Beau James (1957)

Director:

Melville Shavelson

Writers:

Gene Fowler (book)
Jack Rose
(more)

Release Date:

7 June 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The Story of Fabulous Jimmy Walker . . . Mayor of New York

Plot:

Biopic of the political career of Jimmy Walker, flamboyant and somewhat corrupt Mayor of New York City from 1926-1932.

Plot Keywords:

Mayor | New York City | Statue Of Liberty New York City | Election | Break Up

Cast

Bob Hope	...	Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
Vera Miles	...	Betty Compton
Paul Douglas	...	Chris Nolan
Alexis Smith	...	Allie Walker
Darren McGavin	...	Charley Hand
Joe Mantell	...	Bernie Williams, Broadway producer
Horace McMahon	...	Prosecutor
Richard Shannon	...	Dick Jackson
Willis Bouchey	...	Arthur Julian
Sid Melton	...	Sid Nash
George Jessel	...	George Jessell
Walter Catlett	...	Gov. Alfred E. 'Al' Smith
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eric Alden	...	Reporter (scene 201) (uncredited)
Hy Anzell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Babette Bain	...	Puerto Rican Child (uncredited)
Russ Bender	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Jack Benny	...	Jack Benny (uncredited)
John Benson	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Hazel Boyne	...	Flower Woman (uncredited)
Leonard Bremen	...	Building Inspector Versali (uncredited)
Don Brodie	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Sammy Cahn	...	Arranger (uncredited)
G. Pat Collins	...	1st Policeman (uncredited)
Danny Davenport	...	New Yorker (uncredited)
James Davies	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Joseph Donte	...	Photographer (scene 201) (uncredited)
Jimmy Durante	...	Jimmy Durante (uncredited)
Mickey Finn	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Richard B. Fitzgerald	...	Police Secretary (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Captain Dennis (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Extra (uncredited)
William Forrest	...	Attorney (uncredited)
Paul Gary	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sandra Gould	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Johnny Grant	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Man on Dais / Man in Audience (uncredited)
Len Hendry	...	New Yorker (uncredited)
James Hyland	...	Policeman (scene 76) (uncredited)
Charles Irwin	...	Captain Pat O'Shea (uncredited)
Lorna Jordon	...	New Yorker (uncredited)
Charles Keane	...	2nd Policeman (uncredited)
Vilis Lapenieks	...	Latvian Ambassador (uncredited)
George Lynn	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sidney Marion	...	New Yorker (uncredited)
Edward McNally	...	Governor's Secretary (uncredited)
Joe McTurk	...	Billy - Speakeasy Owner (uncredited)
William Meader	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Charles Meredith	...	Judge John Harrison (uncredited)
Lyle Moraine	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Pat Moran	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Edgar Murray	...	Doctor (scenes 56, 57, 58) (uncredited)
Dick Nelson	...	Franklin D. Roosevelt (uncredited)
James O'Neill	...	Patrolman (uncredited)
Jack Pepper	...	Politician (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard	...	Theatre Man (uncredited)
Bing Russell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dick Ryan	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Tim Ryan	...	Captain of Police (uncredited)
Joel Smith	...	Governor's Secretary (uncredited)
Robert Strong	...	Photographer (scene 118) (uncredited)
Joe Turkel	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Philip Van Zandt	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Selene Walters	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Harlan Warde	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Walter Winchell	...	Narrator (uncredited)
Gordon Wynn	...	Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Melville Shavelson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gene Fowler		book
Jack Rose
Melville Shavelson

Produced by
Jack Rose	....	producer

Original Music by
Joseph J. Lilley		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
John F. Warren

Film Editing by
Floyd Knudtson

Casting by
Bert McKay		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
John B. Goodman
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Frank R. McKelvy

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Charles Woolstenhulme	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael D. Moore	....	assistant director
Clem Jones	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Al Mann	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator
Tom Plews	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound
Howard Beals	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Lucky Kargo	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
W. Wallace Kelley	....	photographer: second unit
Frank J. Calabria	....	additional photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sy Devore	....	wardrobe: Bob Hope (uncredited)
Glenita Dinneen	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Jack Baker	....	dances and musical numbers staged by
Joseph J. Lilley	....	conductor
Joseph J. Lilley	....	music arranger
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Imogene Lynn	....	singing voice: Vera Miles (uncredited)
Van Cleave	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Harold Melnicker	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Stanley Scheuer	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hope Enterprises
• Paramount Pictures
• Scribe Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latvian | Italian | Hebrew

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hope Enterprises

Trivia:

Final film of Walter Catlett.

Goofs:

Continuity: Mayor Walker is in a parade near movie's end. In the background is a 1955 or 1956 Cadillac.

Movie Connections:

Follows Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Soundtrack:

The Sidewalks of New York

A Valentine to New York City with surprisingly strong dramatic performance by Hope

I was a teenager when James J. Walker was the Mayor of New York. Bob Hope doesn't look anything like him but catches the essence of his exuberant spirits and lack of responsibility very well. The narration by Walter Winchell adds just the right touch.

Paul Douglas is perfect as the Tammany boss. Hope is especially terrific in the dramatic conflict and emotional scenes with both Alexis Smith and Vera Miles. It makes me wish Hope did more straight-up dramas. It is especially a shame in retrospect, because after Beau James, Hope really never had the opportunity to make a good movie again (unless you count Critic's Choice which I don't).

If you enjoy nostalgic sad-and-funny movies about New York, this is one for you.