''The Gift of Love'' is a 1958 American CinemaScope

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

directed by

Jean Negulesco Jean Negulesco (born Ioan Negulescu; – 18 July 1993) was a Romanian-American film director and screenwriter.Oliver, Myrna"Jean Negulesco 1900–1993 ''The Los Angeles Times'', 22 July 1993. He first gained notice for his film noirs and later ...

and starring Lauren Bacall and

Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the highly successful ABC tele ...

. The film's screenplay was based on the short story "The Little Horse" by Nelia Gardner White, originally published in a 1944 issue of ''Good Housekeeping'', and previously made into the film '' Sentimental Journey'' (1946), with John Payne and Maureen O'Hara.http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/76257/The-Gift-of-Love/articles.html

Plot

A brilliant scientist, Bill Beck (Stack), ends up happily married to Julie (Lauren Bacall), his doctor's receptionist. Five years after their wedding, the same doctor treats Julie for a heart condition that she decides to keep secret from her husband, who is doing serious work as a physicist developing guided missiles. Not wishing him to be left alone if she dies, Julie suggests they adopt a child. An orphan called Hitty ( Evelyn Rudie) has been rejected many times, but Julie takes a shine to her. Bill, a pragmatist, does not understand the little girl's fantasy world, and he is angered when Hitty, meaning well, erases a chalkboard, wiping out hours of Bill's hard work. Bill's superior at work, Grant Allan (

Lorne Greene Lorne Hyman Greene (born Lyon Himan Green; 12 February 1915 – 11 September 1987) was a Canadian actor, musician, singer and radio personality. His notable television roles include Ben Cartwright on the Western ''Bonanza'' and Commander Ad ...

), urges him to give the girl more patience and time, but the Becks believe it could be best that Hitty be returned to the orphanage. Julie's heart gives out. After her death, Hitty tries to win over her heartbroken foster father, but Bill is inconsolable. Hitty is returned to the orphanage. She goes missing one night and is caught in a storm. Bill and Grant hurry there to assist in a search, and when they find Hitty and save her, Bill realizes he never wants to be apart from her again.

Cast

* Lauren Bacall as Julie Beck *

as William "Bill" Beck * Evelyn Rudie as Hitty *

as Grant Allan * Anne Seymour as Miss McMasters *

Edward Platt Edward Cuthbert Platt (February 14, 1916 – March 19, 1974) was an American actor best known for his portrayal of the Chief in the 1965–70 NBC/ CBS television series: ''Get Smart''. With his deep voice and mature appearance, he played an ...

as Dr. Jim Miller *

Joseph Kearns Joseph Sherrard Kearns
TV Guide. July 15–21, 1961, Savetheorgan.org; retrieved September 28, 2011.

as Mr. Rynicker

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gift of Love, The 1958 films 1958 romantic drama films 20th Century Fox films Remakes of American films American romantic drama films Films about adoption Films based on short fiction Films directed by Jean Negulesco Films produced by Charles Brackett Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge Films scored by Alfred Newman CinemaScope films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links