Shantytown (1943)

Elizabeth "Liz" Gorty (Mary Lee) lives with her mother and stepfather in a ramshackle boarding house in "Shantytown" on the "wrong side of the tracks." Bill Allen (John Archer) and his wife... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Santley

Writers:

Olive Cooper (screenplay), Henry K. Moritz (adaptation)

Stars:

Mary Lee, John Archer, Marjorie Lord

Cast

Credited cast:
Mary Lee	...	Elizabeth 'Liz' Gorty
John Archer	...	Bill Allen
Marjorie Lord	...	Virginia Allen
Harry Davenport	...	'Doc' Herndon
Billy Gilbert	...	'Papa' Ferrelli
Anne Revere	...	Mrs. Gorty
John F. Hamilton	...	Mr. Gorty (as J. Frank Hamilton)
Frank Jenks	...	'Whitey'
Cliff Nazarro	...	'Shortcake'
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer	...	'Bindy'
Robert Homans	...	Dugan
Noel Madison	...	'Ace' Lambert
Matty Malneck	...	Orchestra Leader (as Matty Malneck and His Orchestra)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Red Smith	...	Musician

Storyline

Elizabeth "Liz" Gorty (Mary Lee) lives with her mother and stepfather in a ramshackle boarding house in "Shantytown" on the "wrong side of the tracks." Bill Allen (John Archer) and his wife Virginia (Marjorie Lord) rent a room from the Gorty's and "Liz", always a tomboy, resolves to become a lady like Virginia, who is expecting a baby. Bill is a fugitive from the law because he was innocently involved in a crime pulled off by the "Ace" Landers gang. Landers (Noel Madison) locates Bill and the latter is forced to drive a get-away car in a bank robbery. The gang is caught but Bill escapes. Meanwhile, Virginia is ill and is attended by kindly old "Doc" Herndon (Harry Davenport). "Liz" manages to get on an amateur-hour broadcast, sings "On The Corner of Sunshine and Main" and "It Had To Be You", accompanied by Marty Malneck (Matty Malneck) and his Orchestra , and she tosses in a plea for Bill to come home.

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Plot Keywords:

fugitive | orchestra | broadcast | robbery | tomboy | 

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Taglines:

MARY LEE IN HER MOST BRILLANT HIT! A Thrill You'll Never Forget As This Heart-Warming Real Life Drama Stirringly Infold On The Screen!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lágrimas e Sorrisos

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

66 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"It Had to Be You"
(uncredited)
Music by Isham Jones
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Sung by Mary Lee
Played by Matty Malneck and His Orchestra

User Reviews

The German influence shows.

Many film-making refugees from Nazi Germany found employment at Republic (as writers, associate producers and set/art) during the early-40's, and most of the B-features they worked on at Republic reflect themes and styles not normally associated with Republic's usual-lively B-features. Bordering on plumb depressing at times. Like this one.

Elizabeth "Liz" Gorty (Mary Lee) lives with her mother (Anne Revere) and stepfather (J. Frank Hamilton)in a ramshackle boarding house in "Shantytown" on the "wrong side of the tracks." Bill Allen (John Archer)and his wife Virginia (Marjorie Lord) rent a room from the Gorty's and "Liz", always a tomboy, resolves to become a lady like Virginia, who is expecting a baby. Bill is a fugitive from the law because he was innocently involved in a crime pulled off by the "Ace" Landers (Noel Madison) gang. Landers locates Bill and the latter is forced to drive a get-away car in a bank robbery. The gang is caught but Bill escapes. Meanwhile, Virginia is ill and is attended by kindly old "Doc" Herndon (Harry Davenport.) "Liz" manages to get on an amateur-hour broadcast, sings "On The Corner of Sunshine and Main" and "It Had To Be You", accompanied by Marty Malneck and his Orchestra , and she tosses in a plea for Bill to come home.

No matter what hovel they were hiding in or how hunted they were, film fugitives always have a radio handy and tuned to the Amateur Hour. Bill was no exception.