The Barefoot Mailman

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The Barefoot Mailman
Baremailpos.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Earl McEvoy
Written by James Gunn
Alfred Lewis Levitt
Francis Swann
Based onThe Barefoot Mailman by Theodore Pratt
Produced byRobert Cohn
Starring Robert Cummings
Terry Moore
Jerome Courtland
Cinematography Ellis W. Carter
Edited by Aaron Stell
Music by George Duning
Production
company
Robert Cohn Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release dates
  • December 1, 1951 (1951-12-01)(Florida) [1]
  • January 24, 1952 (1952-01-24)(Los Angeles)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
Language English

The Barefoot Mailman is a 1951 American Super Cinecolor historical comedy adventure film produced by Robert Cohn, directed by Earl McEvoy, distributed by Columbia Pictures and starring Robert Cummings, Terry Moore and Jerome Courtland. It is based on the 1943 novel The Barefoot Mailman by Theodore Pratt. Filmed on location in Florida where the events take place, The Barefoot Mailman features many elements of the Western film genre. [2]

Contents

Plot

In 1895, confidence man Sylvanus Hurley is trying to raise the selling price of land that he owns by convincing the residents of Miami that a railroad is coming to town. Mailman Steven Pierton leads Sylvanus along the beach from Palm Beach to Miami, but he is skeptical of the scheme. Runaway teenager Adie Titus joins Sylvanus and Steven on their walk by impersonating a child.

Cast

Production

The film is based on a 1943 novel written by Theodore Pratt that TheNew York Times called "salty and colorful." [3] Pratt's idea for the story came when he saw a mural in a post office in West Palm Beach depicting barefoot mailmen in the early 1900s delivering mail between Miami and Palm Beach, a process that took three days. [4]

In April 1950, Columbia revealed that Alfred Lewis Levitt was writing a screenplay based on the book for the studio. [5] In September, the studio announced that most of the film would be shot in Florida starting on October 3. [6] Cummings was cast in November 1950. [7]

Release

The Barefoot Mailman premiered simultaneously in the Florida cities of Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach on December 1, 1951. Author Theodore Pratt and actor Jerome Courtland appeared on stage at several cinemas before the showing of the film. [1]

Reception

In a contemporary review for The Philadelphia Inquirer , critic Mildred Martin wrote: "Since the humor isn't really funny enough and the drama incredible when it isn't downright dull, there's nothing to detain you very long about this one." [8]

Reviewer Dorothy Masters of the New York Daily News wrote that the film "is neatly packaged and presented for entertainment value". [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Premiere Of 'Mailman' Due In Four Cities". The Miami Herald . November 30, 1951. p. 2-C.
  2. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (October 29, 2024). "Movie Star Cold Streaks: Robert Cummings". Filmink. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  3. ↑ Du Bois, William (July 25, 1943). "The Latest Works of Fiction: Special Delivery". The New York Times Book Review, The New York Times .
  4. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (February 17, 1950). "Barrymore Jr. Debates Stage Venture; Pioneer Postal Story Purchased". Los Angeles Times . p. 23.
  5. ↑ Brady, Thomas F. (April 27, 1950). "Warners Feuding with Talent Unit". The New York Times . p. 37.
  6. ↑ "Universal to Film California Drama". The New York Times . September 11, 1950. p. 27.
  7. ↑ Brady, Thomas F. (November 9, 1950). "U.-I. Studios List Two New Movies". The New York Times . p. 43.
  8. ↑ Martin, Mildred (January 21, 1952). "Florida Saga At Stanton". The Philadelphia Inquirer . p. 8.
  9. ↑ Masters, Dorothy (February 21, 1952). "Entertaining Films Open in Brooklyn". New York Daily News . p. 52.
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