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Miss Susie Slagle's
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Wikipedia article
'Miss Susie Slagle's' is a 1946 American drama film directed by John Berry. It was based on the popular novel by Augusta Tucker. The film was Berry's directorial debut and first starring role for Joan Caulfield.
Plot summary
A nursing student falls in love with a young medical intern in 1910 Baltimore, but their lives start to fall apart when he catches a deadly disease.
Principal cast
Production
Original novel
Augusta Tucker's novel was published in 1939. Paramount paid $20,000 for the film rights. The novel became a best seller."THE BEST-SELLING BOOKS"'New York Times' 10 Dec 1939: 124. A sequel came out in 1942, 'The Man Miss Susie Loved'."Miss Susie Slagle: THE MAN MISS SUSIE LOVED'. By Augusta Tucker. 510 pp. New York: Harper & Brothers. $2.75." Feld, Rose. 'New York Times' 1 Nov 1942: BR22.
Development
In 1939 Martin Berkley was assigned to write the script."SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: 'Quo Vadis' Is Scheduled by Metro for Production During the Winter 'WIZARD OF OZ' AT CAPITOL Premiere of Technicolor Film Today Features Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in Person" By DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 'New York Times' 17 Aug 1939: 23. John Cromwell was assigned to direct under the supervision of Arthur Hornblow."Cromwell Will Direct 'Miss Susie Slagle's': Miss Field in 'Bridge' Lucille Ball Gets Lead Metro Bids Turrou Book Cabot Tests for 'Hawk' Truex 'Russell' Father" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' (17 Jan 1940: 13.In January 1941 Paramount announced Jean Arthur would star and Sam Wood would produce and direct with Lorraine Nobel writing a script."Jean Arthur Is Slated to Play Lead in 'Miss Susie Slagle's'" 'New York Times' 12 May 1941: 13. Jack Oakie was to play the comic male lead."Lupe Velez, 'Big Boy' Teamed by Universal: Oakie May Do 'Slagle' Herbert Signs Contract Marx Bros. Will Split Thriller Pair Sought Eleanor Stewart Cast" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 28 Nov 1940: A10. In May 1941 Irene Dunne was named as lead."Very Trim Allan Jones Now Straight Role 'Bet': Payne to Wallop Them Arthur May Silver Hair Morgan to Do Joan First Bonnell Leading Man Skater Belita Actress" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 12 May 1941: A10. In June 1941 filming was postponed so Wood could make 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'."Sam Wood to Direct 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' -- Four Films to Arrive in City This Week" By DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL 'New York Times' 9 June 1941: 24.
John Houseman
In August 1943 the project was reactivated when Paramount head of production Buddy DeSylva have it to producer John Houseman, who had just made 'The Unseen' for the studio."SCREEN AND STAGE: Paramount Will Film 'The Griswold Story' Eva Gabor Named for 'Laura,' Unusual Mystery Thriller at 20th Century-Fox" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 3 Aug 1943: 10.In January 1944 the project was officially put back on Paramount's schedule with a new screenplay done (Hugo Butler was borrowed from MGM to do this"SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: William C. Menzies to Direct 'Gibson Girl' at RKO -- 'Spider Woman' at Rialto Today" Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 'New York Times' 14 Jan 1944: 16.) and Betty Field listed as star."SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Paramount Will Film 'Susie Slagle's' -- Premiere Jan. 26 for 'No Greater Love'" Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 'New York Times' 11 Jan 1944: 23. The novel was set in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins Hospital but references to that specific city and hospital were removed from the script."ONE OFF THE SHELF: After Six Years, Paramount Gets Around to Filming 'Miss Susie Slagle's' Revisions" By IDWAL JONES. 'New York Times' 12 Aug 1945: X3.
Director
It was thought Houseman might get Orson Welles involved as a star or director. However Welles did not have anything to do with the film.At one stage Harold Clurman was going to direct - he worked on the script - but left the project and in May 1944 signed a contract with RKO."SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Metro May Co-Star Sinatra in 'Anchors Aweigh' -- 'Curse of Cat People' at Rialto" Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 'New York Times' 3 Mar 1944: 18."Donald Cook of Stage 'Claudia' Movie-Lured: Donna Reed Awarded Idealistic Role in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 3 Mar 1944: 11."John Berry: Man of principle" McGilligan, Patrick. 'Film Comment'; New York Vol. 31, Iss. 3, (May 1995): 46.
In June the job of directing was given to theatre director John Berry, who had worked with Houseman and Welles in the theatre. He had never made a movie before but Berry spent a number of months at Paramount observing other directors and filming screen tests to get experience."'Susie Slagle's' Role Likely for Lillian Gish: Frankie McGowan, Screen Unknown, Will Play Corbett in 'Great John L.'" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 4 Aug 1944: 10.
Casting
In April 1944 Sonny Tufts was signed for the male lead. Lillian Gish also joined the cast, making her first film in a number of years."Wallis Still Betwixt, Between on Signings: Korda Announces $140,000,000 Cinema Program for Metro's British Ally" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 18 Apr 1944: A10. In July Joan Caulfield, who had enjoyed Broadway success in 'Kiss and Tell', was given the female lead, in her motion picture debut."Picture Plans" 'The Christian Science Monitor' 3 July 1944: 4. Veronica Lake joined the cast in August, along with Pat Phelan, who had been discovered doing theatre."SCREEN NEWS: Dean Harens Gets Lead in Wanger's 'Salome'" Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 'New York Times' 4 Aug 1944: 10. (Lake later said her role - along with ones in 'The Blue Dahlie', 'Out of this World' and 'Hold That Blonde' were "not noteworthy.""Change of Pace in Roles Beckons Veronica Lake: Star to Pause at Career's Crossroads Roles to Shift for Veronica" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 8 July 1945: C1.Shooting
Filming took place in November 1944. At one stage the film was going to be called 'The Golden Years' but the title was changed back."'Susie Slagle' In Production At Paramount" By Frank Daugherty Special to 'The Christian Science Monitor'. 10 Nov 1944: 4. "I did 54 takes on my first shot," remembered Berry years later."He Ran All the Way To Paris--And Came Back Again: Movies" By GUY FLATLEY. 'New York Times' 26 May 1974: 109.Critical reception
Bosley Crowther of 'The New York Times' thought the film was flawed but decent:
'Diabolique' called it "utterly delightful" with "charming performances from Sonny Tufts and Joan Caulfield (not making that up, both are genuinely beguiling)" although Lake "isnt very good: she never seems comfortable and, painful as this is to admit, is one of the worst things about the movie."
Radio adaptation
'Miss Susie Slagle's' was presented on 'Lux Radio Theatre' October 21, 1946. Caulfield reprised her role from the film, and 'William Holden' co-starred.
TV Adaptation
The story was adapted for 'Lux Video Theatre' in 1955 with Dorothy McGuire."FOX ADDING PLANT FOR TV RECORDING: Studio Schedules $500,000 Music-Scoring Building at Coast Video Center" Special to The New York Times. 'New York Times' 14 Nov 1955: 53.
References
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