''Blue Denim'' is a 1959 film based on a

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

play by writer James Leo Herlihy. It starred

Carol Lynley Carol Lynley (born Carole Ann Jones; February 13, 1942 – September 3, 2019) was an American actress known for her roles in the films '' Blue Denim'' (1959) and '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972). Lynley was born in Manhattan to an Irish ...

and

Warren Berlinger Warren Berlinger (August 31, 1937 – December 2, 2020) was an American character actor, with Broadway runs, movie and television credits, and much work in commercials. Early life Warren Berlinger was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, ...

who reprised their stage roles. 17-year-old

Brandon deWilde Andre Brandon deWilde (April 9, 1942 – July 6, 1972) was an American theater, film, and television actor. Born into a theatrical family in Brooklyn, he debuted on Broadway at the age of seven and became a national phenomenon by the time he com ...

appeared in his first "adult" role as the male lead Arthur Bartley.

Macdonald Carey Edward Macdonald Carey (March 15, 1913 – March 21, 1994) was an American actor, best known for his role as the patriarch Dr. Tom Horton on NBC's soap opera ''Days of Our Lives''. For almost three decades, he was the show's central cast member. ...

, Marsha Hunt and

Roberta Shore Roberta Jymme Schourop (born April 7, 1943, Monterey Park, California), better known as Roberta Shore, is a retired American actress and performer. She is notable for her roles in the original '' Shaggy Dog'' film and as Betsy Garth on the Wester ...

appear as supporting characters. Dealing with the issues of

teenage pregnancy Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female adolescent or young adult under the age of 20. This includes those who are legally considered adults in their country. The WHO defines adolescence as the period be ...

and (then-illegal)

abortion Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pre ...

, both versions were not without controversy.

Plot

The story is set in Dearborn, Michigan during the 1950s, and revolves around 14-year-old Arthur Bartley (

) and his schoolmates, 15-year-old Janet Willard (

) and Ernie (

). While widower's-daughter Janet laughs at Arthur and Ernie's forays into smoking, drinking, and playing cards, she has always been interested in Arthur. As Arthur's parents try to shelter him from negative things in life (like the euthanasia of the family dog, done while he is at school), he turns to Janet for comfort. The relationship between Janet and Arthur results in her becoming pregnant. Unable to ask their parents (who misinterpret their pleas as "ordinary" teenage curiosity about sex and adulthood) for help, they turn to Ernie, who had boasted earlier about "helping a sailor who got his girl in trouble" by directing him to an abortionist – only to discover Ernie made it all up, based on secondhand stories. The three seek together to arrange an abortion and raise the funds, only to be discovered by their parents at the last moment. In the meantime, Arthur and Janet find out how much they do not yet know about life – and how much they truly care about each other.

Cast

as Janet Willard *

as Arthur Bartley *

as Maj. Malcolm Bartley, Ret. * Marsha Hunt as Jessie Bartley *

as Ernie * Buck Class as Axel Sorenson *

Nina Shipman Nina Shipman (born August 15, 1938) is a retired American film and television actress. Shipman is a member of the Shipman show business family. Early years Shipman is the daughter of screenwriter Barry Shipman and dancer and film actress Gwyn ...

as Lillian Bartley *

Vaughn Taylor Vaughn Joseph Taylor (born March 9, 1976) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Taylor was raised in Augusta, Georgia, from infancy. After attending Hephzibah High Sch ...

as Professor Willard *

as Cherie * Mary Young as Aunt Bidda *

Malcolm Atterbury Malcolm MacLeod Atterbury (February 20, 1907 – August 16, 1992) was an American stage, film, and television actor, and vaudevillian. Early years A native of Philadelphia, Atterbury was the son of Malcolm MacLeod, Sr. and Arminia Clara (Rosenga ...

as Marriage License Clerk (uncredited) *

William Schallert William Joseph Schallert (July 6, 1922 – May 8, 2016) was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of television shows and films over a career spanning more than 60 years. He is known for his roles on '' Richard Diamond, Privat ...

as George – Bank Vice President (uncredited)

Original play

The play was first announced in 1955. In December 1955, its title was changed to ''The Children's Comedy''. In June 1957 the title was changed back to ''Blue Denim''. Joshua Logan agreed to direct. Carol Lynley was cast in the lead.

joined the cast several months later. Newcomer Burt Brinckerhoff was the lead male role. The play opened February 27, 1958 at the

Playhouse Theatre The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square, central London. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt i ...

. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' called it "a moving play". It closed after 166 performances.

Filming production

Film rights were bought by 20th Century Fox. In August 1958, Fox announced that the leads would be played by Carol Lynley and Ray Stricklyn. In September Lynley was signed to a long-term contract at Fox and Dick Powell was to produce and direct. In October 1958, Fox assigned Phillip Dunne to write and direct the film. Dunne wrote the script in collaboration with Edith Sommer, who just had a play on Broadway about teenagers titled ''A Roomful of Roses'', which producer Charles Brackett had admired. Eventually Stricklyn dropped out and the lead was played by Brandon de Wilde. Filming started May 23, 1959.

Differences between stage and film versions

The play and the film had different endings, and the word ''abortion'' in the play was not used in the screenplay. In the original stage version, Janet does have her fetus aborted, and she and Arthur talk it over later as they settle their feelings for each other. When the play was adapted for Hollywood, however, strict production codes forbade anything but the condemnation of abortion, so the storyline was changed. Arthur and Janet instead get married and stay with Janet's aunt in another city until the baby is born.

Release

The film was released on July 30, 1959 by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

at the Victoria Theatre in New York City.

Home media

20th Century Fox released ''Blue Denim'' on DVD on March 16, 2016. Twilight Time released the film on Blu-ray disc on April 10, 2018. It plays occasionally on cable TV and

video on demand Video on demand (VOD) is a media distribution system that allows users to access videos without a traditional video playback device and the constraints of a typical static broadcasting schedule. In the 20th century, broadcasting in the form of ...

Critical and public reception

According to Dunne, the film was a financial, if not critical, success. In its first week of release in New York it grossed $39,500.

Music

The film score for ''Blue Denim'' was composed and conducted by

Bernard Herrmann Bernard Herrmann (born Maximillian Herman; June 29, 1911December 24, 1975) was an American composer and conductor best known for his work in composing for films. As a conductor, he championed the music of lesser-known composers. He is widely r ...

. It has been described by ''

Film Score Monthly ''Film Score Monthly'' is an online magazine (and former print magazine) founded by editor-in-chief and executive producer Lukas Kendall in June 1990 in music, 1990 as ''The Soundtrack Correspondence List''. It is dedicated to the art of Film sco ...

'' as a "Baby ''

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition where a person has the sensation of movement or of surrounding objects moving when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. This may be associated with nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties w ...

'' type of score, reminiscent of Herrmann's anguished romantic writing for

Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

". The score was released on CD in November 2001.

In other media

* In

Truman Capote Truman Garcia Capote ( ; born Truman Streckfus Persons; September 30, 1924 – August 25, 1984) was an American novelist, screenwriter, playwright and actor. Several of his short stories, novels, and plays have been praised as literary classics, ...

's book '' In Cold Blood'' (1966), Bobby Rupp, Nancy Clutter's beau, says "We talked for a while, and made a date to go to the movies Sunday night – a picture all the girls were looking forward to, ''Blue Denim''." * It is seen briefly in '' Less than Zero'' (when Clay and Blair are in bed in the loft).

References

External links

* * * *
Review of play
at ''Variety'' {{Philip Dunne 1958 plays 1959 films 1950s teen drama films American teen drama films American black-and-white films Films scored by Bernard Herrmann American films based on plays Films directed by Philip Dunne Films produced by Charles Brackett Films set in Michigan Plays by James Leo Herlihy Films with screenplays by Philip Dunne Teenage pregnancy in film Films about abortion 1959 drama films CinemaScope films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films