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The Gay Sisters
The Gay Sisters
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Irving Rapper
Screenplay by	Lenore J. Coffee
Based on	The Gay Sisters; 1942 novel; by Stephen Longstreet
Produced by	Henry Blanke; Hal B. Wallis; (executive producer)
Starring	Barbara Stanwyck; George Brent; Geraldine Fitzgerald; Donald Crisp; Gig Young; Nancy Coleman;
Cinematography	Sol Polito
Edited by	Warren Low
Music by	Max Steiner
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	August 1, 1942;
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$779,000
Box office	$1.5 million (US rentals); $2,585,000 (worldwide);

The Gay Sisters is a 1942 American drama film directed by Irving Rapper, and starring Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Donald Crisp, Gig Young (who adopted his character's name as his screen name) and Nancy Coleman. The Warner Bros. motion picture was based on a novel by Stephen Longstreet.

Plot

Sisters Fiona, Evelyn, and Susie Gaylord, are orphaned when first their mother goes down with the Lusitania and then their wealthy father, Major Penn Gaylord, is killed in France in World War I. Before Penn left for France, he told Fiona, the eldest, that the Gaylords never sell land they acquire.

However, their half billion dollar inheritance is held up in probate for decades, right up to 1941; Fiona complains that they have practically grown up in court. Though they have a New York City Fifth Avenue mansion, the sisters have had to borrow money to live. A French charity claims that Penn made a later will before he died, leaving 10% of the Gaylord estate to it. Though the Gaylords are now willing to give up the 10%, their real antagonist is Charles Barclay, who wants their mansion, and the choice land on which it sits too, so that he can tear it down as part of his real estate development, Barclay Square. Fiona is determined not to give in.

Meanwhile, Evelyn has married an English nobleman, now fighting in the RAF, while Susie is in love with painter Gig Young, despite being married herself. Susie only stayed with her husband for a few hours, but he refuses to grant her an annulment unless she pays him a great deal of money, which she does not have. When Evelyn returns home from England, she becomes attracted to Gig herself and tries to steal him away.

In 1941, Fiona fires the longtime Gaylord lawyer, Hershell Gibbon, when he appears to be too sympathetic to Charles and hires Ralph Pedloch as his replacement. It is revealed that Fiona and Charles have a prior history together. Six years before, an aunt died and left Fiona $100,000, to be disbursed once she was married. Fiona decided to go through with a sham marriage to a cousin, but ran into Charles, then a road construction crew foreman, while driving to her cousin, and found him much more attractive (and immediately available). Within a few days, she manipulated the lovestruck man into proposing. On their wedding night, she pretended to faint. While he went to purchase some medicine, she packed up, leaving a letter with $25,000, her wedding ring and an explanation. However, he returned before she left and forced her to have sex with him on their wedding night. Fiona gave birth to a boy, Austin, and had him raised by a trusted nurse.

When the nurse died, Fiona brought the now six-year-old to live with her. Unexpectedly, she finds herself becoming very fond of the child. She believes that Charles knows nothing about their child, but he does. This all comes out in court.

When Susie tries to commit suicide after it appears that she has lost Gig, Fiona finally realizes that the toll her stubborn determination has exacted on her family. She gives up the mansion and grants Charles sole custody of Austin. In the end, Gig chooses the now-single Susie, and Charles tells Fiona that he still loves her. Fiona embraces and kisses him.

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck as Fiona Gaylord
George Brent as Charles Barclay
Geraldine Fitzgerald as Lady Evelyn Gaylord Burton
Donald Crisp as Ralph Pedloch
Byron Barr as Gig Young. The studio decided that Barr would use Gig Young as his stage name.
Nancy Coleman as Susanna "Susie" Gaylord Allen
Gene Lockhart as Mr. Herschell Gibbon
Larry Simms as Austin, aka "Butch"
Donald Woods as Penn Sutherland Gaylord
Grant Mitchell as Gilbert Wheeler
William T. Orr as Dick Tone
Anne Revere as Miss Ida Orner
Helene Thimig as Saskia, the Gaylord maid
George Lessey as Judge Barrows
Charles Waldron as Mr. Van Rennseler (as Charles D. Waldron)
Frank Reicher as Dr. Thomas Bigelow
David Clyde as Benson, Penn's servant
Mary Field as Farmer's Granddaughter / Organist
Mary Thomas as Fiona Gaylord as a girl of eight

Box office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $1,728,000 domestically and $857,000 foreign.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 22 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
^ "101 Pix Gross in Millions" Variety 6 Jan 1943 p 58