The Voice of the Turtle (1947)

Director:

Irving Rapper

Writers:

Charles Hoffman (additional dialogue)
John Van Druten (play)

Release Date:

28 February 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Budding actress Sally Middleton agrees to a date with Bill Page, a soldier on a weekend pass, after he's stood up by her worldly friend...

Plot Keywords:

Weekend Pass | Soldier | Actress | Food Rationing | Cynicism

Cast

Ronald Reagan	...	Sergeant Bill Page
Eleanor Parker	...	Sally Middleton
Eve Arden	...	Olive Lashbrooke
Wayne Morris	...	Comm. Ned Burling
Kent Smith	...	Kenneth Bartlett
John Emery	...	George Harrington
Erskine Sanford	...	Storekeeper
John Holland	...	Henry Atherton
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Douglas Kennedy	...	Naval officer (unconfirmed)

Also Known As:

One for the Book (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #12658, Adult Audience)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The film has not been shown on television under its original title for years. It is always shown under its reissue title, "One For the Book".

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Actress playing Sally mistakenly refers to the kitchen appliance double-boiler as a double-broiler, a cooking apparatus that doesn't exist.

Soundtrack:

The Sailor's Hornpipe

Delightful wartime comedy.

Irving Rapper's 1947 wartime comedy 'One For the Book,' is based on John Van Druten's Broadway play, 'The Voice of the Turtle.'

Eleanor Parker plays a young, struggling NY stage actress who's been disappointed with love, but agrees to go out with a soldier on leave (Ronald Reagan) after he's stood up by her friend (Eve Arden). They spend the weekend together and fall in love.

I don't think there was a prettier girl in all the movies then Eleanor Parker, who also had one of the loveliest speaking voices, so distinct and individual. On top of that, she's a marvelous screen actress, and this is one of her best early films, in Margaret Sullavan's famous stage role. (She even wears Sullavan's hairstyle with her trademark bangs.) Though she's usually at her best playing strong, domineering women, she's very charming in this entertaining romantic comedy.

Ronald Reagan, too, had one of his better film roles, and working with Parker brought out the best in him. With the exception of his dramatic role in 'Kings Row,' he's rarely this appealing, and his love scenes with lovely Eleanor are very romantic.

And Eve Arden is terrific as always as Parker's man-chasing friend.

A very bright, enjoyable romantic comedy, well directed and acted.