Queen for a Day (film)

Last updated
Queen for a Day
Queen for a Day poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Arthur Lubin
Screenplay by Seton I. Miller
Story by Faith Baldwin
John Ashworth
Dorothy Parker
Produced byRobert Stillman
Starring Jack Bailey
Jim Morgan
Fort Pearson
Melanie York
Cynthia Corley
Kay Wiley
Helen Mowery
CinematographyGuy Roe
Edited by George Amy
Music by Hugo Friedhofer
Production
company
Robert Stillman Productions
Distributed by United Artists
Release date
  • July 7, 1951 (1951-07-07)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Queen for a Day is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Arthur Lubin and written by Seton I. Miller. The film stars Jack Bailey, Jim Morgan, Fort Pearson, Melanie York, Cynthia Corley, Kay Wiley and Helen Mowery. The film was released on July 7, 1951 by United Artists. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The film is related to Queen for a Day , an American quiz show that aired on radio beginning in 1945 and on television, hosted by Bailey, from 1956–64.

The film marked the screen debut of Leonard Nimoy.

Plot

Quiz show producer Jim Morgan reads letters from radio listeners to host Jack Bailey, telling their stories of the impact appearing as contestants on Queen for a Day had on their lives. The stories are The Gossamer World, The High Diver and Horsie.

In The Gossamer World Marjorie Watkins writes to the show thanking them for sending a toy engine to their six-year-old son Pete. Pete has a rampant imagination and is always telling stories. Marjorie tells her husband Dan she is worried Pete has no friends his own age. Pete meets Charles but hits him with a rock. Pete introduces his imaginary friend "Shun", short for "distinction", to his parents and blames Shun for his own accidents. Marjorie worries Pete will not take responsibility and Dan and he have a chat about this. Pete attends his first day at school and makes a friend, Jim, and says Shun was a silly game. Pete then contracts polio. Marjorie tells the show that the train means everything to him because it will be the only way he can get around until he walks again someday.

In The High Diver the son of immigrant parents attempts to raise money for college by doing a dangerous high dive.

Horsie tells of an elderly woman, childless and never married, who takes up nursing other peoples children in order to feel she still has a place in the world.

Cast

Broadcast Studio

  • Jack Bailey as Jack Bailey
  • Jim Morgan as Jim Morgan
  • Fort Pearson as Ford Pearson
  • Melanie York as First Contestant
  • Cynthia Corley as Second Contestant
  • Kay Wiley as Third Contestant
  • Helen Mowery as Jan
  • Dian Fauntelle as Helena

"The Gossamer World"

"High Diver"

  • Adam Williams as Chuck
  • Kasia Orzazewski as Mrs. Nalawak
  • Ben Astar as Mr. Nalawak
  • Tracey Roberts as Peggy
  • Larry Johns as Deacon McAllister
  • Bernard Szold as Daredevil Rinaldi
  • Joan Sudlow as Mrs. McAllister
  • Grace Lenard as Mrs. Rinaldi
  • Leonard Nimoy as Chief
  • Danny Davenport as Satchelbutt
  • Madge Blake as Mrs. Kimpel

"Horsie"

Production

Queen for a Day was a popular radio quiz show in the 1940s and 1950s with an audience of five million. [4] Film rights to the show had been optioned by Seymour Nebenzal and Jesse L. Lasky but neither had exercised the option. In September 1949 Robert Stillman, a former associate of Stanley Kramer, bought the screen rights from the Raymond B Morgan advertising company. [5] Stillman had been looking to make an American anthology film along the lines of Trio (1950) and felt by using the quiz show as a framing device, "We found a commercial hook for a picture we didn't have to compromise with." [6]

Stillman was going to make the film as his first under a deal with United Artists but then decided to make The Condemned (which became The Sound of Fury ) instead. [7] Queen for a Day would be the second in a proposed slate of six films. [8]

In November 1949 Seton I Miller signed to be an associate producer and to write the script. [9]

The original plan was to film four stories. In January 1950 Stillman bought the screen rights to the story "The High Diver" by John Ainsworth, which he intended use as one of the stories in the movie. [10] The same month he bought the rights to Faith Baldwin's 1948 magazine story "This Gossamer World". [11] The third story, "Horsie" was written by Dorothy Parker, was purchased in June. [12] In the end, these were the only stories used, with Miller adapting them into a script.

