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IMDbPro

Home Town Story

  • 19511951
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 1m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
952
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
32,062
6,494
Marilyn Monroe in Home Town Story (1951)
ComedyDramaRomance
After failing to be re-elected, politician Blake Washburn returns home and becomes editor of the local newspaper. When he notices the influence the paper has on the public, he uses it to app... Read allAfter failing to be re-elected, politician Blake Washburn returns home and becomes editor of the local newspaper. When he notices the influence the paper has on the public, he uses it to appeal to potential voters in the next election.After failing to be re-elected, politician Blake Washburn returns home and becomes editor of the local newspaper. When he notices the influence the paper has on the public, he uses it to appeal to potential voters in the next election.
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
952
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
32,062
6,494
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Arthur Pierson
    • Writer
      • Arthur Pierson
    • Stars
      • Jeffrey Lynn
      • Donald Crisp
      • Marjorie Reynolds
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Arthur Pierson
    • Writer
      • Arthur Pierson
    • Stars
      • Jeffrey Lynn
      • Donald Crisp
      • Marjorie Reynolds
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos20

    "Hometown Story" M. Monroe 1951 MGM
    Publicity still for "Hometown Story" 1951
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Home Town Story (1951)
    Marjorie Reynolds in Home Town Story (1951)
    Jeffrey Lynn in Home Town Story (1951)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeffrey Lynn
    Jeffrey Lynn
    • Blake Washburn
    Donald Crisp
    Donald Crisp
    • John MacFarland
    Marjorie Reynolds
    Marjorie Reynolds
    • Janice Hunt
    Alan Hale Jr.
    Alan Hale Jr.
    • Slim Haskins
    Marilyn Monroe
    Marilyn Monroe
    • Iris Martin
    Barbara Brown
    Barbara Brown
    • Mrs. Washburn
    Melinda Casey
    • Katie Washburn
    • (as Melinda Plowman)
    Renny McEvoy
    Renny McEvoy
    • Taxi Driver
    Glenn Tryon
    Glenn Tryon
    • Kenlock
    Byron Foulger
    Byron Foulger
    • Berny Miles
    Griff Barnett
    Griff Barnett
    • Uncle Cliff
    Virginia Campbell
    • Phoebe Hartman
    Harry Harvey
    Harry Harvey
    • Andy Butterworth
    Nelson Leigh
    Nelson Leigh
    • Dr. Johnson
    Speck Noblitt
    • Motorcycle Officer
    Dorothy Adams
    Dorothy Adams
    • Hospital Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    John Alvin
    John Alvin
    • Jimmy
    • (uncredited)
    John Archer
    John Archer
    • Don
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Arthur Pierson
    • Writer
      • Arthur Pierson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite retrospectively being dubbed a "Marilyn Monroe movie" when sold on home video, Monroe only appears in the film for around four minutes total.
    • Goofs
      When Blake arrives home, his mother is listening to a radio show that states it is a Saturday afternoon program, but the next morning (which should be Sunday) Katy gets on a bus to go to school.
    • Quotes

      Iris Martin: I always treat men with respect so they do the same to me.

      Slim Haskins: Let me know when that works!

    • Connections
      Featured in Vampira and Me (2012)

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    Fair At Best Overall; Does Have Some Points of Interest
    Overall, this feature is really only fair at best, but it does have some points of interest. The most common reason why it is still watched today is the appearance of Marilyn Monroe in one of her earlier movie roles, and in fact the cast as a whole features an unusual mix of performers. The story is also mildly interesting as a window into its era.

    The supporting cast almost makes it worth seeing by itself. How often do you see the combination of Marilyn Monroe, Donald Crisp, and Alan Hale, Jr. in the same movie? Monroe appears in several scenes, and although only one gives her any significant screen time, she does get the chance to command some attention. Hale is well-cast as the good-natured sidekick. Crisp's talent and experience keeps the last portion of the movie from coming apart. The lively Marjorie Reynolds is also in the cast, but her character doesn't give her many opportunities to show what she can do.

    The story line was overtly designed to accommodate the corporate backers of the movie, and now it is really only of interest as a look at some common perceptions of its day. The last part of the movie did have the potential for some fairly effective melodrama, but parts of it become rather labored, and it is mainly thanks to Crisp's restrained performance that it remains watchable.

    Jeffery Lynn is cast as the leading character, and while he has his moments, he does not really have the range to make a routine story like this work effectively. He does not make his character very likable or interesting, and as a result his character's perspective is largely trivialized. That plus the rather routine script make it a largely unmemorable movie, aside from the curiosity factor that it offers.
    helpful•5
    4
    • Snow Leopard
    • Sep 8, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 18, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hometown Story
    • Filming locations
      • Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • General Motors Corporation
      • Wolverine Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 1 minute
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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