Dreamboat (film)
Encyclopedia
Dreamboat is a 1952
comedy film
starring Clifton Webb
as a college professor with a mysterious past.
) are severely disrupted when it is revealed that he was once a matinee idol
known as "Dreamboat". His films are being reshown on a television show hosted by his former costar Gloria Marlowe (Ginger Rogers
). The college administrators clamor for his resignation, but President Mathilda May Coffey (Elsa Lanchester
) requests and is given discretionary power to decide what to do. In private, she admits to Thornton that she had been one of his biggest fans.
Thornton hastily leaves for New York to get an injunction
against the show, taking Carol along. There they meet Sam Levitt (Fred Clark
), the man responsible for airing the movies. While Sam and Gloria try to get Thornton to change his mind, Sam has underling Bill Ainslee (Jeffrey Hunter
) show Carol the sights. Undaunted, Thornton eventually gets his injunction, but his life is irreparably changed. He is fired, and Bill and Carol have fallen in love and are planning to get married.
When Gloria gloats over his setbacks, he reveals that a major movie studio is interested in reviving his film career. She then reveals that she bought his contract and is now his boss. Months later, Bill and Carol watch Thornton in Sitting Pretty - a real film starring Clifton Webb.
) subsequently covered by many artists and which went on to feature in the 1995 film The Bridges of Madison County
.
1952 in film
The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Clifton Webb
Clifton Webb
Clifton Webb was an American actor, dancer, and singer known for his Oscar-nominated roles in such films as Laura, The Razor's Edge, and Sitting Pretty...
as a college professor with a mysterious past.
Plot
The respectable lives of Professor of English literature Thornton Sayre (Clifton Webb) and his daughter Carol (Anne FrancisAnne Francis
Anne Lloyd Francis was an American actress, best known for her role in the science fiction film classic Forbidden Planet , and as the female private detective in the television series Honey West . She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role in Honey West...
) are severely disrupted when it is revealed that he was once a matinee idol
Matinee idol
Matinée idol is a term used mainly to describe film or theatre stars who are adored to the point of adulation by their fans.The term almost exclusively refers to male actors. Invariably the adulation was fixated on the actor's looks rather than performance...
known as "Dreamboat". His films are being reshown on a television show hosted by his former costar Gloria Marlowe (Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
). The college administrators clamor for his resignation, but President Mathilda May Coffey (Elsa Lanchester
Elsa Lanchester
Elsa Sullivan Lanchester was an English-American character actress with a long career in theatre, film and television....
) requests and is given discretionary power to decide what to do. In private, she admits to Thornton that she had been one of his biggest fans.
Thornton hastily leaves for New York to get an injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
against the show, taking Carol along. There they meet Sam Levitt (Fred Clark
Fred Clark
Frederick Leonard Clark was an American film character actor.-Career:Born in Lincoln, California, Clark made his film debut in 1947 in The Unsuspected. His 20-year film career included almost 70 films, and numerous television appearances...
), the man responsible for airing the movies. While Sam and Gloria try to get Thornton to change his mind, Sam has underling Bill Ainslee (Jeffrey Hunter
Jeffrey Hunter
Jeffrey Hunter was an American film and television actor. His most famous roles are as Jesus in the film King of Kings, as Martin Pawley in The Searchers, and as Capt...
) show Carol the sights. Undaunted, Thornton eventually gets his injunction, but his life is irreparably changed. He is fired, and Bill and Carol have fallen in love and are planning to get married.
When Gloria gloats over his setbacks, he reveals that a major movie studio is interested in reviving his film career. She then reveals that she bought his contract and is now his boss. Months later, Bill and Carol watch Thornton in Sitting Pretty - a real film starring Clifton Webb.
Music
The film introduced the standard Poinciana (written by Nat Simon and Buddy BernierBuddy Bernier
Henry 'Buddy' Bernier was an American lyricist, mainly active during the 1940s and 50s.Born in Watertown, New York, Bernier is perhaps best remembered for Poinciana, written with composer Nat Simon, first introduced in the 1952 film Dreamboat which subsequently became a standard covered by artists...
) subsequently covered by many artists and which went on to feature in the 1995 film The Bridges of Madison County
The Bridges of Madison County (film)
The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 American romantic drama film based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. It was produced by Amblin Entertainment and Malpaso Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment...
.
Cast
- Clifton WebbClifton WebbClifton Webb was an American actor, dancer, and singer known for his Oscar-nominated roles in such films as Laura, The Razor's Edge, and Sitting Pretty...
as Thornton Sayre / "Dreamboat" / Bruce Blair - Ginger RogersGinger RogersGinger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
as Gloria Marlowe - Anne FrancisAnne FrancisAnne Lloyd Francis was an American actress, best known for her role in the science fiction film classic Forbidden Planet , and as the female private detective in the television series Honey West . She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy award for her role in Honey West...
as Carol Sayre - Jeffrey HunterJeffrey HunterJeffrey Hunter was an American film and television actor. His most famous roles are as Jesus in the film King of Kings, as Martin Pawley in The Searchers, and as Capt...
as Bill Ainslee - Elsa LanchesterElsa LanchesterElsa Sullivan Lanchester was an English-American character actress with a long career in theatre, film and television....
as Dr. Matilda Coffey - Fred ClarkFred ClarkFrederick Leonard Clark was an American film character actor.-Career:Born in Lincoln, California, Clark made his film debut in 1947 in The Unsuspected. His 20-year film career included almost 70 films, and numerous television appearances...
as Sam Levitt - Paul HarveyPaul Harvey (actor)Paul Harvey was an American actor who appeared in at least 177 films.-Selected filmography:*They Shall Have Music *Behind the News *Moonlight Masquerade *Spellbound...
as Harrington - Ray CollinsRay Collins (actor)Ray Bidwell Collins was an American actor in film, stage, radio, and television. One of Collins' best remembered roles was that of Lt. Arthur Tragg in the long-running series Perry Mason.- Biography :...
as Timothy Stone - Helene Stanley as Mimi
- Richard GarrickRichard GarrickRichard Garrick was a director and actor. He was born Richard Thomas O'Brien in the townland of Portlaw, County Waterford, Ireland. His father, James E. O'Brien, was a master tailor in that town, counting among his clients Lord Waterford as well as other nobility and landed gentry. In 1882, James...
as Judge Bowles