Designing Woman (1957)

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writer:

George Wells (written by)

Release Date:

29 July 1957 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

His world is guys and dolls! Her world is gowns and glamor!

Plot:

When Mike Hagen and Marilla Brown marry after a whirlwind romance on the west coast, they return to...

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | Apartment | Sports Writer | Fashion Designer | Brawl

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Mike Hagen
Lauren Bacall	...	Marilla Brown Hagen
Dolores Gray	...	Lori Shannon
Sam Levene	...	Ned Hammerstein
Tom Helmore	...	Zachary Wilde
Mickey Shaughnessy	...	Maxie Stultz
Jesse White	...	Charlie Arneg
Chuck Connors	...	Johnnie 'O'
Edward Platt	...	Martin J. Daylor
Alvy Moore	...	Luke Coslow
Carol Veazie	...	Gwen
Jack Cole	...	Randy Owens
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Helen Andrews	...	Model (uncredited)
Jan Arvan	...	TV Director (uncredited)
Rodney Bell	...	Drunk Reporter (uncredited)
Otis Bigelow	...	Set Designer (uncredited)
Madge Blake	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jackie Blanchard	...	Model (uncredited)
Hazel Boyne	...	Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Harriett Brest	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Theona Bryant	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Don Burnett	...	Johnnie Gates (uncredited)
Mushy Callahan	...	Referee (uncredited)
George Cisar	...	Fred Seixas, Card Playing Crony (uncredited)
Ruth Clifford	...	Vanessa Cole (uncredited)
John V. Connors	...	Dunnigan (uncredited)
Jack Daly	...	Sportswriter at Dinner (uncredited)
Jeanne Dante	...	Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Richard Deacon	...	Larry Musso (uncredited)
Don Dillaway	...	Sportswriter at Dinner (uncredited)
James Dime	...	Timekeeper at Fight Arena (uncredited)
James Douglas	...	Tommie Reese (uncredited)
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Newswoman (uncredited)
Michael Ferris	...	Makeup Man (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Lady at Marilla's Fashion Show (uncredited)
Ralph Gamble	...	Jeff Dowling (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Jo Gilbert	...	Florrie Canfield (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	...	Hoodlum in Fight (uncredited)
Reid Hammond	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Fashion Show Extra (uncredited)
Ed Haskett	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	...	Galatos (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Author at Play Reading / Party Guest / Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Charles Horvath	...	Eddie, Henchman with Johnnie 'O' (uncredited)
Anthony Jochim	...	Justice (uncredited)
Walter Johnson	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dean Jones	...	Assistant Stage Manager in Boston (uncredited)
Pat Jones	...	Model (uncredited)
Sid Kane	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Donald Kerr	...	Bellboy-Pager at Pool (uncredited)
Honey King	...	Model (uncredited)
Betty Koch	...	Model (uncredited)
Kay E. Kuter	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Syl Lamont	...	Danziger (uncredited)
Jack Lomas	...	Steen (uncredited)
Saverio LoMedico	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Jane Lynn	...	Model (uncredited)
Cy Malis	...	Dippy Rollo (uncredited)
Kay Mansfield	...	Assistant Fitter (uncredited)
Alice Markham	...	Stewardess (uncredited)
Nora Marlowe	...	Jennifer Deane (uncredited)
May McAvoy	...	Wardrobe Woman (uncredited)
Joe McGuinn	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Sid Melton	...	Miltie, Henchman (uncredited)
Matt Moore	...	Stage Doorman (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	...	Hood (uncredited)
Ann Morriss	...	Marie Dozier (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Fashion Show Attendee (uncredited)
Ron Nyman	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Gene O'Donnell	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Don Orlando	...	Italian Waiter (uncredited)
Eve Pearson	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Phyllis Planchard	...	Ann Ashmond (uncredited)
Maruja Plose	...	Model (uncredited)
Lillian Powell	...	Western Union Clerk (uncredited)
Max Power	...	Fred Sellers (uncredited)
Paul Power	...	Sheldon Stevens (uncredited)
Allen Ray	...	Smith (uncredited)
Cleo Ronson	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Benny Rubin	...	Chris Matthews (uncredited)
Jack Shea	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Max Showalter	...	Musical Director (uncredited)
Mario Siletti	...	Andrucci (uncredited)
Eddie Lou Simms	...	Joey Yustik (uncredited)
Ann Staunton	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Gilchrist Stuart	...	Mr. Orvac (uncredited)
Lomax Study	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan	...	Trainer at Ringside (uncredited)
Geraldine Wall	...	Mrs. Hammerstein (uncredited)
Chuck Webster	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Mel Welles	...	Solly Horzmann (uncredited)
Sammy White	...	Bewildered Man (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	One of Daylor's Boys in Bar (uncredited)
Jeane Wood	...	Lighting Expert (uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Reporter (uncredited)

