Centennial Summer (1946)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

Albert E. Idell (novel)
Michael Kanin (writer)

Release Date:

August 1946 (USA)

Genre:

History | Musical

Plot:

In 1876 Philadelphia, two sisters (Jeanne Crain and Linda Darnell) vie for the affections of a Frenchman...

Plot Keywords:

World's Fair | Beautiful Woman | Ulysses Simpson Grant | Historical | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Jeanne Crain	...	Julia Rogers
Cornel Wilde	...	Philippe Lascalles
Linda Darnell	...	Edith Rogers
William Eythe	...	Ben Phelps
Walter Brennan	...	Jesse Rogers
Constance Bennett	...	Zenia Lascalles
Dorothy Gish	...	Mrs. Rogers
Barbara Whiting	...	Susanna Rogers
Larry Stevens	...	Richard Lewis Esq
Kathleen Howard	...	Deborah
Buddy Swan	...	Dudley Rogers
Charles Dingle	...	J.P. Snodgrass
Avon Long	...	Specialty

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:18

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

"Two Hearts Are Better Than One" (music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Johnny Mercer), intended for this film, was not used. Columbia Records issued Frank Sinatra's version of the song.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991)

Soundtrack:

The Right Romance

A very rare movie, but a long-time favorite.

This was the film that introduced me to the world of classic movies. Jeanne Crain has since been one of my all-time favorite actresses.

This is a great musical and represents Jerome Kern's last creative effort before his untimely death. It's set around the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. When the Rodgers family receives a visit from their Aunt Zenia who is accompanied by Philippe (a dashing Frenchman who arrives to set up the French Pavilion for the Centennial), the excitement of the exposition is heightened. Edith decides to forget her engagement to Ben, in order to pursue Philippe, but Philippe actually has eyes for Julia. When Edith tells Philippe that it is Julia who is actually engaged to Ben, he loses hope. Julia and Ben then play out a make-believe romance to make Philippe jealous and bring Edith back to Ben.

All the while, the Rodgers mother is having troubles of her own...keeping her husband out of the romantic whirl of Zenia's man collection.

A fun, romantic, musical-comedy, with gorgeous costumes and a nice soundtrack. This is one that needs to be released on video!