Queen for a Day (1951)

A series of vignettes linked together with the popular radio show of the same name, where women publicly reveal why they deserve to be Queen for the Day.

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

Faith Baldwin (story "The Gossamer World"), John Ashworth (story "High Diver")

Stars:

Jack Bailey, Jim Morgan, Fort Pearson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Bailey	...	Jack Bailey - Program Host
Jim Morgan	...	Jim Morgan
Fort Pearson	...	Ford Pearson - Program Announcer (as Ford Pearson)
Melanie York	...	First Contestant
Cynthia Corley	...	Second Contestant
Kay Wiley	...	Third Contestant
Helen Mowery	...	Jan
Dian Fauntelle	...	Helena
Phyllis Avery	...	Marjorie
Darren McGavin	...	Dan
Rudy Lee	...	Pete
Frances E. Williams	...	Anna
Joan Winfield	...	Laura
Lonnie Burr	...	Charles (as Lonny Burr)
Tristram Coffin	...	Doctor

Storyline

A series of vignettes linked together with the popular radio show of the same name, where women publicly reveal why they deserve to be Queen for the Day.

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Plot Keywords:

hollywood california | psychotronic film | audience | short story | radio program | 

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Taglines:

A Thrilling New HIGH in Motion Picture Magic!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Feature film debut of Leonard Nimoy.

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Goofs

An advertiser executive on the Queen For a Day program suggests that a nurse attend a live broadcast of the show on her night off, even though it's already been established that performances of the program take place during the afternoon.

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Connections

Referenced in Biography: Leonard Nimoy: Spock and Beyond (1996)

User Reviews

Very well written and acted.

This is a film about a television show. At least a television show is the starting point for the trilogy of stories that comprise the narrative. It was a television show that was originally a radio show that was very popular on radio in the forties and then moved into TV. The American public loved it. Ordinary people got the chance at a brief moment of celebrity with a chance of winning their heart's desire. A small group of women would be selected from the audience and each would describe her life and ask for something she needed. In a sense, the show was a precursor for reality shows like Jerry Springer's, although not nearly as crass. The stories were written by three of the top American writers working at the time: Dorothy Parker, John Ashworth and Faith Baldwin. They were all excellent snapshots of contemporary American life. Baldwin's story concerned a man and wife and their small son. Their lives seem idyllic until tragedy strikes. Ashworth's story is about a young man willing to place himself in extreme danger in order to make his way in the world. Parker's pen was always dipped in acid and she was never happier that when she was ridiculing the class of people she knew too well. Parker's story was entitled, "Horsie". It concerned a nurse hired as a nanny for a newborn. The family was too rich and stylish to ever attend to the mundane details of taking care of the child themselves. They poke malicious fun at their sweet, innocent, unsuspecting nanny, simply because she is unattractive and unsophisticated. She doesn't know she is the butt of their jokes and thinks they are wonderful. The story does not make fun of poor "Horsie" as they call her. It is not "Horsie" who is depicted as being pathetic. The film is perhaps sentimental to a fault but it is so well done, that doesn't matter.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Horsie

Filming Locations:

Motion Picture Center Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Stillman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1