Small Town Girl

MGM, 1953, Color, 94 minutes, ***

Jane falls for a playboy (Farley Granger) who is caught speeding in the small town where she lives. Features several Busby Berkeley-staged musical numbers which have become classics, including Bobby Van's famous "pogo" dance and Ann Miller's "I've Got to Hear That Beat" with the orchestra instruments protruding through the floor. Also features an early guest appearance by Nat "King" Cole.

"Jane Powell and Farley Granger play cat-and-mouse in this charming musical, highlighted by some of Busby Berkeley's snazziest song and dance routines.

When rich and handsome big city boy Rick Livingston (Granger) tries to buy his way out of a speeding ticket in Duck Creek (population 4,516), country Judge Gordon Kimbell sentences him to 30 days in jail. Wishing he were back in New York for his show girl fiance's (Ann Miller) birthday, he stages a hunger strike. Sympathetic, the judge's pretty daughter Cindy (Powell) sneaks him away, thinking it's his mother's birthday. She learns the truth upon arriving in the Big Apple, but love has blossomed between the two, and Rick may end up with a life sentence.

The stellar cast includes glamour queen Fay Wray in her first role in eleven years as Mrs. Kimbell; singer and dancer extraordinaire Bobby Van as an aspiring Broadway musical star and Cindy's rejected suitor; S. Z. Sakall as his befuddled father, and a special appearance by Nat King Cole. With exceptional singing and dancing, Small Town Girl is big time fun for all." [from videotape sleeve]

Produced by: Joe Pasternak
Directed by: Leslie Kardos
Assistant Director: Bert Glazer
Screen Play by: Dorothy Cooper and Dorothy Kingsley
Story by: Dorothy Cooper
Songs: Music by Nicholas Brodszky, Lyrics by Leo Robin
Musical Direction: André Previn
Musical Numbers Staged by: Busby Berkeley
Vocal Supervision: Jeff Alexander
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Emile Kuri
Costumes Designed by: Helen Rose
Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Joseph Ruttenberg
Montage Sequence by: Peter Ballbusch
Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, Robert Brower
Film Editor: Albert Akst

Awards: Nominated for Best Song Academy Award ("My Flaming Heart")

Cast:
Jane Powell ... Cindy Kimbell
Farley Granger ... Rick Belrow Livingston
Ann Miller ... Lisa Bellmount
S. Z. Sakall ... Eric Schlemmer
Robert Keith ... Judge Gordon Kimbell
Bobby Van ... Ludwig Schlemmer
Billie Burke ... Mrs. Livingston
Fay Wray ... Mrs. Gordon Kimbell
Nat "King" Cole ... Himself
Dean Miller ... Mac
William Campbell ... Ted
Philip Tonge ... Hemmingway
Jonathan Cott ... Jim the Cop
Bobby Hyatt ... Dennis
Rudy Lee ... Jimmy
Beverly Wills ... Deidre
Gloria Noble ... Patsy
Jane Liddell ... Betty
Nancy Valentine ... Mary
Janet Stewart ... Sandra
Pegi McIntire ... Susie
Virginia Hall ... Girl Friend
Additional Cast:
Chill Wills ... Happy
Marie Blake ... Girl
Bess Flowers ... Guest at Mrs. Livingston's party

Music:
[0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles)
[0:04] Lullaby of the Lord (sung by Jane Powell and Choir in Church)
[0:13] Fine, Fine, Fine (sung by Jane Powell, Bobby Van and Chorus, danced by Bobby Van and Jane Powell)
[0:22] Small Towns Are Smile Towns (sung by Jane Powell)
[0:39] Take Me to Broadway (sung and danced by Bobby Van in his father's store)
[0:46] Farfel's Birthday Song (one verse sung a capella by Farley Granger, two verses sung a capella by Jane Powell to Chill Wills)
[0:52] Short excerpt of chamber music at Mrs. Livingston's home
[0:54] The Fellow I'd Follow (sung by Jane Powell at Mrs. Livingston's party)
[0:58] I've Gotta Hear That Beat (sung and danced by Ann Miller dancing on a set with hands playing musical instruments)
[1:03] Farley's Birthday Song (short excerpt reprised by Farley Granger and Ann Miller)
[1:06] My Flaming Heart (sung by Nat "King" Cole at the piano in a nightclub visited by Jane Powell and Farley Granger)
[1:09] My Flaming Heart (jazzy instrumental arrangement danced by Jane Powell with Farley Granger and other guests at night club)
[1:15] My Flaming Heart (sung by Nat "King" Cole on record player in Jane's bedroom)
[1:16] Pogo Dance music is part of the background score (Bobby Van's "pogo" dance - sans pogo stick -- astounding! I count only 4 film splices in 3 minutes of hopping)
[1:27] My Gaucho (sung and danced by Ann Miller and Mens Chorus)
[1:31] Hallelujah Chorus (sung by Jane Powell and Choir)