This is a perfect picture for the kids and adults will definitely not be disappointed.� This movie was only available on VHS and as people started replacing their VCRs with DVD players this picture got taken out less and less which was a shame. I do not recall one disappointed viewer and although it is in black and white (which is a tough sell to some kids) the kids loved it.� As a matter of syllabi it should follow National Velvet on the Elizabeth Taylor film study course.� Liz is growing up.
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Miss Taylor plays Anastacia (Stacie) Macaboy, a dance teacher (primarily of children) from Connecticut who is in New York for a convention of dance instructors.� While she is here she meets (almost right away) a fast talking resident of Broadway (and practically straight out of Guys and Dolls ) Jud Parker (Larry Parks).� Jud is theatrical agent, an example of that extinct breed of New Yorker who lived in Times Square (at the Hotel Astor) and did most of his living at night.� � Jud is quite taken with the beautiful Stacie and she with him.� Theirs is a whirlwind week of nightclubs, ballgames and other exciting stuff, stuff that once made this town even more exciting than it is now that’s for sure.� But when the week is up Stacie wants more (of a relationship that is) but Jud was in it just for the fun of it (or so he thinks) and boy there was a lot of fun.� Will they get together or will Jud just go on being the bachelor agent, living it up and alone in the big city? Go find out.
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Larry Parks is such a strange choice for this role.� Older than the 20 year old Miss Taylor and not all that pretty (he ain’t no Montgomery Clift) but he was a great actor and makes Jud so likeable that we can absolutely see why Stacie is won over by him.� Mr. Parks started on the New York stage with The Group Theatre and had built up an impressive Broadway resume before heading west.� After a few minor role in even more minor pictures, Mr. Parks was offered the role of a lifetime. � After James Cagney turned the role down, Larry Parks was cast as Al Jolson in the bio pic The Jolson Story and then again in Jolson Sings Again.� Mr. Parks made the grave mistake of admitting to be a member of the Communist party and paid with his movie career for that mistake. � Mr. Parks continued to work back in New York on Broadway (were it all began) and was finally able to get some TV work once the HUAC fell apart. �
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Director Stanley Donen was known more for his work with Gene Kelly in the MGM musical scene.� This picture was his first non-musical.� His New York location shooting experience from On The Town paid off as a good deal of the picture was shot here.� It was a shame that the lobby of the Hotel Astor was being “updated” while they filmed there.� There is plywood every where and a good deal of wall covering.� But what are you going to do.�
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This is a perfect family film (I cannot stress this enough), a great look at a “lost New York” and a good deal of fun.
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Wednesday October 10th at 11:45 AM on Turner Classic Movies
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