Vivacious Lady (1938)

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

P.J. Wolfson (screen play) and
Ernest Pagano (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 August 1938 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

On a quick trip to the city, young university professor Peter Morgan falls in love with nightclub performer...

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Nightclub | New York | Small Town | Singer

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Ginger Rogers	...	Francey
James Stewart	...	Peter
James Ellison	...	Keith
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Morgan
Charles Coburn	...	Mr. Morgan
Frances Mercer	...	Helen
Phyllis Kennedy	...	Jenny
Franklin Pangborn	...	Apt. Manager
Grady Sutton	...	Culpepper
Jack Carson	...	Waiter Captain
Alec Craig	...	Joseph
Willie Best	...	Porter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bobby Barber	...	Italian Waiter at Nightclub (uncredited)
Lee Bennett	...	Student (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Eugene Burr	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Harry Campbell	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Spencer Charters	...	Man Shaving on Train (uncredited)
Wally Dean	...	Faculty Member (uncredited)
Jane Eberling	...	Girl on Bus (uncredited)
Maude Eburne	...	Wife of Man Shaving (uncredited)
Katharine Ellis	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	2nd Train Conductor (uncredited)
Phyllis Fraser	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Helena Grant	...	Mrs. Wickett - Maid at Apartment (uncredited)
Vinton Hayworth	...	Druggist (uncredited)
Robert Holton	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
June Horne	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Lloyd Ingraham	...	Mr. Noble - Library Committee Member (uncredited)
Dorothy Johnson	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
June Johnson	...	Miss Barton - Botany Student (uncredited)
Marvin Jones	...	Boy on Bus (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Man in Train Corridor (uncredited)
Hattie McDaniel	...	Hattie - Maid at Prom Dance (uncredited)
Dorothy Moore	...	Hat-Check Girl (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Library Committee Member (uncredited)
Roger Neury	...	Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
George Noisom	...	Whistling Student (uncredited)
Tom Quinn	...	Maitre d' (uncredited)
Vivian Reed	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ronald R. Rondell	...	Student (uncredited)
Floyd Shackelford	...	First Train Porter (uncredited)
Kay Sutton	...	Woman Exiting Train at Old Sharon (uncredited)
Phoebe Terbell	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Frank M. Thomas	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Russell Wade	...	Ball Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
George Stevens

Writing credits
P.J. Wolfson		(screen play) and
Ernest Pagano		(screen play)
I.A.R. Wylie		(story)
Anne Morrison Chapin		contributor to treatment (uncredited)

Produced by
George Stevens	....	producer

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse		(photographed by) (as Robert de Grasse)

Film Editing by
Henry Berman		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Costume Design by
Irene		(costumes)
Bernard Newman		(costumes)

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Pandro S. Berman	....	in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Argyle Nelson	....	assistant director

Art Department
Carroll Clark	....	associate art director
Darrell Silvera	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	recordist
James Wilkinson	....	head of RKO sound department (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Miehle	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Roger Edens	....	vocal arrangements
Roy Webb	....	musical director
Robert Russell Bennett	....	music arranger: orchestral music (uncredited)
Roy Webb	....	composer: incidental music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (present) (as RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (An RKO Radio Picture)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Manga Films (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Odeon Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3330) | Spain:T | Argentina:Atp | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | UK:U

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

In the film, the classroom assistant to James Stewart is referred to as Mr. Culpepper from Texas. Ginger Rogers' first husband was Edward Jackson Culpepper, known as 'Jack Pepper', from Texas.

Quotes:

Helen:I'm going to give you a piece of my mind...
Francey:Oh, I couldn't take the last piece!

Movie Connections:

Featured in George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey (1984)

Soundtrack:

You'll Be Reminded of Me

Very sexy romantic comedy

I admit to being a fan of romantic comedies. This is one of the very best. Stewart and Rogers are fantastic and surrounded by a great cast - most particularly Beulah Bondi and Grady Sutton.

The best part for 21st century viewers of the "ancient" classic is the amount of sexual tension the director (and Stewart and Rogers) put in the film. The scenes with the murphy bed in Roger's apartment are among the funniest and sexiest every filmed. I'm surprised this got by the censors back then! The pace of the film is excellent, the characters are charming, the romance is engaging, the acting is superb, and the writing is even more so.

Why this is not available on DVD is beyond me. If you get the chance, watch this film.