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The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown
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Wikipedia article
'The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown' is a 1957 American romantic comedy film made by Russ-Field Productions and released by United Artists. It was directed by Norman Taurog from a screenplay by Richard Alan Simmons, based on a novel of the same name by Sylvia Tate and the jazzy music was composed and conducted by Billy May..
The film stars Jane Russell, Keenan Wynn and Ralph Meeker.
Plot
Movie star Laurel Stevens (Jane Russell) has made a new film. It is called 'The Kidnapped Bride' and gives a brainstorm to a couple of small-time crooks, Mike (Ralph Meeker) and Dandy (Keenan Wynn), to kidnap Laurel.
While they take her to a Malibu beachfront hideout, agent Barney Baylies (Robert H. Harris) and studio chief Martin (Adolphe Menjou) can't figure out why Laurel's a no-show at the premiere. Gossip columnist Daisy Parker (Benay Venuta) is dying to know, too, so a decision is made to avoid a scandal at all costs and not report Laurel missing to the police. Mike and Dandy want a $50,000 ransom. Laurel is insulted, feeling she's worth ten times that.
Laurel also fears this thing could hurt her career by looking like a publicity stunt. When Los Angeles police sergeant McBride (Fred Clark), who once sent Mike to prison, comes to Malibu to do a routine check on him, Laurel alters her appearance and pretends to be Mike's girl. The studio finally goes to the cops and also offers a $100,000 reward. The ransom money is taken to the airport, which is where the not-too-bright Dandy has a job. McBride notices a portrait of Laurel at the studio and suddenly realizes where he's just seen her.
Laurel has begun to fall for Mike for real. This time when McBride shows up, Laurel knocks him cold. She and Mike steal the cop's car and race to the airport. They get nabbed by the cops, but dim Dandy has picked up the wrong suitcase. There is no crime so there are no arrests, particularly since Laurel and Mike are now in love.
Cast
* Jane Russell as Laurel Stevens
* Keenan Wynn as Dandy
* Ralph Meeker as Mike Peterson
* Fred Clark as Sergeant McBride
* Una Merkel as Bertha
* Adolphe Menjou as Arthur Martin
* Robert H. Harris as Barney Baylies
* Benay Venuta as Daisy Parker
* Bob Kelley as TV Announcer
* Dick Haynes as D.J.
* John Truax as Flack
* Milton Frome as Lieutenant Dempsey
Reception
At the time of its release, 'The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown' received mixed reviews, 'The Mirror News' wrote "...a belabored attempt at comedy which never comes off. The pace is slow. While both Miss Russell and Mr. Wynn gallantly try for laughs, Meeker labors in a heavy-handed tough-guy fashion, completely at odds with the work of the others."Mirror News, August 22, 1957 Ruth Waterbury of the 'L.A. Examiner' wrote that although "'The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown' is no classic among comedies...It's just a good natured romp, which treats nothing with reverence and it will do you nicely for a summer's day amusement." Waterbury praised Russells performance, "Miss Russell spoofs the glamour type she herself has been. She spoofs Hollywood, press agentry, even love. What's more she makes you thoroughly enjoy it," but called Meeker the biggest weakness of the movie, ".. a fine stage actor though he is...he is too 'straight' in his work, and screen comedy appears not to be his forte."LA Examiner August 22, 1957 'The Hollywood Reporter' called it an "amusing farce [but] the farce is not sustained; it is occasionally abandoned altogether for some semi-serious romantic scenes that tend to break and confuse the mood. However, applauded Russell, "[she] is responsible for the greater part of the picture's success, both in comedy and romance."Hollywood Reporter, July 29th, 1957
Director, Norman Taurog agreed with the critics about Jane's performance. During an interview with Photoplay magazine, Taurog exclaimed: "Talent! The girl has a great flair for comedy. She has a fine talent. At first I thought she was aloof, but after a few days, I discovered, my to my amazement, that Jane was shy. When she warms up shes wonderful. Her depth is wonderful, as an actress and as a woman. Now that I know her as well as I do, I'd love to work with her again. With the right script she could be out of this world. She's got a whole new career ahead of her. When they hung that sex tag on her, she started with two strikes. But she's overcome that and more. Do I sound excited? I am. I'd like to see Jane do the old Eve Arden part in 'Stage Door.' She'd do a beautiful job. Jane is really something special."Photoplay Magazine, August, 1957 issue, "The Shape They're In"
Production
In 1954, Jane Russell formed a production company with her husband Bob Waterfield named Russ-Field. They signed with United Artist for a six-picture deal and for tax purposes, Jane could only appear in half of them. Their first production in association with Voyager Productions was 'Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'a film Jane Russell did not want to make, but United Artist insisted that she star in the production as part of the Russ-Field deal. 'Gentlemen Marry Brunettes' fared poorly at the box office. Their next two productions, 'Run for the Sun' (1956) and 'The King and Four Queens' (1957), both made money.Jane Russell: My Path and Detours An Autobiography For Jane's next film, she chose 'The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown'.
