Our Town (1940)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Thornton Wilder (play)
Thornton Wilder (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 May 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

I don't want to get married.....I'M AFRAID!

Plot:

Change comes slowly to a small New Hampshire town in the early 20th century. People grow up, get married...

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Teenage Girl | Cat | New Hampshire | Birthday

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars.

Cast

William Holden	...	George Gibbs
Martha Scott	...	Emily Webb
Fay Bainter	...	Mrs. Gibbs
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Webb
Thomas Mitchell	...	Doc Gibbs
Guy Kibbee	...	Mr. Webb
Stuart Erwin	...	Howie Newsome
Frank Craven	...	Stage Manager
Doro Merande	...	Mrs. Louella Soames
Philip Wood	...	Simon Stimson
Ruth Tobey	...	Rebecca Gibbs (as Ruth Toby)
Douglas Gardner	...	Wally Webb
Arthur B. Allen	...	Prof. Willard (as Arthur Allen)
Charles Trowbridge	...	Rev. Dr. Ferguson
Spencer Charters	...	Const. Bill Warren

Runtime:

90 min | 89 min (Hypercube restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #6071) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Fort Bragg, California, USA

Company:

Sol Lesser Productions

Trivia:

Martha Scott was not considered for the role of "Emily" at first, because of her poor screen test for the role of "Melanie" in Gone with the Wind (1939), but she was chosen after much auditioning of other actresses.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Studio lights are reflected on the mourners' rain-soaked umbrellas.

Quotes:

Mrs. Julia Hersey Gibbs: It seems to me, once in your life, before you die, you ought to see a country where they don't speak any English and they don't even want to.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Party Camp (1987)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)

Sentimentality made lovely and even haunting...

This film, a Thornton Wilder play, is about how many of the unnoticed details of day-to-day life are sweet and, in fact, ARE life. The Aaron Copeland music sprinkled through the film is lovely and fits the mood perfectly. The contrived ending (not part of the stage play) does not help the film, but by no means does it ruin it, either.