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Our Town (1940)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
24 May 1940 (USA)
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Tagline:
I don't want to get married.....I'M AFRAID! more
Plot:
Change comes slowly to a small New Hampshire town in the early 20th century. People grow up, get married...
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| full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Uncle
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Teenage Girl
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Cat
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New Hampshire
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Birthday
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Awards:
Nominated for 6 Oscars.
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NewsDesk:
(37 articles)
This Week on Stage: Mamet's 'Race' and 'So Help Me God' open
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 12 December 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
This Week on Stage: Cate Blanchett stars in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 5 December 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 12 December 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
This Week on Stage: Cate Blanchett stars in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'
(From EW.com - PopWatch. 5 December 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
User Comments:
I liked it
more (34 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| William Holden | ... | George Gibbs | |
| Martha Scott | ... | Emily Webb | |
| Fay Bainter | ... | Mrs. Gibbs | |
| Beulah Bondi | ... | Mrs. Webb | |
| Thomas Mitchell | ... | Dr. Gibbs | |
| Guy Kibbee | ... | Mr. Webb | |
| Stuart Erwin | ... | Howie Newsome | |
| Frank Craven | ... | Mr. Morgan | |
| Doro Merande | ... | Mrs. Soames | |
| Philip Wood | ... | Simon Stimson | |
| Ruth Tobey | ... | Rebecca Gibbs (as Ruth Toby) | |
| Douglas Gardner | ... | Wally Webb | |
| Arthur B. Allen | ... | Professor Willard (as Arthur Allen) | |
| Charles Trowbridge | ... | Dr. Ferguson | |
| Spencer Charters | ... | Constable Warren |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
90 min | 89 min (Hypercube restored version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #6071) |
USA:Passed (National Board of Review)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Because the play was performed on nearly a bare stage and the main character dies in the end, the production was delayed several months due to the difficulty in translating it to the screen. Thornton Wilder and producer Sol Lesser worked together closely to modify the play. No changes were made without Wilder's permission.
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Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: Studio lights are reflected on the mourners' rain-soaked umbrellas.
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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.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Action: Strong Sexual Content (#1.7)" (1999)
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Soundtrack:
Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid?
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FAQ
Chapter Headings, an unofficial version:more
more (34 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Our Town (1940)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| A few Questions that I need help on... | anunknownstory |
| Chapter Headings, v1.00: | annevejb |
| Depressing ending | jiw2 |
| Original book/script text? | Valmier |
Recommendations
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I've never read the play or seen it performed. All I knew is that it won a Pulitzer Prize and was constantly being done by community theatres. Also there are at least FOUR made for TV versions (this is the only theatrical one). I figured it was time I finally saw it.
From what I can gather, this is a heavily edited version (the TV versions run from 2 to 3 hours) and I KNOW the ending was changed (because of the Production Code). Still I liked it for what it was. Also I saw a recently restored version so it looks pretty good (considering it's over 60 years old).
It's just about life in a small New Hampshire town from 1901 to 1940. It concerns various characters but mostly centers on Emily Webb (Martha Scott) falling in love with George Gibbs (William Holden). It also flawlessly recreates a small town in the early 20th century. Everybody knows everybody else, they all live comfortably with each other, nobody locks their doors at night...combine that with some breath taking production design by William Cameron Menzies and it creates a very comfortable, idyllic feeling. Also some of the shots of the town at night were just beautiful.
A lot of people complain about the total lack of chemistry between Scott and Holden. They're not wrong but this was Scott's first film and Holden's third (I believe)...they were still young and learning. As it is, it's incredible to see Holden so young, handsome and full of life. Scott is very good also and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for this. They're backed up by a great cast of character actors from he 1930s--basically, nobody is bad. This didn't move me to tears like others said it did, but it WAS very moving. I'd like to see the other versions.
So, a pretty good view of small town life in the early 20th century.