The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)

Molly is an uneducated, poor, mountain girl who leaves her mountain cabin in search of a wealthy husband, respect and a better life.

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

Helen Deutsch, Richard Morris (play)

Stars:

Debbie Reynolds, Harve Presnell, Ed Begley

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Debbie Reynolds	...	Molly Brown
Harve Presnell	...	'Leadville' Johnny J. Brown
Ed Begley	...	Shamus Tobin
Jack Kruschen	...	Christmas Morgan
Hermione Baddeley	...	Buttercup Grogan
Vassili Lambrinos	...	Prince Louis de Laniere
Fred Essler	...	Baron Karl Ludwig von Ettenburg
Harvey Lembeck	...	Polak
Lauren Gilbert	...	Mr. Fitzgerald
Kathryn Card	...	Mrs. Wadlington
Hayden Rorke	...	Malcolm Broderick
Harry Holcombe	...	Mr. Wadlington
Amy Douglass	...	Mrs. Fitzgerald
George Mitchell	...	Monsignor Ryan
Martita Hunt	...	Grand Duchess Elise Lupavinova

Storyline

Majestic mountains are in the background and a waterfall in the foreground. Is that a canoe on the river? No it's a cradle with a baby. The buoyant Molly Brown has survived the first crisis of her life -- a flood. Sixteen years later she sets out to make her way in the world. Can she sing and play the piano? She assures the Leadville saloon keeper that she can and learns quickly. Soon she is the bride of Johnny Brown, who in a few years will be able to replace the original cigar wrapper wedding ring with a replica in gold and gemstones. But it takes more than a few million dollars to be accepted by Denver society. The Browns head for Europe and bring a few crowned heads back to Denver for a party that turns into a ballroom brawl. Molly goes to Europe alone, returning on the Titanic. She didn't survive a flood as a baby for the story to end here.

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Plot Keywords:

titanic | denver colorado | pot belly | dancer | wealth | 

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Musical | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Inconquistável Molly

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) Mono (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor) Black and White (some shots)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Harve Presnell.

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Goofs

When Buttercup Grogan is drinking beer with Molly, Johnny and Shamus, the level of beer in her glass goes from nearly full to nearly empty and back to nearly full.

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Quotes

Shamus Tobin: [describing the only boy interested in Molly] He tried to show her his pa's hayloft, she tied a tin can to his tail and sent him rattling down the road.

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Connections

Referenced in The Oprah Winfrey Show: Living Legend Debbie Reynolds and Her Daughter Icon Carrie Fisher (2011)

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Soundtracks

"I'LL NEVER SAY NO"
(uncredited)
Performed by Debbie Reynolds

User Reviews

An Absolute Delight

What a fun movie! Debbie Reynolds does a wonderful job portraying Molly Brown, a poor, uncultured country girl who "makes good," but then finds herself having to fight (none too successfully) for acceptance among the rich crowd she finds herself suddenly thrown into. Always rising when she's down (unsinkable in other words) there's also a sense of discovery involved for Molly, as she finally comes to understand in a wonderfully dramatic moment in an otherwise hilarious film that even among her wealthy and regal European friends she is accepted because they find her amusing, and not because she's really accepted as one of them. The title of the movie, of course, comes specifically from the real-life Molly Brown's experience in surviving the Titanic disaster, as she returns home after making this discovery.

Yes, the movie is undoubtedly full of tall tales. But it's full of wonderful songs (Harve Presnell as Johnny Brown has a marvellous singing voice), pretty good acting and just a general sense of fun. Well worth the watching.