Out of the Blue (1947 film)
Encyclopedia
Out of the Blue is a 1947 comedy based on the short story by Vera Caspary
who also co-wrote the screenplay. It stars George Brent
, Ann Dvorak
, Turhan Bey
and Virginia Mayo
. It was directed by Leigh Jason
.
where he is dominated by his wife Mae (Carole Landis
) and annoyed by Rabelais, the German Shepherd owned by his neighbour, artist and swinging bachelor David (Bey). David has a constant parade of attractive women visiting his apartment to pose for him. He currently is being visited by Deborah (Mayo) who wants David's champion Rabelais to breed with her dog.
When his wife goes off to visit her sister, Arthur visits a bar where he's picked up by interior decorator Olive (Dvorak) who comes home with him. Olive has a taste for brandy
that she insists alleviates her heart condition but makes her tipsy. Arthur orders the reluctant Olive to leave but Olive enters the guest room unbeknownst to Arthur. Waking up the next day Arthur discovers Olive has not only spent the night but redecorated the room. In attempting to get her to leave he knocks Olive down to the floor where he thinks she has died. The film has Olive's 'body' moved about by David who uses Arthur's fear of having killed Olive to blackmail him into changing his mind about having a court order ordering David to get rid of his dog. Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the Village with two elderly snoopers (Elizabeth Patterson
and Julia Dean) believing Olive is his victim. Adding to Arthur's troubles is his wife returning.
. She also wrote the screenplay for her Bedelia
in England the previous year which was also produced by her future husband Isadore Goldsmith. Her original short story
for Out of the Blue appeared in Today's Woman magazine in September 1947.
Hadda Brooks
sings the title song in a nightclub.
Vera Caspary
Vera Caspary was an American writer of novels, plays, screenplays, and short stories. Her best-known novel Laura was made into a highly successful movie. Though she claimed she was not a "real" mystery writer, her novels effectively merged women's quest for identity and love with murder plots...
who also co-wrote the screenplay. It stars George Brent
George Brent
George Brent was an Irish film and television actor in American cinema.-Early life:He was born George Brendan Nolan in Raharabeg, County Roscommon on the opposite bank of the River Shannon from the town of Shannonbridge, County Offaly, Ireland, the son of a British Army officer.During the Irish...
, Ann Dvorak
Ann Dvorak
Ann Dvorak was an American film actress.Asked how to pronounce her adopted surname, she told The Literary Digest: "My name is properly pronounced vor'shack. The D remains silent...
, Turhan Bey
Turhan Bey
Turhan Bey is an American actor of Turkish and Czech descent. Bey was active in Hollywood from 1941 to 1953. He was dubbed "The Turkish Delight" by his fans for his exotic handsome looks...
and Virginia Mayo
Virginia Mayo
Virginia Mayo was an American film actress.After a short career in vaudeville, Mayo progressed to films and during the 1940s established herself as a supporting player in such films as The Best Years of Our Lives and White Heat .Mayo remained an A-list actress into the mid-'50s, but then went...
. It was directed by Leigh Jason
Leigh Jason
Leigh Jason was an American film director and sceeenwriter. He was born in New York, New York, and died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.-Filmography:* The Price of Fear * Wolves of the City...
.
Plot
Arthur Earthleigh (Brent) lives in an apartment in Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
where he is dominated by his wife Mae (Carole Landis
Carole Landis
Carole Landis was an American film and stage actress whose break-through role was as the female lead in the 1940 film One Million B.C.. Landis has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1765 Vine Street....
) and annoyed by Rabelais, the German Shepherd owned by his neighbour, artist and swinging bachelor David (Bey). David has a constant parade of attractive women visiting his apartment to pose for him. He currently is being visited by Deborah (Mayo) who wants David's champion Rabelais to breed with her dog.
When his wife goes off to visit her sister, Arthur visits a bar where he's picked up by interior decorator Olive (Dvorak) who comes home with him. Olive has a taste for brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
that she insists alleviates her heart condition but makes her tipsy. Arthur orders the reluctant Olive to leave but Olive enters the guest room unbeknownst to Arthur. Waking up the next day Arthur discovers Olive has not only spent the night but redecorated the room. In attempting to get her to leave he knocks Olive down to the floor where he thinks she has died. The film has Olive's 'body' moved about by David who uses Arthur's fear of having killed Olive to blackmail him into changing his mind about having a court order ordering David to get rid of his dog. Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the Village with two elderly snoopers (Elizabeth Patterson
Elizabeth Patterson (actress)
Elizabeth Patterson was an American film and television character actress remembered for her portrayal of elderly neighbor Matilda Trumbull on I Love Lucy.-Career:...
and Julia Dean) believing Olive is his victim. Adding to Arthur's troubles is his wife returning.
Production
Mystery writer Vera Caspary's had a percentage deal with Eagle-Lion FilmsEagle-Lion Films
Eagle-Lion Films was a British film production company owned by J. Arthur Rank intended to release British productions in the United States. In 1947 it acquired PRC Pictures, a small American production company, to produce B Pictures to accompany the British releases...
. She also wrote the screenplay for her Bedelia
Bedelia (novel)
Bedelia is a novel by Vera Caspary first published in 1945 about a couple of newlyweds where the initially blissfully happy husband finds out during the first months of their marriage that his wife may have a criminal past...
in England the previous year which was also produced by her future husband Isadore Goldsmith. Her original short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
for Out of the Blue appeared in Today's Woman magazine in September 1947.
Hadda Brooks
Hadda Brooks
Hadda Brooks , was an American pianist, vocalist and composer. Her first single, "Swingin' the Boogie", which she composed, was issued in 1945...
sings the title song in a nightclub.