How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Nunnally Johnson

Writers:

Edward Hope (novel)
Nunnally Johnson (writer)

Release Date:

6 July 1956 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

2 girls on the lam hide out in a college fraternity.

Plot Keywords:

College | San Francisco | Person In Hiding | Stripper | Graduation

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Stormy Tornado
Sheree North	...	Curly Flagg
Robert Cummings	...	Fillmore 'Wedge' Wedgewood
Charles Coburn	...	Dr. Tweed
Tommy Noonan	...	Eddie Jones
Orson Bean	...	Toby Marshall
Fred Clark	...	B.J. Marshall
Charlotte Austin	...	Midge
Alice Pearce	...	Miss 'Syl' Sylvester
Rhys Williams	...	Cedric Flagg
Andrew Tombes	...	Sgt. Moon
Noel Toy	...	Cherry Blossom Wang
Emory Parnell	...	Chief of Police
Harry Carter	...	Bus Driver
Jesslyn Fax	...	Music Teacher

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #17444) | Finland:S | Portugal:17 | Sweden:15

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

A December 1954 item in Hollywood Reporter's "Rambling Reporter" column indicated that the studio wanted Marilyn Monroe to appear in the film with Jane Russell, her co-star in the studio's highly successful 1953 production _Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953_).

Quotes:

Eddie Jones: Do you know what Salome does?
Curly: Salome dances!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess" (1996)

Soundtrack:

How to Be Very, Very Popular

How To Be Very, Very Lousy

This film is sadly embarrassing for many reasons, perhaps the most glaring, initially, is its complete disrespect and misuse of Betty Grable whose scenes really are few and far between. Both Grable and the terrific Sheree North are wearing raincoats for most of the film, the latter only coming to life (she is hypnotized for most of the 'epic') during one sex-sational dance number. Grable's legs are seen once or twice, but there is no song, no number for her to do...YET, amidst the rubble, Grable's growing craft as a comedienne are visible momentarily. The culprits in this disaster are the inept writers and, of all people, director Nunnally Johnson (didn't he know any better?). The dialog is a blithering mess... and the plot meanders across a landmine of sloppy character developments and plot machinations. Robert Cummings and Tommy Noonan are pretty awful in dreadfully written parts. Orson Bean and Alice Pearce occasionally show a bit of humor. Sheree North, a fine dancer and, later in her career, one of the most under-appreciated and excellent actresses ('No Down Payment' as an example) can merely show her adorable self. The plot plods along with no sense, and has an ending that is disgracefully sloppy for a professional unit. (Whatever plot came from Howard Lindsay's play is missing). Had Johnson tried an out-and-out farce, it might have been a little funny, because the cast understands comedy. But this entire 'romp' thumps down to a disastrous level. Pity the talented two blonde stars. One merit - you can see, briefly, the lovely Charlotte Austin who went on to a very slight film career.