The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947)

In the late 1800s, Miss Pilgrim, a young stenographer, or typewriter, becomes the first female employee at a Boston shipping office. Although the men object to her at first, she soon charms... See full summary »

Directors:

George Seaton, Edmund Goulding (uncredited)

Writers:

George Seaton (written for the screen by), Ernest Maas (from a story by)

Stars:

Betty Grable, Dick Haymes, Anne Revere

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Betty Grable	...	Cynthia Pilgrim
Dick Haymes	...	John Pritchard
Anne Revere	...	Alice Pritchard
Allyn Joslyn	...	Leander Woolsey
Gene Lockhart	...	Saxon
Elizabeth Patterson	...	Catherine Dennison
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Prichard
Arthur Shields	...	Michael
Charles Kemper	...	Herbert Jothan
Roy Roberts	...	Mr. Foster
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Margaret Bannerman	...	(scenes deleted)
Susan Blanchard	...	(scenes deleted)
Nina Gilbert	...	Cynthia's Mother (scenes deleted)
Coleen Gray	...	Minor Role (scenes deleted)
Robert Malcolm	...	Cynthia's Father (scenes deleted)

Storyline

In the late 1800s, Miss Pilgrim, a young stenographer, or typewriter, becomes the first female employee at a Boston shipping office. Although the men object to her at first, she soon charms them all, especially the handsome young head of the company. Their romance gets sidetracked when she becomes involved in the Women's Suffrage movement.

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Plot Keywords:

women's suffrage movement | reprisal | retribution | business school graduate | boston shipping company | 

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Taglines:

A Merry Escapade! Scandalous! Joyous!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first Betty Grable vehicle not to achieve major-hit status following her assent to stardom in Down Argentine Way (1940). Twentieth Century-Fox executives blamed the mild box office on the rather genteel appearance of Miss Grable, sporting darker-blonde hair and failing to display her renowned legs.

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Goofs

Miss Pilgrim's hosiery and shoes are strictly 1946, not 1872.

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Quotes

Cynthia Pilgrim: I am a typewriter!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown on a "sampler", as ladies used to make around the turn of the century.

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Connections

Referenced in Nowhere Boy (2009)

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Soundtracks

Stand Up and Fight
(uncredited)
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Anne Revere, Betty Grable, Dick Haymes and ensemble

User Reviews

Betty Grable is the prim and proper Miss Pilgrim...not good box-office...

THE SHOCKING MISS PILGRIM was one of the few BETTY GRABLE movies that did not bring them in at the box-office, probably because her famous legs are not in display in this story about women in the work force, circa 1870s. Instead, the usually bubbly Miss Grable is seen in demure costumes, although her blonde hair is a rather garish touch considering the era.

She's paired with the rather weak DICK HAYMES, although his baritone voice lends itself nicely to a couple of Gershwin songs--notably "Aren't You Glad We Did?" and "For You, For Me, For Evermore".

As with all of Fox's Grable films, it's nicely photographed in Technicolor and there are supporting players like ANN REVERE and GENE LOCKHART to add a genial touch to the proceedings. The story itself concerns itself with the proper place for women at a time when they were new to the work force and found it hard to be accepted in the all male society of the office, even if they did graduate from secretarial schools. The film deals neatly with these aspects and has a certain nostalgic charm.

Not one of Grable's box-office hits, probably because she was too covered up to be the glamorous Fox star of previous musicals, but modestly entertaining for fans of the genre.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 January 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Shocking Miss Pilgrim

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,595,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1