The Sun Comes Up (1949)

Set in the rural south of the United States, a bereaved war widow learns to to put aside her bitterness and grief as she grows to love a young orphan boy and the dog that belonged to her ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Margaret Fitts, William Ludwig

Stars:

Jeanette MacDonald, Lloyd Nolan, Claude Jarman Jr.

Cast

Cast overview:
Jeanette MacDonald	...	Helen Lorfield Winter
Lloyd Nolan	...	Thomas I. Chandler
Claude Jarman Jr.	...	Jerry
Lewis Stone	...	Arthur Norton
Percy Kilbride	...	Mr. Willie B. Williegood
Nicholas Joy	...	Victor Alvord
Margaret Hamilton	...	Mrs. Golightly
Hope Landin	...	Mrs. Pope
Esther Somers	...	Susan - the maid
Pal	...	Lassie (as Lassie)

Storyline

Set in the rural south of the United States, a bereaved war widow learns to to put aside her bitterness and grief as she grows to love a young orphan boy and the dog that belonged to her late son. Punctuated with song-filled interludes.

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Plot Keywords:

war widow | orphan boy | dog | widow | orphan | 

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Taglines:

A grand threesome who will win your heart!

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Musical

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was initially telecast in Philadelphia 15 March 1958 on WFIL (Channel 6), in San Francisco 12 April 1959 on KGO (Channel 7), in Los Angeles 21 June 1959 on KTTV (Channel 11), and, finally, in New York City 29 February 1960 on WCBS (Channel 2). At this time, color broadcasting was in its infancy, limited to only a small number of high rated programs, primarily on NBC and NBC affiliated stations, so these film showings were all still in B&W. Viewers were not offered the opportunity to see these films in their original Technicolor until several years later.

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Goofs

When Jerry is lighting the oil lamp for Helen, he speaks a line that includes the movie title, but the voice changes to a different-sounding voice while the line is being spoken and the words don't match the movement of Jerry's mouth.

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Connections

Followed by The New Lassie (1989)

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Soundtracks

Un Bel Di
(uncredited)
from "Madama Butterfly"
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Sung by Jeanette MacDonald

User Reviews

Heart-warming story of love conquering loss

Yes, I know.

I'd never seen it - it was MacDonald's last film - what better way for MGM to say you are a has- been than to make her a "mother" in a Lassie movie. Drek! I prepared to "endure it" for Jeannette's sake.

I was utterly captivated. What a lovely movie - classed up there with Friendly Persuasion in terms of truly loving, and truly honest human emotion. I keep trying to convince myself to pass this along, but I cry too much, it's too real, too human, too GOOD for that. For the lovers of what President Wilson tried to do for the US and what Obama in his footsteps is still unable to do for us, this is what the ideal of the US is as it lives on in ideals, honesty, and right thinking and feeling.

Jeannette has four classical aria/song moments - a French song, a repetition of Puccini's Un Bel Di (Broadway Serenade), Songs My Mother Taught Me, and Romance. Not much to go on, but it doesn't matter. She is fine dramatically, as a war widow , whose son dies and is left alone, but is brought to life by her encounter with an orphan {exceptional performance by young actor, Claude Jarman, Jr.] Her son exits at 10 minutes into the film, young Jarman arrives at 20 minutes.

Lewis Stone is seen briefly as an adviser. Percy Kilbridge is brilliant in a Charles Butterworth role as the local sage. Margaret Hamilton is unforgettable as a fashion-conscious spinster. Poor Lloyd Nolan doesn't arrive until an hour and 3 minutes in, but we know he will anchor the film, as he always did {most successfully in Peyton Place).

Oh, do see it - that dog will melt you as will the story and the deft acting, direction and over-all good intentions of it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nueva alborada

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:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1