Knickerbocker Holiday (1944)

It's 1650 in New Amsterdam, and Brom Broeck, a young outspoken newspaper publisher is arrested for printing advanced opinions on the undemocratic rule of Govenor "Peg-Leg" Stuyvesant. While... See full summary »

Director:

Harry Joe Brown

Writers:

Maxwell Anderson (from the play by), Kurt Weill (from the play by),

Stars:

Nelson Eddy, Charles Coburn, Constance Dowling

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Nelson Eddy	...	Brom Broeck
Charles Coburn	...	Peter Stuyvesant
Constance Dowling	...	Tina Tienhoven
Ernest Cossart	...	Tienhoven
Shelley Winters	...	Ulda Tienhoven (as Shelley Winter)
Johnnie Davis	...	Tenpin (as Johnny 'Scat' Davis)
Percy Kilbride	...	Schermerhorn
Otto Kruger	...	Roosevelt
Fritz Feld	...	Poffenburgh
Richard Hale	...	Tammany
Carmen Amaya	...	Gypsy Dancer

Storyline

It's 1650 in New Amsterdam, and Brom Broeck, a young outspoken newspaper publisher is arrested for printing advanced opinions on the undemocratic rule of Govenor "Peg-Leg" Stuyvesant. While Brom is in prison, old "Peg-Leg" goes on the make for Brom's sweetheart. But, when "Peg-Leg" is forced to release Brom... Watch-out!

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Plot Keywords:

1650s | based on play

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Taglines:

WHAT A MUSICAL! WHAT A ROMANCE! WHAT A GIRL! (original poster-all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | History | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cidade Que Dança

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Corporation of America

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although most of the stage musical's songs were omitted from the film, "September Song" did make it into the film, and the original lyrics of the song (referring to Peter Stuyvesant's wooden leg) were used, rather than the more familiar ones sung by most popular and nightclub singers.

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Connections

Version of Pulitzer Prize Playhouse: Knickerbocker Holiday (1950)

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Soundtracks

"It Never Was You"
Music by Kurt Weill
Lyrics by Maxwell Anderson

User Reviews

Entertaining adaptation of the Kurt Weill Broadway musical.

An odd combo for writing a Broadway musical - Kurt Weill and serious dramatist, Maxwell Anderson - but write it they did, amused by the NYC corruption that existed back in 1647 under the Dutch rule of Peter Stuyvesant and the then current 1940s political atmosphere. Charles Coburn, complete with pegleg, essays the role of Stuyvesant, played and sung on stage by Walter Huston - high point of the score is SEPTEMBER SONG. Nelson Eddy and Constance Dowling do well as the revolutionary firebrand against corruption and for a federation of the colonies under a democracy (horrors!) and his vivacious sweetheart. The plot takes turn poking political fun at the corrupt Dutch businessmen and guiding the effervescent Tina away from the grasp of the elderly Stuyvesant and into the arms of Brom (Nelson Eddy). The score consists of nine numbers that are all lively and well-written (the score combined parts of the Weill original and new songs written by Jule Styne and a quartet of lyricists and the background scoring is quite well done (Oscar nomination for Scoring). The sets and costumes are also very good and were deserving of similar recognition but failed to garner votes - in the latter case the category wasn't invented until 3 years later. Nothing extraordinary but very amusing and jolly and well done.