''Joy in the Morning'' is a 1965 American romance film starring

Richard Chamberlain George Richard Chamberlain (March 31, 1934 – March 29, 2025) was an American actor and singer who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show '' Dr. Kildare'' (1961–1966). He subsequently earned the title "King of the Mini- ...

and

Yvette Mimieux Yvette Carmen Mimieux (January 8, 1942 – January 18, 2022) was an American film and television actress who was a major star of the 1960s and 1970s. Her breakout role was in ''The Time Machine'' (1960). She was nominated for three Golden Globe ...

and directed by

Alex Segal Alex Segal (July 1, 1915 – August 22, 1977) was an American television director, television producer, and film director. Early years Segal was born on July 1, 1915, in Trenton, New Jersey. Career In 1948, Segal became a production assista ...

. Adapted from the 1963 novel of the same name by

Betty Smith Betty Smith (born Elisabeth Lillian Wehner; December 15, 1896 – January 17, 1972) was an American playwright and novelist, who wrote the 1943 bestseller '' A Tree Grows in Brooklyn''. Early years Smith was born Elisabeth Lillian Wehner on Dec ...

, the film tells the story of a young newlywed couple, Carl and Annie Brown, who marry against their parents' wishes while Carl is still in law school and struggle to maintain their relationship.

Plot

In the late 1920s, 18-year-old Annie McGairy travels from Brooklyn to a college town in the Midwest to marry her boyfriend Carl Brown, a law student, at the local courthouse. The newlyweds must overcome many obstacles, including disapproval from their parents (who knew each other before emigrating to the U.S. from Ireland), financial problems, and Annie's sexual insecurities. Due to the marriage, Carl's law school cuts off his loans, and his father cuts off support from home, forcing Carl to work multiple jobs on top of studying. Annie causes gossip in the town by befriending a lonely, gay florist and babysitting for the mistress of a married businessman. Annie discovers she is pregnant, but before she can tell Carl, the couple have a heated argument caused by the stress of his night job interfering with the couple's marital intimacy. Annie leaves Carl and returns to her mother in Brooklyn, without telling Carl she is pregnant, not wanting to burden him while he finishes his education. Devastated by the loss of Annie, Carl's schoolwork suffers, putting him in danger of failing all his classes. When Carl's father discovers the situation, including Annie's now-obvious pregnancy, his attitude toward Annie softens, and he convinces the couple to reconcile. Annie helps Carl to catch up in his studies and pass his exams on the same day Annie gives birth. Carl graduates, and he and Annie celebrate a church wedding with family and friends before happily riding away with their newborn son.

Cast

– Carl Brown *

– Annie McGairy Brown *

Arthur Kennedy John Arthur Kennedy (February 17, 1914January 5, 1990) was an American stage and film actor known for his versatility in supporting film roles and his ability to create "an exceptional honesty and naturalness on stage", especially in the origi ...

– Patrick Brown *

Oskar Homolka Oskar Homolka (12 August 1898 – 27 January 1978) was an Austrian film and theatre actor, who went on to work in Germany, Britain and the United States. Both his voice and his appearance fitted him for roles as communist spies or Soviet officia ...

– Stan Pulaski * Donald Davis – Anthony Byrd * Joan Tetzel – Beverly Karter *

Sidney Blackmer Sidney Alderman Blackmer (July 13, 1895 – October 6, 1973) was an American Broadway theatre, Broadway and film actor active between 1914 and 1971, usually in major supporting roles. Biography Blackmer was born and raised in Salisbury, ...

– Dean James Darwent *

Virginia Gregg Virginia Lee Gregg (March 6, 1916 – September 15, 1986) was an American actress known for her many roles in radio dramas and television series. Early life Born in Harrisburg, Illinois, she was the daughter of musician Dewey Alphaleta (née T ...

– Mrs. Lorgan * Chris Noel – Mary Ellen Kincaid *

Bartlett Robinson Bartlett Whitney Robinson (December 9, 1912 – March 26, 1986) was an American actor who performed on radio, the stage, in films, and on television for five decades. In 1943 he was the first actor of several performers who provided the voice of ...

– Professor Victor Newcole * Ellen Atterbury – Marriage License Clerk * Harvey Stephens – Dr. Marson * Ira Barmak – Dr. Kirkson

Production

The film was based on the 1963 novel by Betty Smith, who had written '' A Tree Grows in Brooklyn''. Joy in the Morning, Smith's fourth, and last, novel, was based on her own life; she married during the Depression and lived near campus while her husband studied law. "I had to return to that background", she said. "That's where I was born." (The marriage later ended in divorce.) Film rights were bought by MGM in June 1963 for a minimum of $100,000. In January 1964, the lead role was given to Richard Chamberlain, who was at that time a

teen idol A teen idol is a celebrity with a large teenage fan base. Teen idols are generally young but are not necessarily teenagers themselves. An idol's popularity may be limited to teens, or may extend to all age groups. By region Asia Ea ...

and the star of the MGM TV series '' Dr. Kildare''. His co-star was Yvette Mimieux, who was also under contract to MGM, and had played Chamberlain's love interest in a two-part episode of ''Dr. Kildare''. Filming started in May 1964. Producer Henry Weinstein said he wanted to make a romance in the

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military aviator. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morali ...

–

Margaret Sullavan Margaret Brooke Sullavan (May 16, 1909 – January 1, 1960) was an American stage and film actress. She began her career onstage in 1929 with the University Players on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In 1933, she caught the attention of film direct ...

tradition. Mimieux called the film "light and charming". The film's score was composed 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 film scoring. As a conductor, he championed the music of lesser-known composers. He is widely regarde ...

. Chamberlain sang the title song "Joy in the Morning", released as a single and included on his 1964 album ''Richard Chamberlain''. Chris Noel, who played a college student in the film, later wrote a book with editor and designer Kirk Kimball about the making of the film, titled ''Filming Joy in the Morning: Behind the Scenes with Richard Chamberlain''.

Reception

According to one report, at preview of the film the audience "laughed in all the wrong places." The film made $1.7 million in North America. The film has been described as "amateurishly acted (especially by stars Richard Chamberlain and Yvette Mimieux as Carl and Annie), badly written, and hideously directed ... unrelenting mawkishness".

References

External links