People Will Talk (1951)

Dr. Noah Praetorius falls in love with Debra, a student who finds out that she is pregnant by her old boyfriend.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz (written for the screen by), Curt Goetz (play)

Stars:

Cary Grant, Jeanne Crain, Finlay Currie

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cary Grant	...	Dr. Noah Praetorius
Jeanne Crain	...	Deborah Higgins
Finlay Currie	...	Shunderson
Hume Cronyn	...	Prof. Rodney Elwell
Walter Slezak	...	Prof. Barker
Sidney Blackmer	...	Arthur Higgins
Basil Ruysdael	...	Dean Lyman Brockwell
Katherine Locke	...	Miss James

Storyline

Successful and well-liked, Dr. Noah Praetorius becomes the victim of a witch hunt at the hands of Professor Elwell, who disdains Praetorius's unorthodox medical views and also questions his relationship with the mysterious, ever-present Mr. Shunderson. Fuel is added to the fire when Praetorius befriends young Deborah Higgins, who has become suicidal at the prospect of having a baby by her ex boyfriend, a military reservist who was called up for service in the Korean War and killed in action.

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Plot Keywords:

jealousy | suspicion | private detective | kiss | ex convict | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Dr. Praetorius Story

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dr. Pretorius' car is a 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 2-door convertible. Only 857 convertibles were built that year. MSRP was $3,891 ($37,600 in 2017). In excellent condition, at auction in 2017, these cars can fetch $50,000 or more.

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Goofs

The eyelashes of the 'cadaver' can be seen to twitch during one of her close-ups.

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Quotes

Miss Sarah Pickett - Housekeeper: If I come in does the door get closed?
Prof. Rodney Elwell: Naturally.
Miss Sarah Pickett - Housekeeper: Then I don't come in.
Prof. Rodney Elwell: Why not?
Miss Sarah Pickett - Housekeeper: You know why not, you're grown up.
Prof. Rodney Elwell: My dear Mrs. Pickett.
Miss Sarah Pickett - Housekeeper: Miss Pickett and don't butter me up.
Prof. Rodney Elwell: I have conducted my affairs behind closed doors for 20 years.
Miss Sarah Pickett - Housekeeper: Not with me.
Prof. Rodney Elwell: You overestimate both of us.

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Connections

Referenced in All About Mankiewicz (1983)

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Soundtracks

Academic Festival Overture
Written by Johannes Brahms

User Reviews

A Little Masterpiece

I have watched this film tens of times over the years without ever getting bored and was delighted to recently find it on DVD in the United States. The film contains all the ingredients for the viewer's pleasure ....... romance humour suspense strangeness ......... I was especially taken aback by the Shundersson mystery. I also found that the film although over 50 years old as I write doesn't really seem dated in the attitudes and ideas it expresses. Clothes and cars may hark back to the beginning of the 50's but the dialogues are quite simply timeless. I don't wish to dwell on the story by let's say they are lots of twists and turns and a plentiful supply of humour. Of course I have always loved Cary Grant but I find that in this film he turns in a particularly interesting performance, a little above the usual level of the character he plays. It's also very intersting to watch Grant's reaction in embarassing situations and notably the "interrogation" carried out before the concert at the end. As for Jeanne Crain, his "wife" I find her every time stunningly beautiful. Professor Elwell's character must be one of the most obnoxious in the entire history of cinema ......... !!