Director Norman Taurog wanted Dean Martin in the role of MikeJane Russell, My Path and Detours: An Autobiography, Franklin_Watts 1985 but the role went to Ray Danton. However, Danton suddenly was let go from the picture. As reported by columnist Harrison Carroll" "...troubles have come up on the picture, Ray Danton playing opposite Jane, came down with a severe attack of laryngitis. He has worked only two and a half days. The company doesn't want to wait, so they are getting a new actor for the role.""Behind the scenes in Hollywood" column by Harrison Carroll, syndicated, December 26, 1956 In early 1957, Hollywood columnist Erskine Johnson reported: "The 'laryngitis' announced for Ray Danton's bow-out as Jane Russell's leading man in 'Fuzzy Pink Nightgown' turned out to be the fuzziest announcement of the year. The real reason Ray's out of the cast: After looking at the rushes, Producer Waterfield decided he was too young for Jane. Ralph Meeker is now playing the role."Flashes from Filmland column by Erskine Johnson, January 12, 1957 Danton was born in 1931, Russell in 1921, and Meeker in 1920.IMDB.com
About the movie, Russell wrote in her autobiography: "Norman [Taurog] saw the picture as strictly a Technicolor camp, while I had the mystery and romance of it in mind, in black and white. It should have been one way or the other, but as it turned out, it was neither. That was one time the star should have had nothing to say, I guess, because Norman would have made a comedy in color with Dean Martin in his first semi-serious role, which he's done fabulously since, and the publicity alone would have pulled it off, or we should have had another director. Norman still got his slapstick ending, but it just seemed old fashioned without color. The picture was neither fish nor fowl, but I still liked it.".Jane Russell, My Path and Detours: An Autobiography, Franklin_Watts 1985 Despite her honest assessment of the movie, Jane considered 'The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown', along with 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' (1953) as the two favorite films of her career .People Magazine, October 28, 1985
Boxoffice
'Fuzzy Pink Nightgown' bombed when it was released in the fall of 1957 and its failure marked the end of Russ-Field Productions.Jane Russell, My Path and Detours: An Autobiography, Franklin_Watts 1985. The movie didn't post a profit until the early 1960s due to frequent television airings.The RKO Gals by James Robert Parish Encore Film Books, 2014
Home Video
In 2001 Amazon (company) issued a VHS of "The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown" in the 1.37 format. Subsequently the movie has been available to stream on various apps and Amazon Prime Video offers it as a purchase or rental. As of 2021, there has been no physical media release.
Soundtrack
Imperial records released an LP soundtrack recording of Billy May's jazzy score at the time of the film's release, and it later became a collector's item. In 2012, Kritzerland Records released May's soundtrack on CD along with Alessandro Cicogini's score of 'A Breath of Scandal'.
See also
* List of American films of 1957
References
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