Susan Slept Here
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''Susan Slept Here'' is a 1954 American
romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...
film directed by
Frank Tashlin Frank Tashlin (born Francis Fredrick von Taschlein, February 19, 1913 – May 5, 1972), also known as Tish Tash and Frank Tash, was an American animator and filmmaker. He was best known for his work on the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' ...
and starring Dick Powell (in his last film role) and
Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer and entrepreneur. Her acting career spanned almost 70 years. Reynolds performed on stage and television and in films into her 80s. She was nom ...
. Shot in
Technicolor Technicolor is a family of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes. The first version, Process 1, was introduced in 1916, and improved versions followed over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black-and ...
, the film is based on the play of the same name by Steve Fisher and Alex Gottlieb. Tashlin later revised the film's plotline and reused it in 1962 for the production '' Bachelor Flat''. Comedian
Red Skelton Richard Bernard Skelton (July 18, 1913September 17, 1997) was an American entertainer best known for his national old-time radio, radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971, especially as host of the television program ''The Red Skelto ...
has a minor role.


Plot

Mark Christopher is a successful 35-year-old
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...
screenwriter who has suffered from partial
writer's block Writer's block is a non-medical condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is either unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. Writer's block has various degrees of severity, from difficulty in coming ...
since winning an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
and has been unable to produce a decent script. One
Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...
, he receives an unexpected and very unwanted surprise present.
Vice Squad Vice Squad are an English punk rock band formed in 1979 in Bristol. The band was formed from two other local punk bands, The Contingent and TV Brakes. The songwriter and vocalist Beki Bondage (born Rebecca Bond) was a founding member of the b ...
Sergeant Sam Hanlon brings 17-year-old Susan Landis to Mark's luxurious apartment. Susan had been abandoned by her mother and was arrested for
vagrancy Vagrancy is the condition of wandering homelessness without regular employment or income. Vagrants usually live in poverty and support themselves by travelling while engaging in begging, waste picker, scavenging, or petty theft. In Western ...
and hitting a sailor over the head with a beer bottle. Not wanting to keep her in jail over the holidays and aware that Mark was interested in writing a script about
juvenile delinquency Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is the act of participating in unlawful behavior younger than the statutory age of majority. These acts would be considered crimes if the individuals committing them were older. The term ...
, the kindhearted cop decides to bend the rules (much to the disapproval of his partner). Hanlon suggests that Susan stay with Mark until her arraignment the day after Christmas. Mark is naturally appalled, but is eventually persuaded to take the girl in. This does not go over too well with his longtime fiancée, Isabella Alexander, the demanding daughter of a
senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...
. Isabella's jealousy grows when Susan develops a crush on Mark. Mark's secretary Maude Snodgrass, his best friend Virgil, and his lawyer Harvey Butterworth do their best to keep the situation under control. When Harvey lets slip that Susan will likely stay in a juvenile detention facility until she is 18, Mark impulsively takes her to
Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
and marries her. The marriage, he explains to his friends, will last for just long enough to convince the judge that Susan has made good. To avoid consummating the marriage, he takes Susan out dancing until she collapses with fatigue. Mark then slips away to a cabin in the
Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada ( ) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primari ...
mountains to work on his script with Maude. The marriage is reported in the newspapers. Enraged, Isabella confronts Susan, but is hauled away by Hanlon and his partner. Some weeks later, Isabella finds Mark in the cabin. She has calmed down, but Mark says he thinks they are not really suited to each other. Susan also arrives, determined to win Mark over to a real marriage. She is encouraged and supported by Maude, who still regrets leaving her childhood love behind to attempt an acting career in Hollywood. Susan refuses to sign the annulment papers, while Mark still refuses to consummate the marriage. When Susan is seen eating strawberries and pickles, Mark's friend assumes that she is pregnant and tells Mark. Mark thinks Virgil is responsible, so he hits Virgil in the face. Susan eventually explains to Mark that she ate strawberries and pickles because she just likes it. Mark has his own explanation: he is in love with Susan but is worried about their age difference. Susan tells him all the reasons that they should stay married. Mark keeps talking about their age difference as Susan leads him to the bedroom.


