Susan Slept Here
Encyclopedia
Susan Slept Here is a 1954 romantic comedy film
(Technicolor
) starring Dick Powell
(in his last film role) and Debbie Reynolds
. It was based on the play of the same name by Steve Fisher and Alex Gottlieb. The film's plotline was later used again by director Frank Tashlin
for 1962's Bachelor Flat
.
) is a successful thirty-five-year-old Hollywood screenwriter who has suffered from partial writer's block
since winning an Academy Award and has been unable to produce a decent script. One Christmas Eve
, he receives an unexpected and very unwanted surprise present.
Vice cop Sergeant Sam Hanlon (Herb Vigran
) brings Mark seventeen-year-old Susan Landis (Debbie Reynolds
). Susan had been abandoned by her mother and was arrested for vagrancy
. Not wanting to keep her in jail over the holidays and aware that Mark was interested in writing a script about juvenile delinquency
, the kindhearted cop decides to bend the rules (much to the disapproval of his partner) and offers to let her stay in Mark's luxurious apartment until her arraignment the day after Christmas.
Mark is naturally appalled, but is eventually persuaded to take the girl in. This doesn't go over too well with Isabella Alexander (Anne Francis
), a demanding senator's daughter whom Mark has been dating for years. Isabella's jealousy grows when Susan develops a crush on Mark. Mark's secretary Maude Snodgrass (Glenda Farrell
), his best friend Virgil (Alvy Moore
), and his lawyer Harvey Butterworth (Les Tremayne
), do their best to keep the situation under control.
When Harvey lets slip that Susan will likely serve three or four months in a juvenile detention facility, Mark impulsively takes her to Las Vegas
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. The love-struck Susan has other ideas. With the encouragement and support of Maude, who still regrets leaving her childhood love behind for a career in Hollywood, Susan fights to make the marriage permanent. She refuses to sign the annulment papers.
When Susan is seen eating strawberries and pickles, Mark's friends assume the worst: that she is pregnant. Susan eventually confesses to Mark that she just likes that combination. Mark has his own confession: he is in love with his wife.
, for Best Music, Original Song Hold My Hand
and for Best Sound, Recording (John Aalberg).
Romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy films are films with light-hearted, humorous plotlines, centered on romantic ideals such as that true love is able to surmount most obstacles. One dictionary definition is "a funny movie, play, or television program about a love story that ends happily"...
(Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
) starring Dick Powell
Dick Powell
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
(in his last film role) and Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
. It was based on the play of the same name by Steve Fisher and Alex Gottlieb. The film's plotline was later used again by director Frank Tashlin
Frank Tashlin
Frank Tashlin, born Francis Fredrick von Taschlein, also known as Tish Tash or Frank Tash was an American animator, screenwriter, and film director.-Animator:...
for 1962's Bachelor Flat
Bachelor Flat
Bachelor Flat is a 1962 American comedy film starring Terry-Thomas, Tuesday Weld, Richard Beymer and Celeste Holm. Filmed in CinemaScope in Malibu, the film is a revised version of director Frank Tashlin's own Susan Slept Here of 1954.-Plot:...
.
Plot
Mark Christopher (Dick PowellDick Powell
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
) is a successful thirty-five-year-old Hollywood screenwriter who has suffered from partial writer's block
Writer's block
Writer's block is a condition, primarily associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task at hand. At the other extreme, some "blocked"...
since winning an Academy Award and has been unable to produce a decent script. One Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, he receives an unexpected and very unwanted surprise present.
Vice cop Sergeant Sam Hanlon (Herb Vigran
Herb Vigran
Herbert "Herb" Vigran was a well-known American character actor in Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1980s. Over his 50-year career, he made over 350 television and film appearances.-Career:...
) brings Mark seventeen-year-old Susan Landis (Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
). Susan had been abandoned by her mother and was arrested for vagrancy
Vagrancy (people)
A vagrant is a person in poverty, who wanders from place to place without a home or regular employment or income.-Definition:A vagrant is "a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging;" vagrancy is the condition of such persons.-History:In...
. 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
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
, the kindhearted cop decides to bend the rules (much to the disapproval of his partner) and offers to let her stay in Mark's luxurious apartment until her arraignment the day after Christmas.
Mark is naturally appalled, but is eventually persuaded to take the girl in. This doesn't go over too well with Isabella Alexander (Anne Francis
Anne Francis
Anne Lloyd Francis was an American actress, best known for her role in the science fiction film classic Forbidden Planet , and as the female private detective in the television series Honey West . She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role in Honey West...
