To Please a Lady (1950)

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Barré Lyndon (story) and
Marge Decker (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 October 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

MGM's thrill-a-minute romance of a daredevil and a darling!

Plot:

A former war hero and midget car racer meets his match with an beautiful independent reporter who blames his reckless tactics for an accidental racing death.

Plot Keywords:

Driver | Daredevil | Acrobat | Trophy | Sportscaster

Cast

Clark Gable	...	Mike Brannan
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Regina Forbes
Adolphe Menjou	...	Gregg
Will Geer	...	Jack Mackay
Roland Winters	...	Dwight Barrington
William C. McGaw	...	Joie Chitwood
Lela Bliss	...	Regina's Secretary
Emory Parnell	...	Mr. Wendall
Frank Jenks	...	Press Agent
Helen Spring	...	Janie
Bill Hickman	...	Mike's Pit Crew
Lew Smith	...	Mike's Pit Crew
Ted Husing	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erville Alderson	...	Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
Henry Banks	...	Driver (uncredited)
Morgan Brown	...	Racing Spectator (uncredited)
Hal K. Dawson	...	IMRA Promoter (uncredited)
Marcel De la Brosse	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Dominic 'Pee Wee' Distarce	...	Driver (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Greengrove Race Spectator (uncredited)
Cay Forester	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Byron Foulger	...	Shoe Fitter (uncredited)
John Gallaudet	...	IMRA Promoter (uncredited)
Joe Garson	...	Joe Youghal (uncredited)
Cecil Green	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Tom Hanlon	...	Greengrove Race Announcer (uncredited)
Jerry Hausner	...	Spotter in Husing's Booth (uncredited)
Harry Hayden	...	Bainsville Track Owner (uncredited)
Holmes Herbert	...	Benson - Regina's Butler (uncredited)
Al Hill	...	Steward #1 (uncredited)
Art Howard	...	Racing Spectator (uncredited)
Frank Hyers	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Richard Joy	...	Television Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Arthur M. Loew Jr.	...	Studio Production Man (uncredited)
Jack McGrath	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
John McGuire	...	Newark Referee (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Racing Spectator (uncredited)
Carlotta Monti	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
William Newell	...	Hank Harmon (uncredited)
Anne O'Neal	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Ernest Ohman	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Johnnie Parsons	...	Driver (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Steward #2 (uncredited)
Tom Quinn	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Jean Ransome	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Marilyn Rich	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Mauri Rose	...	Himself - Indianapolis 500 Driver, Car #31 (archive footage) (uncredited)
Tim Ryan	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Dick Simmons	...	Regina's Radio Show Announcer (uncredited)
Stephen Soldi	...	Racing Spectator (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Race Track Spectator (uncredited)
Johnny Tolan	...	Driver (uncredited)
William H. Welsh	...	Sports Announcer (uncredited)

Directed by
Clarence Brown

Writing credits
Barré Lyndon		(story) and
Marge Decker		(story)
Barré Lyndon		(screenplay) and
Marge Decker		(screenplay)

Produced by
Clarence Brown	....	producer

Original Music by
Bronislau Kaper

Cinematography by
Harold Rosson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Kern		(as Robert J. Kern)

Art Direction by
James Basevi
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Helen Rose

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
William Tuttle	....	makeup designer (as William J. Tuttle)
Lou LaCava	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Helene Parrish	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jay Marchant	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Howard W. Koch	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Carl 'Major' Roup	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack Bonar	....	associate set decorator
Ralph S. Hurst	....	associate set decorator
Matty Azzarone	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording supervisor
Charles E. Wallace	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie	....	special effects
Warren Newcombe	....	special effects

Stunts
J. Lewis Smith	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ed Hubbell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Lloyd Isbell	....	grip (uncredited)
P.R. Keeler	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Robert Martin	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Peter Ballbusch	....	montage

Music Department
Robert Franklyn	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Manuel Ayulo	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)

Other crew
John Banse	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Wilbur Shaw	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
E.A. 'Babe' Stapp	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1962) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (re-titled)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1979) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• M.P.E.A. (1952) (Austria) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

"Red Hot Wheels" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | Australia:G | West Germany:12 | USA:Approved (certificate #14737) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Arlington Downs Racetrack - 2225 E. Randol Mill Road, Arlington, Texas, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Clark Gable wanted the name of the movie changed because shortly before filming he married Lady Silvia Ashley and did not want people to make comparisons.

Goofs:

Continuity: Because footage shot during the actual 1950 Indy 500 was used, Mauri Rose can be seen exiting the pits driving past the pit for the real car #17, Joie Chitwood (Mauri Rose and Joie Chitwood's pits were next to each other during the 1950 500 race).

Quotes:

Mike Brannan:[carrying Stanwyck in his arms] All the soft spots aren't on the track.
Regina Forbes:Well, you keep your mind on the ones that are.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Gable: The King Remembered (1975) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Polly-Wolly Doodle

Car racing at its best, and good actors add much to the story

This is a terrific movie for fans of car racing. There's live footage of real car races that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Clark Gable, is the tough ridden driver Mike, who seems to live under a cloud of doubt and blame which columnist Regina (Stanwyck) at first holds against him, deeming him the cause of another driver's death. But in time they work through their rough beginnings and then they find more understanding and acceptance. Both are strong-willed so it's an interesting match.

Adolphe Menjou also adds his abilities in a supportive role, always well done. I'm not a sports fan but did enjoy seeing these fine actors perform. I wasn't aware of this film until today when I saw it on tv, so it was a nice surprise. Very good entertainment.