Lubin signed to make the film in February 1950. [13] Unlike many anthology series, one person, Lubin, directed every episode. [14]

Casting

Most of the 36 cast were relative unknowns to film, although some had theatre experience. Darren McGavin, then best known for appearing on stage in Death of a Salesman was cast in September. [15] Stillman reportedly wanted Mickey Rooney's son Mickey Rooney Jr to play a role in "This Gossamer World" but Mickey refused. [16]

Filming

Filming started September 1950. [17] [18]

A slightly different version of the film was made for release in France, where the quiz show was formatted differently. [19]

Reception

The film had its world premiere in Waycross Georgia because it sent in the most requests to have a premiere, per ratio. [20] The Los Angeles Times praised the "exceptionally capable" younger actors. [21]

Diabolique magazine said the third segment "was based on a story by Dorothy Parker, whose satirical point about beauty is muted in this adaptation – perhaps Lubin was too "nice" a director to do it justice. The other stories are warmly done... but put together they don't t quite work as a movie – maybe it would’ve been better had Lubin been restricted to a 65-minute running time like in the old days." [22]

The film was released in some markets as Horsie. [23]

Stillman was meant to follow it with an adaptation of Island in the Sky written by Miller. [24]

Related Research Articles

<i>Interrupted Melody</i> 1955 film by Curtis Bernhardt

Interrupted Melody is a 1955 musical biopic film starring Eleanor Parker, Glenn Ford, Roger Moore, and Cecil Kellaway. Directed by Curtis Bernhardt, it was filmed in CinemaScope and Eastman Color, and produced for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Jack Cummings. With a screenplay by Lawrence, Sonya Levien, and William Ludwig, the operatic sequences were staged by Vladimir Rosing, and Eileen Farrell provided the singing voice for Parker. It tells the story of Australian soprano Marjorie Lawrence's rise to fame as an opera singer and her subsequent triumph over polio with her husband's help

Edward Small was an American film producer from the late 1920s through 1970, who was enormously prolific over a 50-year career. He is best known for the movies The Count of Monte Cristo (1934), The Man in the Iron Mask (1939), The Corsican Brothers (1941), Brewster's Millions (1945), Raw Deal (1948), Black Magic (1949), Witness for the Prosecution (1957) and Solomon and Sheba (1959).

King Brothers Productions was an American film production company, active from 1941 to the late 1960s. It was founded by the Kozinsky brothers, Frank, Maurice, and Herman, who later changed their surname to "King". They had notable collaborations with such filmmakers as Philip Yordan and William Castle and are particularly remembered today for employing a number of blacklisted writers during the Red Scare of the late 1940s and 1950s. Some of their films include Dillinger (1945), Suspense (1946), Gun Crazy (1949), Carnival Story (1954), The Brave One, Gorgo (1961), Captain Sindbad (1963), and Heaven With a Gun (1968).

<i>Anne of the Indies</i> 1951 film by Jacques Tourneur

Anne of the Indies is a 1951 Technicolor adventure film made by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by Jacques Tourneur and produced by George Jessel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Errol Flynn filmography</span>

The film appearances of movie actor Errol Flynn (1909–1959) are listed here, including his short films and one unfinished feature.

<i>Rhubarb</i> (1951 film) 1951 film by Arthur Lubin

Rhubarb is a 1951 film adapted from the 1946 novel Rhubarb by humorist H. Allen Smith. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the screwball noir comedy stars the cat Orangey along with Jan Sterling and Ray Milland. Cinematography was by Lionel Lindon. The supporting cast features William Frawley and Gene Lockhart.

<i>Footsteps in the Fog</i> 1955 film

Footsteps in the Fog is a 1955 British Technicolor Victorian-era crime thriller starring Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons, with a screenplay co-written by Lenore Coffee and Dorothy Davenport, and released by Columbia Pictures. Directed by Arthur Lubin, the film is based on the W. W. Jacobs short story "The Interruption".

Seton Ingersoll Miller was an American screenwriter and producer. During his career, he worked with film directors such as Howard Hawks and Michael Curtiz. Miller received two Oscar nominations and won once for Best Screenplay for fantasy romantic comedy film Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941) along with Sidney Buchman.

<i>New Orleans</i> (1947 film) 1947 musical drama film directed by Arthur Lubin

New Orleans is a 1947 American musical romance film starring Arturo de Córdova and Dorothy Patrick, and directed by Arthur Lubin. Though it features a rather conventional plot, the film is noteworthy both for casting jazz legends Billie Holiday as a singing maid romantically involved with bandleader Louis Armstrong, and extensive playing of New Orleans-style Dixieland jazz: over twenty songs are featured in whole or part.

<i>Francis Goes to the Races</i> 1951 film by Arthur Lubin

Francis Goes to the Races is a 1951 American black-and-white comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Arthur Lubin, that stars Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, and Cecil Kellaway. The distinctive voice of Francis is a voice-over by actor Chill Wills.

<i>Francis Covers the Big Town</i> 1953 film by Arthur Lubin

Francis Covers the Big Town is a 1953 American black-and-white comedy film from Universal-International, produced by Leonard Goldstein, directed by Arthur Lubin, that stars Donald O'Connor, Yvette Duguay, and Gene Lockhart. The distinctive voice of Francis is a voice-over by actor Chill Wills.

<i>Comanche Territory</i> (1950 film) 1950 film by George Sherman

Comanche Territory is a 1950 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Maureen O'Hara and Macdonald Carey. Jim Bowie is sent into Comanche country on a mission to allow the government to mine silver on the Indian's land.

<i>The Thief of Venice</i> 1950 Italian film

The Thief of Venice or Il Ladro di Venezia is a 1950 Italian film directed by John Brahm. The US title was "The Thief of Venice".

