a relationship with the handsome but dimwitted jock Johnny Green. Margie secretly had a small crush on Johnny as well, but she was more smitten with Ralph Fontayne, a popular professor who taught French at her high school. Meanwhile, fellow teen Roy Hornsdale was in love with Margie and attempted to court her, without any luck. Her grandmother thought he was a suitable partner for her, but Margie had more interest in either John or Mr. Fontayne.
One day, Margie entered a debate competition. There, she was reunited with her father, who lived apart from her. Not much later, Margie went ice skating with her friends, when she suddenly fell. She was helped by Mr. Fontayne, who then realized how special Margie was. When the homecoming dance was finally nearing, Margie's date Roy was not allowed to attend the dance. Margie was devastated, but her grandmother assured her that she had arranged a mysterious substitute. McSweeney contacted Margie's father to attend the dance with his daughter. However, before he was able to arrive Mr. Fontayne stopped by, to tell Margie how well she did on her latest paper.
Margie, who did not know who was replacing Roy as her date, mistook Mr. Fontayne for being the substitute. When Fontayne explained he is merely stopping by for the compliment and that he is actually taking Miss Palmer, who works at the school library, to the dance, Margie burst out in tears. In the end, she decided to attend the dance anyways, escorted by her father. Fast forward to the present, it turns out Margie is married to Fontayne, who now is the principal at the same high school.
Cast
- Jeanne Crain as Marjorie 'Margie' MacDuff
- Glenn Langan as Professor Ralph Fontayne
- Lynn Bari as Miss Isabel Palmer
- Alan Young as Roy Hornsdale
- Barbara Lawrence as Marybelle Tenor
- Conrad Janis as Johnny 'Johnikins' Green
- Esther Dale as Grandma McSweeney
- Hobart Cavanaugh as Mr. Angus MacDuff
- Ann E. Todd as Joyce, Margie's teenage daughter
- Hattie McDaniel as Cynthia
Production
In January 1945, 20th Century Fox paid $12,500 for a story written by Ruth McKenney and her husband Richard Bransten.[1] For the screenplay adaption, F. Hugh Herbert used elements from the film Girls' Dormitory (1936).[1]
The male lead was initially offered to Cornel Wilde, but he refused it and was put on suspension by the studio.[1] Next, Richard Jaeckel was announced as the male lead, but he was eventually replaced by Glenn Langan.[1]
Set decorations include the 1794 Thomas Lawrence painting, Pinkie, which can be seen in the home of Margie and her grandmother, located on the wall in the sitting room.
References
- ^ a b c d "Notes for Margie (1946)". Turner Classic Movies. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=82900&category=Notes. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
External links
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