Forever Female (1953)

Aging actress Ginger Rogers refuses to admit she is too old to play the ingenue role any longer.

Director:

Irving Rapper

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein,

Stars:

Ginger Rogers, William Holden, Paul Douglas

Won 1 Golden Globe.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ginger Rogers	...	Beatrice Page
William Holden	...	Stanley Krown
Paul Douglas	...	E. Harry Phillips
James Gleason	...	Eddie Woods
Jesse White	...	Willie Wolfe
Marjorie Rambeau	...	Older Actress at Bar
George Reeves	...	George Courtland
King Donovan	...	Playwright
Vic Perrin	...	Scenic Designer
Russell Gaige	...	Theatrical Producer
Marion Ross	...	Patty (as Marian Ross)
Richard Shannon	...	Stage Manager
Pat Crowley	...	Sally Carver

Storyline

Playwright Stanley Krown has a terrific new play. It's got a great part for reigning Broadway star Beatrice Page, and a young actress named Sally Carver will do just about anything to get the ingénue lead. The problem is that Beatrice doesn't want the great role written for her. She wants the ingénue role, something she could have played wonderfully -- when she was twenty years younger.

---

Plot Keywords:

based on play

---

Taglines:

That "Moon Is Blue" boy -- is in the middle Again!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die pikanten Jahre einer Frau

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Features Pat Crowley debut.

---

Goofs

The framed caricatures that line the walls of the Sardi's set are black and white sketches that include at least one movie star (Charlie Chaplin); in reality, the caricatures at the actual restaurant in New York are in color and, because they only honor celebrities connected with the Broadway stage, would certainly not have included Chaplin.

User Reviews

Learning to accept the changes of time

This is reminiscent of the theatrics in "All About Eve" but with a sympathetic, light comedic twist to it. There is Ginger Rogers as Beatrice the mature, aging actress who is intent on impressing everyone with the idea that she is 29, no more, no less, and capable of taking on the new female role that's in the works. It doesn't go over too well with a young actress named Sally, played by Pat Crowley, who is willing to charge into every obstacle on her way to 'reaching the top' as an actress. She is very adept at changing her stage name to suit the occasion and meet the needs of the day.

It is great seeing Paul Douglas in top form, here as Beatrice's "ex" yet still devoted to her and her career, but sometimes he does reach the limit of his patience with her. One wonders what other fine, maturer roles he may have had in his career but unfortunately his life was cut short through illness.

William Holden as Stanley the playwright is, as ever, one handsome leading man. He gets entangled emotionally with the two actresses, not sure what to think or which way to turn.

This is an age-old comment of the times that's still prevalent in society, of women's role in life being most appealing when young but having no place when they reach "a certain age." I think these days society is more accepting of the mature, older woman, thanks to woman's lib activity of past decades as well as some outstanding actresses who have influenced opinions and flourished in their senior years, such as Angela Lansbury, Maureen O'Hara, Lauren Bacall, Joan Collins and Kate Hepburn.