Directed by
Vincente Minnelli

Writing credits
George Wells		(written by)

Produced by
Dore Schary	....	producer
George Wells	....	associate producer
Roger Edens	....	segment producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
André Previn

Cinematography by
John Alton

Film Editing by
Adrienne Fazan

Art Direction by
E. Preston Ames
William A. Horning

Set Decoration by
Henry Grace
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Helen Rose

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
William Tuttle	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Shanks	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Wesley C. Miller	....	recording supervisor (as Dr. Wesley C. Miller)
Wally Wallace	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Warren Newcombe	....	special effects

Stunts
Michael Dugan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Charles Horvath	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Wilson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Charles K. Hagedon	....	color consultant

Music Department
Jack Cole	....	musical numbers and dances stager
Robert Franklyn	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Albert Woodbury	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Helen Rose	....	story suggested by
Barrie Chase	....	assistant to Jack Cole (uncredited)

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (France) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1958) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• MGM/UA Home Entertainment  VHS package design
• MGM/UA Home Video  VHS package design
• Turner Entertainment  VHS package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #18350) | Canada:G (Ontario) | West Germany:16 (nf) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows - 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

MGM costume designer Helen Rose came up with the idea for this movie about a fashion designer.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In Marilla's office, just after she's accepted the job with the Broadway show, the men's shoes make the sound of shoes on hard flooring, despite the fact that they're actually on a thick shag rug.

Quotes:

Marilla Hagen:We never argue anymore. And when we do, it never lasts more than a week or two.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "American Masters: A Conversation with Gregory Peck (#15.6)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

There'll Be Some Changes Made

Late-Fifties Chic...

Helen Rose, MGM's Oscar-winning fashion guru, suggested the idea for this bit of fluff and the original casting was supposed to have been: Grace Kelly (eventually, Lauren Bacall), James Stewart (then, Gregory Peck), and Cyd Charisse (finally, Dolores Gray). George Wells won an Academy Award for his witty script and the production values were about the best that MGM could muster. Bacall gives a sly and glamorous performance, probably a little difficult for her since her husband, Humphrey Bogart's health was becoming a very serious concern while this film was in production. (Humphrey Bogart died in January of 1957.) Peck matches Bacall with a humorously masculine presence that was right-on. Dolores Gray tosses off a couple of jazzy production numbers (with the emphasis on her singing...presumably Cyd would have unfurled those legendary legs and would have been dubbed had singing been required.) And Mickey Shaughnessy provides a bit of cruder comic counterpoint as a punch-drunk boxer ("I'm makin' a comeback!") Minnelli, as usual, uses Metrocolor and CinemaScope to creative effect and Andre Previn contributed a main title theme that's instantly memorable.

The DVD now available restores the widescreen ratio and there's a curious "Behind-the-Scenes Minidocumentary" featuring costume designer Helen Rose, shot in black-and-white, in which she seems to be responding to questions posed to her by an unseen person whose questions were not actually recorded on the soundtrack! Wonder why they didn't fix that omission for its inclusion on the DVD version. Anyway, it's fun and worth a look.