Cast


Production


Original play

The film is based on the play ''Susan'' by Alex Gottlieb and Steve Fisher, which was originally titled ''A Present for Joe''. In July 1951, it was presented in Los Angeles at the Circle Theatre, with Robert Rockwell, Beverly Long and
Mabel Albertson Mabel Ida Albertson (July 24, 1901 – September 28, 1982) was an American actress of television, stage, radio and film who portrayed Phyllis Stephens in the TV sitcom '' Bewitched''. She also appeared in TV's ''The Time Tunnel'' (S1:E30, "Town ...
who directed it. The ''Los Angeles Times'' said the play "should prove the source of amusement for those who know the film town" but "the show doesn't have enough substance to provide an acceptable general entertainment."


Development

Gottlieb wrote a script version and decided to produce. In July 1952 signed a contract with
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...
to borrow 20-years-old
Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer and entrepreneur. Her acting career spanned almost 70 years. Reynolds performed on stage and television and in films into her 80s. She was nom ...
to play the lead. In July David Wayne and Dan Dailey joined the cast, with Dailey borrowed from
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...
to play the male lead.
Frank Tashlin Frank Tashlin (born Francis Fredrick von Taschlein, February 19, 1913 – May 5, 1972), also known as Tish Tash and Frank Tash, was an American animator and filmmaker. He was best known for his work on the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' ...
agreed to direct and
Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Ninnian Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nearly nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last survivi ...
replaced David Wayne. In October 1953 Gottlieb sold the entire package to RKO. Then Rooney and Dailey dropped out due to the fact the film would be shot later. Harriet Parsons was assigned to produce and
Robert Mitchum Robert Charles Durman Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997) was an American actor. He is known for his antihero roles and film noir appearances. He received nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. He received a star on the Holl ...
was announced as star. Mitchum, however, refused the role and was penalised $40,000 by RKO for doing so. Dick Powell, 50 years old at the time, who had been focusing on directing and had just left directing the play '' The Caine Mutiny Court Martial'', agreed to play the lead. Alvy Moore, who had understudied David Wayne on stage in ''Mister Roberts'', was signed to play the role originally intended for Wayne and then Mickey Rooney. Anne Francis was borrowed from 20th Century Fox just before being dropped by that studio. She stated to reporters that the film "will probably do more for me than any of the others" because "I'm given the chance to act and not just be a piece of scenery."


Shooting

Filming started December 1953 and finished by January 1954. Reynolds later admitted having "a mad crush on" Dick Powell while making the film and that "he taught me common courtesy and to treat my crew and colleagues with equal respect."


Reception

Reynolds liked the film, later stating "that little comedy made $5,500,000, pulled RKO out of the red and then
Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American Aerospace engineering, aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor. He was The World's Billionaires, one of the richest and most influential peo ...
sold the studio". It was purchased by
Desi Arnaz Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986), known as Desi Arnaz, was a Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader. He played Ricky Ricardo on the American television sitcom ''I Love Lucy'', in whi ...
and
Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...
in 1957.


Awards

The film was nominated for two
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...
: Best Music, Original Song (" Hold My Hand" sung by Don Cornell) and Best Sound, Recording ( John O. Aalberg).


See also

*
List of Christmas films Many Christmas stories have been Christmas film, adapted to feature films and TV specials, and have been broadcast and repeated many times on television. Since the popularization of home video in the 1980s, these films are sold and re-sold every ...


References


External links

* * * {{Frank Tashlin 1954 romantic comedy films 1954 films American Christmas comedy films American romantic comedy films English-language Christmas comedy films 1950s English-language films Films about screenwriters American films based on plays Films directed by Frank Tashlin Films scored by Leigh Harline Films set in Los Angeles 1950s Christmas comedy films 1950s American films RKO Pictures films English-language romantic comedy films Christmas romance films