''Small Town Girl'' is a 1953 musical film directed by László Kardos and starring

Jane Powell Jane Powell (born Suzanne Lorraine Burce; April 1, 1929 – September 16, 2021) was an American actress, singer, and dancer who first appeared in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals in the 1940s and 50s. With her soprano voice and girl-next-door image ...

Farley Granger Farley Earle Granger Jr. (July 1, 1925 – March 27, 2011) was an American actor, best known for his two collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock: ''Rope'' in 1948 and '' Strangers on a Train'' in 1951. Granger was first noticed in a small ...

, and Ann Miller.

Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley (born Berkeley William Enos; November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976) was an American film director and musical choreographer. Berkeley devised elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. Berke ...

choreographed several dance numbers.

Bobby Van Robert Jack Stein (December 6, 1928 – July 31, 1980), known by his legalized stage name Bobby Van, was a musical actor and dancer, best known for his career on Broadway, in films and television from the 1950s through the 1970s. He was also a ...

performed the memorable "Street Dance", in which he hopped all around town. The film features song performances by

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, "My Flaming Heart", with music by Nicholas Brodszky and lyrics by

Leo Robin Leo Robin (April 6, 1900 – December 29, 1984) was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Academy Award for Best Original Song, Oscar-winning song "Thanks for t ...

. It has no relation to the 1936 MGM film of the same title.''

Plot

Rick Belrow Livingston (

), on his way to elope with self-obsessed

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 ...

star Lisa ( Ann Miller), is sentenced to 30 days in jail for speeding through a small town. Quite by accident, he meets the daughter of the judge, Cindy Kimbell (

). He persuades her to let him out for one night, so that he can visit Lisa on the premise he is seeing his "poor sick mother" (

Billie Burke Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who was famous on Broadway and radio, and in silent and sound films. She is best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North ...

) on her birthday. After spending a night out on the town with him, Cindy starts to fall for Livingston, but Papa Schlemmer ( S. Z. Sakall) wants her to marry his son (

) whose real ambition is a career on Broadway.

Cast

Production notes

Country music star Hank Williams was reportedly offered the bit role of the sheriff by MGM producer

Joe Pasternak Joseph Herman Pasternak (born József Paszternák; September 19, 1901 – September 13, 1991) was a Hungarian-American film producer in Hollywood. Pasternak spent the Hollywood "Golden Age" of musicals at MGM Studios, producing many successfu ...

, which he turned down. The part eventually was played by Jonathan Cott. Shortly after, Williams actually met with MGM's president,

Dore Schary Isadore "Dore" Schary (August 31, 1905 – July 7, 1980) was an American playwright, director, and producer for the stage and a prolific screenwriter and producer of motion pictures. He directed just one feature film, '' Act One'', the film bio ...

, to discuss other offers besides ''Small Town Girl'', but Williams was "disrespectful" upon meeting - including refusing to take his hat off - and that was the end of Williams' chances for motion picture appearances. Both of these events are dramatized as one incident in the 2015 film '' I Saw the Light''. Williams died in January 1953, three months before ''Small Town Girl'' was released.

Reception

According to MGM records, the film made $1,365,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $762,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $287,000.

Legacy

In recent years, “Take Me to Broadway” (also known as the "Jumping Song") as performed by Bobby Van has been referenced in commercials and music videos, including one for

Goldfrapp Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo from London, formed in 1999. The duo consists of Alison Goldfrapp (vocals, synthesiser) and Will Gregory (synthesiser). Despite favourable reviews and a short-listing for the Mercury Prize, their ...

's song "

Happiness Happiness, in the context of mental or emotional states, is positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Other forms include life satisfaction, well-being, subjective well-being, flourishing and eudaimonia. ...

", in which a happy man jumps through the streets, shaking hands with people and playing with garbage can lids. Peter Wolf also recreated the scene in the music video for his 1987 song "Come As You Are". In the 2014 Tony Awards,

Hugh Jackman Hugh Michael Jackman (born 12 October 1968) is an Australian actor. Beginning in theatre and television, he landed his breakthrough role as James "Logan" Howlett / Wolverine in the 20th Century Fox ''X-Men'' film series (2000–2017), a role ...

hopped in his intro and viewed Bobby Van's dance on a TV, backstage. The number was featured in Jack Haley Jr.'s 1985 film '' That's Dancing!'', a celebration of dance in American film.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Small Town Girl 1953 films 1950s romantic musical films American romantic musical films Films set in New York City Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films produced by Joe Pasternak 1950s English-language films 1950s American films