<i>The Petty Girl</i> 1950 film by Henry Levin

The Petty Girl (1950), known in the UK as Girl of the Year, is a musical romantic comedy Technicolor film starring Robert Cummings and Joan Caulfield. Cummings portrays painter George Petty who falls for Victoria Braymore (Caulfield), the youngest professor at Braymore College who eventually becomes "The Petty Girl".

<i>Valentino</i> (1951 film) 1951 film by Lewis Allen

Valentino is a 1951 American biographical film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Eleanor Parker.

<i>Lydia Bailey</i> 1952 American film directed by Jean Negulesco

Lydia Bailey is a 1952 American historical adventure film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Dale Robertson, Anne Francis and Charles Korvin. It was made by 20th Century Fox and based on the 1947 novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts.

<i>The Brigand</i> (film) 1952 film

The Brigand is a 1952 American adventure romance film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Anthony Dexter, Jody Lawrance and Anthony Quinn. It is the second film that Anthony Dexter made for producer Edward Small for Columbia Pictures after his debut in Valentino.

<i>Safari</i> (1940 film) 1940 American film

Safari is a 1940 American adventure film directed by Edward H. Griffith and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Madeleine Carroll and Tullio Carminati.

<i>Adventures of Captain Fabian</i> 1951 film by Robert Florey

Adventures of Captain Fabian or Adventure in New Orleans is a 1951 American adventure film directed by William Marshall and starring Errol Flynn, Micheline Presle, Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead and Victor Francen.

Slaves of Babylon is a 1953 American adventure film directed by William Castle and starring Richard Conte and Linda Christian

References

  1. ↑ "Queen for a Day (1951) – Overview". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Queen For A Day". TV Guide. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "QUEEN FOR A DAY". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 18, no. 204. London. Jan 1, 1951. p. 327.
  4. ↑ "About Queen for a Day :: One of the most popular TV shows ever!".
  5. ↑ THOMAS F. BRADY (Sep 24, 1949). "STANWYCK SIGNED FOR GABLE MOVIE: She Will Act in Metro's Film, 'To Please a Lady' -- Brown to Produce and Direct". New York Times. p. 9.
  6. ↑ HELEN GOULD (Apr 22, 1951). "THE 'SILENT PARTNER' MAKES NOISE ON HIS OWN: Art That Pays Commercial Hook". New York Times. p. 96.
  7. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (Oct 12, 1949). "Feldman Settles Deal for Filming 'Streetcar;' Stillman Plans Drama". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
  8. ↑ "Trilogy in Production". The Christian Science Monitor. Sep 21, 1950. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "MOVIE ACTORS VOTE ON UNION FOR VIDEO". New York Times. Nov 15, 1949. p. 31.
  10. ↑ THOMAS F. BRADY (Jan 25, 1950). "METRO PLANNING NEW WAR PICTURE: TO ACT IN BENEFIT". THE NEW YORK TIMES. p. 20.
  11. ↑ THOMAS F. BRADY (Jan 27, 1950). "ROBERT YOUNG SAYS 'NO' TO ROLE IN FILM: Actor Withdraws From Lead in 'The Story of a Divorce,' Skirball-Manning Project". THE NEW YORK TIMES. p. 28.
  12. ↑ "Drama: Wilde and Pat Knight Get Separate Deals". Los Angeles Times. June 17, 1950. p. 8.
  13. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (Feb 1, 1950). "Drama: 'All-Star Game' On Way; Lupino Has New Find; Parker Contract ended". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
  14. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (July 29, 1951). "Lubin Kicks About Mules; 'Show Boat' Name Under Fire". Los Angeles Times. p. D7.
  15. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 19, 1950). "'Death of Salesman' Find Wins Break; Litvak Cast Bolstered by Germans". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
  16. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 15, 1950). "Pal Takes 'When Worlds Collide' to Paramount; Heflin Film on Chart". Los Angeles Times. p. 30.
  17. ↑ "News of the Screen". The Christian Science Monitor. Aug 29, 1950. p. 4.
  18. ↑ ELIZABETH PALLETTE (Nov 19, 1950). "GOING OFF THE HIGH BOARD WITH SOL SOLOMON: Covering Up". New York Times. p. X5.
  19. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (June 27, 1950). "Drama: Featured Actor in 'Men' Wins Star Role Abroad; Mexico Troupe Returns". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
  20. ↑ "MOVIELAND BRIEFS". Los Angeles Times. Mar 19, 1951. p. B9.
  21. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 15, 1951). "'Highway' Engrossing; 'Queen for a Day' Shows". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
  22. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2019). "The Cinema of Arthur Lubin". Diabolique Magazine.
  23. ↑ A.H. WEILER. (June 10, 1951). "BY WAY OF REPORT: Embassy Newsreel to Adopt Large Screen Television--Other Assorted Matters". New York Times. p. X3.
  24. ↑ THOMAS F. BRADY (Jan 26, 1950). "STILLMAN TO MAKE NEW AVIATION FILM: Acquires Rights to 'Island in the Sky,' Gann Novel About Air Transport Command". THE NEW YORK TIMES. p. 23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.