Laughing Sinners
Encyclopedia
Laughing Sinners Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
feature film
starring Joan Crawford
and Clark Gable
in a story about a cafe entertainer who experiences spiritual redemption. The dialogue by Martin Flavin
was based upon the play, Torch Song
by Kenyon Nicholson
. The film was directed by Harry Beaumont
. Laughing Sinners was the second of eight cinematic collaborations between Crawford and Gable.
in 1953
.
was originally playing Gable's role when the studio decided to scrap his footage and reshoot the part with Gable taking Brown's place. At that point, Brown's distinguished career in mainstream feature films ended and he wound up demoted to cowboy B pictures, with his name changed to "Johnny Mack Brown."
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
starring Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
and Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
in a story about a cafe entertainer who experiences spiritual redemption. The dialogue by Martin Flavin
Martin Flavin
Martin Archer Flavin was an American playwright and novelist.He was awarded the 1944 Pulitzer Prize for his novel Journey in the Dark.Flavin was born in San Francisco, California, and died in Carmel, California....
was based upon the play, Torch Song
Torch Song
Torch Song was a British synthpop and dance band of the early 1980s consisting of William Orbit, Laurie Mayer and Grant Gilbert. In 1985, Grant left to pursue other projects and long-time friend Rico Conning officially joined the group. After the release of 'Exhibit A' in 1987, Torch Song as a...
by Kenyon Nicholson
Kenyon Nicholson
Kenyon Nicholson was an American playwright and screenwriter.-Career:Born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Nicholson was graduate of Wabash College. He relocated to New York to further his work as a playwright. His play, The Barker, was made into several movies under different titles and was one of...
. The film was directed by Harry Beaumont
Harry Beaumont
Harry Beaumont was an American film director, actor, and screenwriter. He worked for a variety of production companies including Fox, Goldwyn, Metro, Warner Brothers and MGM....
. Laughing Sinners was the second of eight cinematic collaborations between Crawford and Gable.
Historical note
Coincidentally, just as they did in Laughing Sinners, Crawford and Rambeau would play mother and daughter again in the film Torch SongTorch Song (film)
Torch Song is a 1953 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature film starring Joan Crawford and Michael Wilding in a story about a Broadway star and her rehearsal pianist. The screenplay by John Michael Hayes and Jan Lustig was based upon the story "Why Should I Cry?" by I.A.R. Wylie...
in 1953
1953 in film
The year 1953 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*September 16 — The Robe debuts as the first anamorphic, widescreen CinemaScope film.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:A...
.
Plot
Ivy Stevens (Crawford) is a cafe entertainer in love with a shifty salesman (Neil Hamilton) who deserts her. In attempting to commit suicide, she is saved by Carl (Gable), a Salvation Army officer. Encouraged by Carl, Ivy joins the Salvation Army. When her old flame re-enters her life, Ivy finds she is still atttracted and begins another affair with him. Carl steps in and urges Ivy to resume her life with the Salvation Army. Ivy realizes that if she continues the affair, her life will only spiral downward. She drops the affair and resumes her commitment to the Salvation Army.Cast
- Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
as Ivy Stevens - Neil Hamilton as Howard Palmer
- Clark GableClark GableWilliam Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
as Carl Loomis - Marjorie RambeauMarjorie RambeauMarjorie Rambeau was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:Rambeau was born in San Francisco, California to Marcel Rambeau and Lilian Garlinda Kindelberger. Her parents split up when she was a girl. She and her mother went to Nome, Alaska where young Marjorie dressed as a boy, sang and...
as Ruby - Guy KibbeeGuy KibbeeGuy Bridges Kibbee was an American stage and film actor.Born in El Paso, Texas, Kibbee began his entertainment career on Mississippi riverboats and eventually became a successful Broadway actor...
as Cass Wheeler - Cliff EdwardsCliff EdwardsCliff Edwards , also known as "Ukelele Ike", was an American singer and voice actor who enjoyed considerable popularity in the 1920s and early 1930s, specializing in jazzy renditions of pop standards and novelty tunes. He had a number-one hit with "Singin' in the Rain" in 1929...
as Mike - Roscoe KarnsRoscoe KarnsRoscoe Karns was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 150 films between 1915 and 1964.He played the title role in the popular DuMont Television Network series Rocky King, Inside Detective from 1950 to 1954...
as Fred Geer - Gertrude ShortGertrude ShortGertrude Short was an American film actress of the silent and early sound era. She appeared in 132 films between 1912 and 1945.She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and died in Hollywood, California, aged 66....
as Edna - George CooperGeorge CooperGeorge Stephen Cooper , was an Australian cricket Test match umpire.He umpired two Test matches between 1948 and 1950...
as Joe - George F. MarionGeorge F. MarionGeorge F. Marion Sr. was an American stage actor and director, a film actor and director of two silent films. George F. Marion, who was born in San Francisco, California was father of writer George Marion Jr. and he died of a heart attack at the age of 85 years in Carmel, California, USA. Marion...
as Humpty - Bert WoodruffBert WoodruffBert Woodruff was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 64 films between 1916 and 1931. He was born in Peoria, Illinois and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* Jim Bludso...
as Tink
Production
John Mack BrownJohnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown was an All-American college football player and film actor originally billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career.-Early life:...
was originally playing Gable's role when the studio decided to scrap his footage and reshoot the part with Gable taking Brown's place. At that point, Brown's distinguished career in mainstream feature films ended and he wound up demoted to cowboy B pictures, with his name changed to "Johnny Mack Brown."