Kings Row (1942)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

Casey Robinson (screenplay)
Henry Bellamann (novel)

Release Date:

18 April 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Perfect Players . . . in the 4 Star Best-Seller Story now becomes your Top Screen Triumph! . . . in Kings Row

Plot:

The dark side and hypocrisy of provincial American life is seen through the eyes of five children as they grow to adulthood at the turn-of-the-century.

Plot Keywords:

Turn Of The Century | Small Town | Friend | Secret | Provincial Life

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Ann Sheridan	...	Randy Monaghan
Robert Cummings	...	Parris Mitchell
Ronald Reagan	...	Drake McHugh
Betty Field	...	Cassandra Tower
Charles Coburn	...	Dr. Henry Gordon
Claude Rains	...	Dr. Alexander Tower
Judith Anderson	...	Mrs. Harriet Gordon
Nancy Coleman	...	Louise Gordon
Kaaren Verne	...	Elise Sandor
Maria Ouspenskaya	...	Madame von Eln
Harry Davenport	...	Colonel Skeffington
Ernest Cossart	...	Pa Monaghan
Ilka Grüning	...	Anna (as Ilka Gruning)
Pat Moriarity	...	Tod Monaghan
Minor Watson	...	Sam Winters

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #7337) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:G | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Saugus, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The city depicted in the film is based on the actual Mid-Missouri town of Fulton, book writer Henry Bellamann's home.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Parris is speaking to his instructor in Vienna, Dr. Kendell strikes a match to light his pipe. In the next shot, the match has disappeared and there is no evidence that he lit the pipe.

Quotes:

Dr. Alexander Q. Tower: In the 13th Century, man was happier and more comfortable in his world than he is now. I'm speaking of psychic man and his relationship with his whole universe.
Parris Mitchell: I get it, sir. Everything was so simple then
Dr. Alexander Q. Tower: That was it, Parris. That was it. But in this modern complicated world, man breaks down under the strain, the bewilderment, disappointment, and disillusionment. He gets lost, goes crazy, commits suicide. I don't know what's going to happen to this world in the next hundred years or so, but I can guarantee you life isn't going to get any simpler. Worry and doubt bring on a bellyache. Mankind's building up the biggest psychic bellyache in history.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sands of Oblivion (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

My Gal Is a High-Born Lady

King Row on DVD

Does anyone have any information about when the wonderful film directed by Sam Wood and titled Kings Row (1942) will be available on DVD? How can we promote the DVD version of fine films that are forgotten by many as the years go by?

When so much junk comes out on DVD it is a shame that classic films like Kings Row and Welles' The Magnificent Ambersons and Kazan's America America await justice.

One would think that films awarded or acclaimed award winners would be a short list for DVD format.

Studios really don't think much of their audiences do they?