The Sun Comes Up

• Director: Richard Thorpe
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Comedy Drama
• Main Cast: Jeanette MacDonald, Lloyd Nolan, Claude Jarman, Jr., Percy Kilbride
• Release Year: 1949
• Country: US
• Run Time: 93 minutes

Plot

In this drama, an embittered widow, a former concert singer, can't help but blame Lassie for her son's death. Needing help with her chores, she hires an orphan from the local home. At first she remains aloof towards the charming lad who quickly bonds with the collie dog, but as time passes she can't help but develop feelings for the boy. Later Lassie redeems herself when she saves the boy from a terrible fire in the orphanage. After that, the widow suddenly realizes that she does indeed love the boy and adopts him and puts Lassie back in her good graces. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Review

Fans of the Lassie series will not be disappointed by The Sun Comes Up, although fans of star Jeanette MacDonald might be. Not that MacDonald herself is in any way disappointing, mind you. The legendary operetta star is still in tremendous voice in Sun, treating her audience to a few arias in the course of the film that demonstrate that she could still produce the same glorious sounds as always. She's also in fine form as an actress, giving a lovely performance throughout. No, the problem is simply that this is a Lassie film, even if MacDonald has more screen time; this means that the script not only has to pull focus to the adorable canine at times but that it also will have a number of maudlin scenes that are not exactly high drama. That said, they're also scenes that are hard to resist, even as one is aware of how blatantly one is being manipulated. Sun also has the plus of a fine juvenile performance from Claude Jarman, Jr., as well as welcome and able support from Lloyd Nolan, Percy Kilbride and Margaret Hamilton. Richard Thorpe's direction doesn't win any awards, but it more than gets the job done, and Andre Previn's score is an asset. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Jeanette MacDonald - Helen Lorfield Winter
• Lloyd Nolan - Thomas I. Chandler
• Claude Jarman, Jr. - Jerry
• Percy Kilbride - Mr. Willie B. Williegoode

Nicholas Joy - Victor Alvord; Margaret Hamilton - Mrs. Golightly; Hope Landin - Mrs. Pope; Esther Somers - Susan; Jessie Arnold - Woman; Barbara Billingsley - Nurse; Paul E. Burns - Dr. Sample; John Butler - Doorman; Douglas Carter - Music Lover; Alan Dinehart III - Orphan; Dwayne Hickman - Hank Winter; Stuart Holmes - Musician; Teddy Infur - Junebug; Lassie the Dog; Mickey McGuire - Cleaver; Ida Moore - Sally; Barry Norton - Music Lover; Edward Peil Sr.; Albert Pollet - Musician; Peter Roman - Love; Cosmo Sardo - Musician; Johnny Sheffield - Music Lover; Lewis Stone - Arthur Norton; Henry Sylvester - Bit; Charles Trowbridge - Dr. Gage; Guy Wilkerson - Man; Wilson Wood - Music Lover; Mickey Rooney - Cleaver; Frank Pharr - Ad Lib Bit; George Calliga - Musician; Tim Hawkins; Ed Agresti - Musician; Jimmy Crane - Orphan; Cy Stevens - Musician; Cecil Stewart - Accompanist; Cameron Grant - Music Lover; John Beck - Bit

Credit

Randall Duell - Art Director, Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, Irene - Costume Designer, Richard Thorpe - Director, Irvine Warburton - Editor, Andre Previn - Composer (Music Score), Ray June - Cinematographer, Robert Sisk - Producer, Hugh Hunt - Set Designer, Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer, William Ludwig - Screenwriter, Margaret Fitts - Screenwriter, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings - Short Story Author