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A Date with Judy
A Date with Judy
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Richard Thorpe
Screenplay by	Dorothy Cooper; Dorothy Kingsley;
Based on	A Date with Judy; radio series; by Aleen Leslie
Produced by	Joe Pasternak
Starring	Wallace Beery; Jane Powell; Elizabeth Taylor; Carmen Miranda; Xavier Cugat; Robert Stack;
Cinematography	Robert Surtees
Edited by	Harold F. Kress
Music by	Ernesto Lecuona
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	July 29, 1948;
Running time	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1.3 million or $2 million
Box office	$4.6 million

A Date with Judy is a 1948 American musical romantic comedy Technicolor film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Wallace Beery, Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor.^[3]^[4] The film is based on the radio series of the same name.

The film features Powell's soprano singing voice and also features musical performances by Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda and Spanish bandleader Xavier Cugat. The songs "Judaline" and "It's a Most Unusual Day" also debuted in the film.

Plot

In Santa Barbara, California, snobbish teenager Carol Pringle tells her best friend Judy Foster that famous bandleader Xavier Cugat will be the guest of honor at their high school dance that night. Carol convinces her younger brother Ogden "Oogie" Pringle to cancel his dance date with Judy, claiming that women are more drawn to men who ignore them. When Judy learns that Oogie has decided not to take her to the dance, she becomes infuriated and vows to end their friendship. Dejected, Judy visits "Pop" Sam Scully's drugstore, where she meets Pop's handsome nephew Stephen Andrews. He agrees to escort her to the dance as a favor to Pop. At the dance, Oogie sees Judy with Stephen and becomes jealous. While Oogie tries to divert Judy's attention away from Stephen, Stephen meets Carol and they dance together.

Realizing how much Judy means to Oogie, Carol schemes to reunite them by telling Judy that she has convinced her wealthy father to give Judy and Oogie a program on his radio station. At a dinner arranged by Carol, Oogie tries to make amends with Judy, but when Judy accidentally falls, she wrongly accuses him of pushing her. Although Stephen assures Oogie that he would never take Judy from him, she tells her father that she is in love with Stephen and intends to marry him.

After a circumstantial misunderstanding, Judy believes that her father Melvin is having an affair with rumba instructor Rosita Conchellas. Judy runs home and gives her mother a beauty makeover to make her more appealing to her father.

Upon learning that Carol is in love with Stephen, her widowed father Lucien performs a background check on Stephen. Stephen confronts Lucien, declaring that he now understands why Carol is spoiled and egotistical. Lucien pledges to be more attentive to Oogie and Carol. Oogie visits Judy's house and tries to serenade her, but they argue when he says that he is taking a fishing trip with his father and might not return in time for their radio show.

The next day, Judy and Carol see Melvin escorting Rosita to his car. That night, at Judy's parents' anniversary celebration, Judy and Carol accuse Rosita of having an affair with a married man. Rosita misunderstands the accusation and believes that they are talking about Cugat, her fiancé. Rosita explains that she was teaching Judy's father the rumba as a surprise for his wife and children. Judy and Carol realize their mistake and apologize to Rosita. Judy reconciles with Oogie after she learns that Carol is in love with Stephen, and Stephen agrees to resume his romance with Carol in a few years when she is older.

Cast

Wallace Beery as Melvin Colner Foster
Jane Powell as Judy Foster
Elizabeth Taylor as Carol Pringle
Carmen Miranda as Rosita Cochellas
Xavier Cugat as himself (credited as "Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra" in opening credits)
Robert Stack as Stephen I. Andrews
Scotty Beckett as Ogden "Oogie" Pringle
Selena Royle as Dora Foster
Leon Ames as Lucien T. Pringle
Clinton Sundberg as Jameson
George Cleveland as Gramps
Lloyd Corrigan as "Pop" Sam Scully
Jerry Hunter as Randolph Foster
Jean McLaren as Mitzi Hoffman
Stuart Whitman as young man in ballroom (uncredited)
Lillian Yarbo as Nightingale (uncredited)

Songs

"It's a Most Unusual Day" (Jimmy McHugh, Harold Adamson), performed by Jane Powell
"Judaline" (Don Raye, Gene de Paul), performed by Jane Powell, Scotty Beckett & Quartet
"I'm Strictly on the Corny Side" (Stella Unger, Alec Templeton), performed by Jane Powell & Scotty Beckett
"Cuanto Le Gusta" (Gabriel Ruiz, Ray Gilbert), performed by Carmen Miranda with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra
"Cooking with Gas", performed by Carmen Miranda with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra
"Love Is Where You Find It" (Earl K. Brent, Nacio Herb Brown), performed by Jane Powell, Jerry Hunter & Selena Royle
"Home Sweet Home" (H.R. Bishop), performed by Jane Powell, Jerry Hunter & Selena Royle
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (Wallace Willis), performed by Lillian Yarbo

Production

The A Date with Judy radio show ran from 1941 to 1949 on NBC, and from 1949 to 1950 on ABC. The character of Judy Foster was portrayed on the radio by Dellie Ellis (later known as Joan Lorring), Louise Erickson and Ann Gillis.

Thomas E. Breen was originally set to costar in the film with Jane Powell, and Leslie Kardos was set to direct. Selena Royle replaced Mary Astor, who withdrew from the film because of illness.^[5]

According to a biography of director Vincente Minnelli, a musical number entitled "Mulligatawny" created by Stanley Donen was cut from the film before its release.^[6]

Robert Stack was almost twice as old as Elizabeth Taylor, who played his romantic interest. The last day of filming was January 27, 1948. At that time Stack was 29 and Taylor was 15.

Release

The film spent four weeks at the top of the U.S. box office,^[7] earning theatrical rentals of $3,431,000 in the United States and Canada and $1,155,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $1,495,000.^[1]^[8]

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic Thomas F. Brady wrote: "Hollywood has developed an extensive and rigid set of conventions for its unceasing stream of comedies of adolescence, and 'Judy' adheres carefully to all of them. But within the limits of this familiar pattern, the picture is pleasantly entertaining. ... Not to be curmudgeonly, one has to admit that the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer formula for adolescent comedy is just about as good as any other formula which has been worn smooth by years of exploitation. Altogether, 'Judy' will provide acceptable summer entertainment for anyone who isn't too tired of standard movie juveniles and their attitudes."^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study
^ "109-Million Investment by H'wood In Current Technicolor Features". Variety. Vol. 169, no. 11. February 18, 1948. p. 7.
^ "Film Reviews". Variety. Vol. 171, no. 3. June 23, 1948. p. 6.
^ Harrison's Reports film review. June 19, 1948. p. 99.
^ The Hollywood Reporter. December 1947.
^ "A Date with Judy (1948)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
^ "National Boxoffice Survey". Variety. Vol. 172, no. 2. September 15, 1948. p. 3.
^ "Top Grossers of 1948". Variety. Vol. 173, no. 4. January 5, 1949. p. 46.
^ Brady, Thomas F. (1948-08-06). "The Screen: 'A Date With Judy' Arrives at the Music Hall—Carmen Miranda Provides Laughs". The New York Times. p. 22.