Song of the Open Road

Infobox Film
name = Song of the Open Road


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director = S. Sylvan Simon
producer = Charles R. Rogers
writer = Irving Phillips (Story)
Edward Verdier (Story)
Albert Mannheimer
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starring = Jane Powell
Bonita Granville
Peggy O'Neill
music = Charles Previn
cinematography = John W. Boyle
editing = Truman K. Wood
distributor = United Artists
released = June 1944
runtime = 93 mins.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
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"Song of the Open Road" is a 1944 musical comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon, from a screenplay by Irving Phillip and Edward Verdier.

Overview

Child film star Jane Powell, tired of her life being run by her stage mother, runs away from home and tries to lead a "normal" life at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. When a crop needs picking, Powell enlists the help of some celebrity friends. It was W. C. Fields's next-to-last film; he is one of several performers playing themselves in the production. In the film, Fields--who began his career as an accomplished juggler--juggles some oranges for a few moments. He remarks "This used to be my racket". Then, missing a catch, he drops the oranges and walks away muttering "used to be my racket, but it isn't anymore!".

Cast

*Jane Powell as Jane Powell
*Bonita Granville as Bonnie
*Peggy O'Neill as Peggy
*Jackie Moran as Jack Moran
*Bill Christy as Bill
*Reginald Denny as Director Curtis
*Regis Toomey as Connors
*Rose Hobart as Mrs. Powell
*Edgar Bergen as Himself
*W.C. Fields as Himself
*Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra
*Frank Condos as Himself (dancer)
*Harry Condos as Dance Specialty
*Steve Condos as Dance Specialty
*The Lipham Four as The Lipham Four

Production

Director S. Sylvan Simon had terrible difficulty filming scenes with W. C. Fields due to Fields' alcoholism. After lunch hour he was often nowhere to be found. This problem was solved by luring Fields into his truck early in the day and removing the ladder. Fields would often rant and complain before eventually falling asleep.Fact|date=April 2008

Although Fields often made fun of singers and singing in general, he had a fondness for the promising young singer Jane Powell and even referred to her (as "little Janie Powell") on one of his CBS radio broadcasts (preserved on transcription discs). Powell sang several songs in the film and made such an impression that MGM signed her to a contract to make a number of musical comedies for them, through the mid-1950s. Powell's real name was Suzanne Burce, but prior to the release of this film, MGM assigned her the stage name "Jane Powell", the name of the character she portrays in this film. ["Reel Memories: Jane Powell", Turner Classic Movies, 1995. Included on the DVD "Classic Musicals Double Feature: Nancy Goes to Rio/Two Weeks with Love" (Warner Home Video, 2008)]

Award nominations

References

External links

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