The Perils of Pauline (1947)

Funloving Pearl White, working in a garment sweatshop, gets her big chance when she "opens" for a delayed Shakespeare play...with a comic vaudeville performance. Her brief stage career ... See full summary »

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

P.J. Wolfson (screenplay), Frank Butler (screenplay),

Stars:

Betty Hutton, John Lund, Billy De Wolfe

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Betty Hutton	...	Pearl White
John Lund	...	Michael Farrington
Billy De Wolfe	...	Mr. Timmy Timmons
William Demarest	...	George 'Mac' McGuire
Constance Collier	...	Julia Gibbs
Frank Faylen	...	Mr. Joe Gurt
William Farnum	...	Western Saloon Set Hero
Chester Conklin	...	Comic Chef
Paul Panzer	...	Drawing Room Gent
'Snub' Pollard	...	Western Saloon Set Propman (as Snub Pollard)
James Finlayson	...	Comic Chef
Creighton Hale	...	Marcelled Leading Man
Hank Mann	...	Comic Chef
Francis McDonald	...	Western Saloon Set Heavy
Bert Roach	...	Western Saloon Set Bartender

Storyline

Funloving Pearl White, working in a garment sweatshop, gets her big chance when she "opens" for a delayed Shakespeare play...with a comic vaudeville performance. Her brief stage career leads her into those "horrible" moving pictures, where she comes to love the chaotic world of silent movies, becoming queen of the serials. But the consequences of movie stardom may be more than her leading man can take

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Plot Keywords:

sweatshop | silent film star | audition | spinal injury | actor | 

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pauline, laß das Küssen sein

Filming Locations:

Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many actors who were in Pearl White's movies had roles in this film: Paul Panzer played the villain in the original serial, The Perils of Pauline; Creighton Hale was the hero in White's serial The Exploits of Elaine; William Farnum came out of retirement to play himself, appearing in the same costume he wore in Riders of the Purple Sage. In addition, Louis J. Gasnier, who directed the original film (The Perils of Pauline), was a technical advisor on this film.

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Goofs

In real life, Pearl White was married and divorced twice; her second husband committed suicide in 1928, 7 years after their 1921 divorce. In the film, she never marries, although a forthcoming marriage to the fictitious Michael Farrington is implied at the finale, which takes sometime in the mid-1920's.

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Connections

References Teddy at the Throttle (1917)

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Soundtracks

"Rumble, Rumble, Rumble"
(1947) (uncredited)
Written by Frank Loesser
Sung by Betty Hutton in a theater

User Reviews

Overlooked Betty Hutton film is biography of serial queen Pearl White...

Pearl White was a serial queen of the B films of the silent period and this is a take on her life--a humorous one, tailored of course to suit Betty Hutton's style of clowning.

The story begins with Hutton working in a sweat shop and doing one of her frantic song routines before she lands a part with a traveling repertory company where she falls for conceited leading actor John Lund. Lund plays straight man for Hutton's mugging and one scene in particular will have you laughing out loud as Hutton--drenched from the rain--attempts to recite her next line without sneezing. He proves an excellent co-star.

Adding to the merriment is Constance Collier as a wise, veteran stage actress who attempts to teach Pearl the tricks of the trade. Billy de Wolfe and William Demarest add to the fun and there are some nice tunes by Frank Loesser.

Definitely one of Betty Hutton's better pictures, tuneful, brightly technicolored and a good showcase for her talent.