Teenage Rebel is a 1956 American drama film directed by Edmund Goulding and starring Ginger Rogers, Michael Rennie and Mildred Natwick. It was nominated for two Academy Awards; Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction (Lyle R. Wheeler, Jack Martin Smith, Walter M. Scott, and Stuart A. Reiss).[2][3]
| Teenage Rebel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Edmund Goulding |
| Written by | Charles Brackett Edmund Goulding Walter Reisch |
| Based on | A Roomful of Roses 1955 play by Edith Sommer |
| Produced by | Charles Brackett |
| Starring | Ginger Rogers Michael Rennie Mildred Natwick |
| Cinematography | Joseph MacDonald |
| Edited by | William Mace |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $985,000[1] |
The film was an adaptation of the play A Roomful of Roses by Edith Sommer, with Betty Lou Keim and Warren Berlinger reprising their Broadway roles. Teenage Rebel was the first black-and-white CinemaScope film.[4]
Plot
editNancy Fallon (Ginger Rogers) is a divorcee who has trouble communicating with her 15-year-old daughter Dodie (Betty Lou Keim). Left in the custody of her father (Michael Rennie), Dodie feels as though her mother has deserted her.[5]
Cast
edit- Ginger Rogers as Nancy Fallon
- Michael Rennie as Jay Fallon
- Mildred Natwick as Grace Hewitt
- Rusty Swope as Larry Fallon
- Lili Gentle as Gloria, teenager at the races
- Louise Beavers as Willamay, Fallon's Maid
- Irene Hervey as Helen Sheldon McGowan
- John Stephenson as Eric McGowan, Dodie's Dad
- Betty Lou Keim as Dorothy 'Dodie' McGowan
- Warren Berlinger as Dick Hewitt
- Diane Jergens as Jane Hewitt
Original play
editThe film was based on a play, A Roomful of Roses, written by Edith Sommer. It was bought for production in 1954 bu Guthrie McClintock and Stanley Gilkek.[6] In June 1955 Patricia Neal agreed to star.[7]
The play premiered on October 17. The New York Times said the acting was "winning" and it was "written with humanity".[8]
Linda Darnell later made her stage debut in a production of the play in Phoenix Arizona.[9]
Production
edit
Film rights were purchased by 20th Century Fox before the play was even produced. In May 1955 Darryl F. Zanuck assigned the play to Sam Engel to produce.[10]
According to writer Walter Reisch, 20th Century Fox had a commitment with Ginger Rogers and bought the play as a vehicle for her.[11] Rogers' casting was announced in May 1956.[12]
Reisch later said it was one of his favorite films, saying "It was a beautiful idea: a girl, the daughter of a woman who had meanwhile remarried, comes to the house to meet her new family. [Edmund] Goulding directed it. We only used the nucleus, the germ of the play, and made a lovely picture, a big success. But it was in black-and-white CinemaScope; again we couldn't get the color camera."[11]
The film was known as Our Teenage Daughter and Dodie before Fox settled on Teenage Rebel. In June 1956 Betty Lou Kenim was cast in her stage role.[13] Filming started in June 1956. The movie was the only film being shot on the Fox lot.[14]
References
edit- ^ Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p250.
- ^ "The 29th Academy Awards (1957) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ "Teenage Rebel". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ "Teenage Rebel (1956) – Misc Notes". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- ^ Hal Erickson. "Teenage Rebel (1956) – Edmund Goulding – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- ^ SAM ZOLOTOW (November 3, 1954). "LUNTS RETURNING IN PLAY TONIGHT: Edna Best and Brian Aherne Also Are Starred in Noel Coward's 'Quadrille'". New York Times. p. 35.
- ^ ARTHUR GELB (July 12, 1955). "STRATFORD GROUP REACHES RUBICON: American Shakespeare Fete Opens Tonight With 'Julius Caesar' as Initial Bill". New York Times. p. 21.
- ^ BROOKS ATKINSON (October 18, 1955). "A Roomful of Roses' Opens at Playhouse: Play by Edith Sommer Merits Bouquets Betty Lou Keim and Patricia Neal Praised". New York Times. p. 48.
- ^ LOUIS CALTA (July 12, 1956). "PLAY ROLE TAKEN BY LINDA DARNELL: Film Actress Signs Contract to Bow Here Next Fall in 'Harbor Lights' Garbo May Do Play Harris Goes to London". New York Times. p. 15.
- ^ Hopper, Hedda (May 10, 1955). "Story of 'Roomful of Roses' Seems to Have Some Thorns". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. b5.
- ^ a b McGilligan, Patrick (1991). Backstory 2: Interviews with Screenwriters of the 1940s and 1950s. University of California Press. p. 243.
- ^ "Diana Dors Signed by R.K.O.". New York Times. May 25, 1956. p. 26.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (June 15, 1956). "REPUBLIC PLANS 18 NEW PICTURES: Studio Will Resume Filming Operations in July With Low-Budget Program Columbia Signs Reinhardt". New York Times. p. 30.
- ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (June 16, 1956). "PROBLEMS SLOW ACTIVITY AT FOX: Story and Talent Difficulties Keep Studio From Planned Film Production Record Tony Curtis to Star Of Local Origin". New York Times. p. 12.