''Lucy Gallant'' is a 1955 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Robert Parrish Robert Reese Parrish (January 4, 1916December 4, 1995) was an American film director, editor and former child actor. He won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing for his work on ''Body and Soul (1947 film), Body and Soul'' (1947). Life and car ...

and written by

John Lee Mahin John Lee Mahin (August 23, 1902, Evanston, Illinois – April 18, 1984, Los Angeles) was an American screenwriter and producer of films who was active in Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1960s. He was known as the favorite writer of Clark Gable a ...

and Winston Miller. The film stars

Jane Wyman Jane Wyman ( ; born Sarah Jane Mayfield; January 5, 1917 – September 10, 2007). was an American actress. A star of both movies and television, she received an Academy Award for Best Actress, four Golden Globe Awards and nominations for two Pr ...

Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was an American actor. He gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous Cinema of the United States, Hollywood films including biblical epics, science-fiction f ...

, Claire Trevor,

Thelma Ritter Thelma Ritter (February 14, 1902 – February 5, 1969) was an American character actor, character actress who, known for her strong New York City English, New York City accent, diminutive size, and plain look, favored working-class roles. She ear ...

, William Demarest and Wallace Ford. The film was released on October 20, 1955, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

. The story is based on a novella, "The Life of Lucy Gallant," by Texas-born author Margaret Cousins (1905-1996), published in '' Good Housekeeping'' magazine in May 1953. It was the last film Pine-Thomas Productions made at Paramount, an association that had endured since 1940.

Plot

While traveling from

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, the stylish Lucy Gallant is stranded by a storm in fictitious big oil boom town New City, Texas, where rancher Casey Cole helps find her suitable lodging. The public reaction to her fashions persuades Lucy to sell the contents of her trousseau, and she decides to stay and open a dress shop. Lucy lives at Molly Basserman's boarding house and runs her store out of Lady "Mac" MacBeth's

brothel A brothel, strumpet house, bordello, bawdy house, ranch, house of ill repute, house of ill fame, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in Human sexual activity, sexual activity with prostitutes. For legal or cultural reasons, establis ...

, called the Red Derrick. She obtains a loan from banker Charlie Madden. She is courted by Casey, who learns that Lucy was jilted at the altar when her fiance found out about her father's dishonest business practices. Casey insists that she give up her business. They quarrel, and after joining the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he becomes engaged to a fashion model in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. But Casey soon returns to Texas to save Lucy from banker Madden's underhanded business dealings. He also salvages their romance.

Cast

as Lucy Gallant *

as Casey Cole * Claire Trevor as Lady "Mac" MacBeth *

as Molly Basserman * William Demarest as Charlie Madden * Wallace Ford as Gus Basserman * Tom Helmore as Jim Wardman * Gloria Talbott as Laura Wilson * James Westerfield as Harry Wilson * Mary Field as Irma Wilson * Joel Fluellen as Summertime * Texas Governor Allan Shivers as himself *

Edith Head Edith Claire Head (née Posener, October 28, 1897 – October 24, 1981) was an American film costume designer who won a record eight Academy Awards for Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Best Costume Design between 1949 and 1973, making he ...

as herself

Production

The film was based on a novella, "The Longest Day of the Year" (which was later turned into the novel "The Life of Lucy Gallant"). Paramount bought the screen rights and hired John Lee Mahin to adapt it. The story was set in Oklahoma but the film is set in Texas. The producers wanted

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, 190? was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway theatre, Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion-picture cont ...

for the lead. Eventually the role went to Jane Wyman, who was borrowed from Warner Bros.

, who had just made ''The Far Horizons'' for Pine-Thomas, signed to play her co star. John Lee Mahin wrote the script and Robert Parrish agreed to direct. Thelma Ritter and Claire Trevor were cast in the two main support roles. Filming started August 18, 1954. Texas Governor Allan Shivers plays himself. So too does costumer

. Edith Head's designs were later sold commercially. Jody McCrea made his film debut in the picture.

References

External links

*
''Lucy Gallant''
at TCMDB
Review of film
at Variety
''Lucy Gallant''
at BFI {{Pine-Thomas 1955 films American drama films 1955 drama films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Robert Parrish 1950s English-language films 1950s American films Films scored by Van Cleave VistaVision films

Plot

Cast

Production

See also

References

External links