), a demanding senator's daughter whom Mark has been dating for years. Isabella's jealousy grows when Susan develops a crush on Mark. Mark's secretary Maude Snodgrass (Glenda Farrell
Glenda Farrell
-Career:Farrell came to Hollywood towards the end of the silent era. Farrell began her career with a theatrical company at the age of 7. She played Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin...
), his best friend Virgil (Alvy Moore
Alvy Moore
Jack Alvin "Alvy" Moore was an American light comic actor best known for his role as scatterbrained county agricultural agent "Hank Kimball" on the television series Green Acres....
), and his lawyer Harvey Butterworth (Les Tremayne
Les Tremayne
Les Tremayne was a radio, film, and television actor. Born Lester Tremayne in England, he moved with his family at the age four to Chicago, where he began in community theatre. He danced as a vaudeville performer and worked as amusement park barker...
), do their best to keep the situation under control.
When Harvey lets slip that Susan will likely serve three or four months in a juvenile detention facility, Mark impulsively takes her to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
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. The love-struck Susan has other ideas. With the encouragement and support of Maude, who still regrets leaving her childhood love behind for a career in Hollywood, Susan fights to make the marriage permanent. She refuses to sign the annulment papers.
When Susan is seen eating strawberries and pickles, Mark's friends assume the worst: that she is pregnant. Susan eventually confesses to Mark that she just likes that combination. Mark has his own confession: he is in love with his wife.
Cast
- Dick PowellDick PowellRichard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
as Mark Christopher - Debbie ReynoldsDebbie ReynoldsDebbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
as Susan Beauregard Landis - Anne FrancisAnne FrancisAnne Lloyd Francis was an American actress, best known for her role in the science fiction film classic Forbidden Planet , and as the female private detective in the television series Honey West . She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role in Honey West...
as Isabella Alexander - Alvy MooreAlvy MooreJack Alvin "Alvy" Moore was an American light comic actor best known for his role as scatterbrained county agricultural agent "Hank Kimball" on the television series Green Acres....
as Virgil, Mark's assistant - Glenda FarrellGlenda Farrell-Career:Farrell came to Hollywood towards the end of the silent era. Farrell began her career with a theatrical company at the age of 7. She played Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin...
as Maude Snodgrass - Horace McMahonHorace McMahonHorace McMahon was an American actor.- Biography :In his early career he mostly played thugs or jailbirds, but in 1949 he starred in his most acclaimed role, as Lieutenant Monaghan in the drama play Detective Story and in 1951 he reprised his character in Paramount Pictures' film version Detective...
as Sergeant Monty Maizel - Herb VigranHerb VigranHerbert "Herb" Vigran was a well-known American character actor in Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1980s. Over his 50-year career, he made over 350 television and film appearances.-Career:...
as Sergeant Sam Hanlon - Les TremayneLes TremayneLes Tremayne was a radio, film, and television actor. Born Lester Tremayne in England, he moved with his family at the age four to Chicago, where he began in community theatre. He danced as a vaudeville performer and worked as amusement park barker...
as Harvey Butterworth, Mark's lawyer - Mara Lane as Marilyn, Mark's neighbor
- Maidie NormanMaidie NormanMaidie Norman was an African American actress of stage, screen and television.-Career:She made her film debut late in life in the 1947 film, The Burning Cross...
as Georgette, Mark's maid - Rita JohnsonRita JohnsonRita Johnson was an American actress.-Career:She was born Rita McSean in Worcester, Massachusetts and attended the New England Conservatory of Music. Johnson began acting on Broadway in 1935 and started her film career two years later. She played a murderess in Here Comes Mr...
as Dr. Rawley, Harvey's psychiatrist - Ellen CorbyEllen CorbyEllen Corby was an American actress. She is most widely remembered for the role of "Grandma Esther Walton" on the CBS television series The Waltons, for which she won three Emmy Awards...
as Coffee Shop Waitress - Benny RubinBenny RubinBenny Rubin was an American comedian and film actor. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Rubin made more than 200 radio, film and television appearances over a span of 50 years.-Radio and television:...
as Sylvester the janitor - Barbara Darrow as Miss Jennings, Dr. Raleigh's secretary
- Sue Carlton as Coffee Shop Cashier
Award nominations
The film was nominated for two Academy AwardsAcademy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
, for Best Music, Original Song Hold My Hand
Hold My Hand (1953 song)
"Hold My Hand" is a popular song, written by Jack Lawrence and Richard Myers. It was written in 1950 but only published in 1953.The hit version in 1953 was a recording by Don Cornell. The song was featured in the film, Susan Slept Here, and was nominated for the 1954 Academy Award for Best Song...
and for Best Sound, Recording (John Aalberg).