Coney Island (1943)

Director:

Walter Lang

Writer:

George Seaton (writer)

Release Date:

18 June 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Comedy

Plot:

Set at the turn of the century, smooth talking con man Eddie Johnson weasels his way into a job at friend...

Plot Keywords:

Rival | Singer | Beautiful Woman | Music Hall | Sideshow

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Kate Farley
George Montgomery	...	Eddie Johnson
Cesar Romero	...	Joe Rocco
Charles Winninger	...	Finnigan
Phil Silvers	...	Frankie
Matt Briggs	...	William 'Willie' Hammerstein
Paul Hurst	...	Louie
Leo Diamond	...	Himself - Solidaires Leader (as Leo Diamond and His Solidaires)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herbert Ashley	...	Heckler (uncredited)
Eddie Borden	...	Man in Carnival Crowd (uncredited)
George Boyce	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Ruth Clifford	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
Alec Craig	...	Billy (uncredited)
Carmen D'Antonio	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Hal K. Dawson	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Harold DeGarro	...	Stiltwalker (uncredited)
Abe Diamond	...	Member, the Solidaires (uncredited)
Tom Dugan	...	Charlie Fitch (uncredited)
Jimmie Dundee	...	Drunken Bricklayer (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
Byron Foulger	...	Organist at Wedding (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Violinist (uncredited)
Ruth Gillette	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
George Gramlich	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
William Halligan	...	Murph, the Cop (uncredited)
Bert Hanlon	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
Richard Hayman	...	Member, the Solidaires (uncredited)
Claire James	...	Girl Friend (uncredited)
Bud Jamison	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Delos Jewkes	...	Member of quartettes, 'Irish' number and singing waiters (uncredited)
John Kelly	...	Drunken Bricklayer (uncredited)
Phyllis Kennedy	...	Dolly (uncredited)
George Lloyd	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
Sally Loomis	...	Drum Majorette (uncredited)
Jimmie Lucas	...	Heckler (uncredited)
Pete Maggio	...	Member, the Solidaires (uncredited)
Trudy Marshall	...	Girl Friend (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Harry Masters	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Matt McHugh	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
Pat McKee	...	Saloon Extra (uncredited)
Ed McNamara	...	Policeman (uncredited)
John 'Skins' Miller	...	Drunken Bricklayer (uncredited)
James Mitchell	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Joe Niemeyer	...	Member of quartette, 'Irish' number (uncredited)
Frank Orth	...	Member of quartette, 'Irish' number (uncredited)
Hermes Pan	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Gene Ramey	...	Member of quartette, singing waiters (uncredited)
Gus Reed	...	Member of quartette, singing waiters (uncredited)
Dewey Robinson	...	Man in Carnival Crowd (uncredited)
Harry Roller	...	Member, the Solidaires (uncredited)
Francis Sayles	...	Heckler (uncredited)
Harry Seymour	...	Piano Player (uncredited)
Libby Taylor	...	Libby, Kate's Maid (uncredited)
Andrew Tombes	...	Arthur Carter (uncredited)
Jim Toney	...	Drunken Bricklayer (uncredited)
Buddy Williams	...	Singing waiter (uncredited)

Directed by
Walter Lang

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
George Seaton		writer

Produced by
William Perlberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ernest Palmer

Film Editing by
Robert L. Simpson		(as Robert Simpson)

Art Direction by
Richard Day
Joseph C. Wright

Set Decoration by
Frank E. Hughes
Thomas Little

Costume Design by
Helen Rose

Makeup Department
Guy Pearce	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Saul Wurtzel	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
Matt Hovland	....	foley mixer (2009 Restoration)
E. Clayton Ward	....	sound

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Music Department
Alfred Newman	....	musical director
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Ben Gage	....	singing voice: George Montgomery (uncredited)
Leigh Harline	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Charles Henderson	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Arthur Lange	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Alfred Newman	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Gene Rose	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Angela Blue	....	assistant choreographer
Fanchon	....	dance supervisor
Henri Jaffa	....	associate technicolor director
Natalie Kalmus	....	technicolor director
Hermes Pan	....	choreographer
Hermes Pan	....	specialty dancer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1943) (USA) (theatrical)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #8899)

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Betty Grable starred in this as well as its 1950 remake, Wabash Avenue (1950).

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: Betty Grable: Behind the Pin-up" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Beautiful Coney Island

Slick, colorful musical trifle with Grable and rest of cast in top form

This is a colorful musical bit of fluff, set in NY's beach community around the turn of the century. George Montgomery gives one of his best Gable-like performances as the con man who has his eye on Grable and wants to see her leave her hootch act to become a top Broadway headliner. They squabble, there are misunderstandings, double-crosses, but all comes right in the end. Although the Scoring was justly nominated for an Oscar, there should have been nods for the beautifully composed Technicolor cinematography and the lavish costume design as well (alack, the latter category didn't exist in 1943). Caesar Romero is the rival and Charles Winniger and Phil Silvers provide the comedy relief. There are only four songs but they are well done. This is a very enjoyable piece of fluff. One is surprised Montgomery didn't become a major star - he had the looks and the personality.