Susan Slept Here (1954)

Comedy about a struggling Hollywood scriptwriter who, one Christmas Eve, receives a very unexpected present - juvenile delinquent Debbie Reynolds.

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writers:

Alex Gottlieb (screenplay), Steve Fisher (play),

Stars:

Dick Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dick Powell	...	Mark Christopher
Debbie Reynolds	...	Susan Beaurgard Landis
Anne Francis	...	Isabella Alexander
Glenda Farrell	...	Maude Snodgrass
Alvy Moore	...	Virgil, Mark's Gofer
Horace McMahon	...	Sergeant Monty Maizel
Herb Vigran	...	Sergeant Sam Hanlon
Les Tremayne	...	Harvey Butterworth, Mark's Lawyer
Mara Lane	...	Marilyn, Mark's Neighbor
Rita Johnson	...	Dr. Rawley, Harvey's Shrink
Maidie Norman	...	Georgette, Mark's Maid

Storyline

Comedy about a struggling Hollywood scriptwriter (Dick Powell) who, one Christmas Eve, receives a very unexpected present - juvenile delinquant Debbie Reynolds.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | oscar statuette | based on play | character name in title | title spoken by character

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Taglines:

She slept in his bed...wore his pajamas - THEN SHE REALLY TOOK OVER!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1954 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Eine Nacht mit Susanne

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In joke: During opening narration, an Oscar statuette makes reference to "Louella" - gossip columnist Louella Parsons, mother of film's producer Harriet Parsons.

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Quotes

Sergeant Monty Maizel: Remember you guys, she's underage. Lay one hand on her and that's all brother.

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Connections

References The Jack Benny Program (1950)

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Soundtracks

"Hold My Hand"
Music by Richard Myers
Lyrics by Jack Lawrence
Sung by Don Cornell

User Reviews

Frank Tashlin Comedy Gem!

This bright and witty and utterly bizarre bedroom farce may be the funniest movie ever made about statutory rape, and thanks to director Tashlin (famous for his groundbreaking animation work at Warner and Disney, and later for the best Jerry Lewis comedies like CINDERFELLA and THE GEISHA BOY), it holds up as one of the earliest examples of a successful live-action cartoon. This most odd take on the 50s juvenile delinquent phenomenon boasts brilliant comic timing, rapid-fire dialog and eccentric, even idiotic characters. Even heroes Powell and Reynolds keep tripping over their own egos in the service of this ultra-hip battle of the sexes. Powell is a pathetic caricature of a swinging Hollywood bachelor, and Reynolds is a manic, twisted tomboy, as alluring as she is goofy. Also great are Glenda Farrell as an alcoholic spinster, and Alvy Moore as a sexually ambiguous assistant. Les Tremayne plays a humorless (what else?) lawyer. The two vice cops (Horace McMahon and Herb Vigran) are hilarious buffoons straight from a Bugs Bunny cartoon. As you can imagine, sexual tension is rampant, and fuels much of the comedic proceedings, from innuendo to pratfall, but with Tashlin's deft touch, it seems effervescent rather than intense, innocent rather than lecherous. The film is bright and colorful, in that gauche 50s wonderland of bad design and grand accents. There is a stunning, avant-garde dream sequence that can only be described as "Alvin Allay meets Sigmund Freud", and a snappy theme song. We get to hear Don Cornell sing "Hold My Hand", straight from the Coral 78rpm record! And this may be the only film in history narrated by an "Oscar" statue! A bonafide comedy legend.