I Love Melvin (1953)

Melvin, a photographer for Look magazine, meets Judy and he wants to marry her. Her father is against that and as a last resort, Melvin promises to get Judy's photo on the cover of the next issue, a task easier said than done.

Director:

Don Weis

Writers:

George Wells (screenplay), Ruth Brooks Flippen (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Una Merkel

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Donald O'Connor	...	Melvin Hoover
Debbie Reynolds	...	Judy Schneider / Judy LeRoy
Una Merkel	...	Mom Schneider
Richard Anderson	...	Harry Flack
Allyn Joslyn	...	Frank Schneider
Les Tremayne	...	Mr. Henneman
Noreen Corcoran	...	Clarabelle Schneider
Jim Backus	...	Mergo
Barbara Ruick	...	Studio Guide
Robert Taylor	...	Robert Taylor-Cameo Appearance in Judy's Dream

Storyline

Melvin Hoover, a budding photographer for Look magazine, accidentally bumps into a young actress named Judy LeRoy in the park. They start to talk and Melvin soon offers to do a photo spread of her. His boss, however, has no intention of using the photos. Melvin wants to marry Judy, but her father would rather she marry dull and dependable Harry Black. As a last resort, Melvin promises to get Judy's photo on the cover of the next issue of Look, a task easier said than done.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | woman | scene before opening credits | manhattan new york city | sister sister relationship | 

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Taglines:

MGM's TECHNICOLOR Musical Joy!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening segment is Debbie Reynolds singing "A Lady Loves (to Love)" in a sophisticated setting. A second version in a rural setting was shot but cut from the film. It can be seen in That's Entertainment! III (1994).

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Quotes

Mr. Prouty: Are you drunk, Mr. Schneider?
Mr. Schneider: Forget that "Schneider" bit! I've just been to court changing my name to "LeRoy"!
Mr. Prouty: Splendid. Are you drunk, Mr. LeRoy?

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Connections

Featured in That's Entertainment! III (1994)

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Soundtracks

Saturday Afternoon Before the Game
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Music by Josef Myrow
Performed by Debbie Reynolds and chorus

User Reviews

Man With A Mission

I Love Melvin is a bright, but dated musical starring Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor fresh from Singing In The Rain. It's hardly as groundbreaking a film as Singing In The Rain, but it does show off its stars to best advantage with their dancing talent.

It's dated because that era of photo journalism as personified by the magazines Life and Look is long gone now. But Look Magazine certainly got a very big plug in this film. Donald O'Connor is a photographer's assistant in the film and he meets and falls for dancer Debbie Reynolds from a Broadway show. Both are looking for the big break in their respective professions and when they fall for each other it's only right that O'Connor should try to help Reynolds.

Of course getting on the cover of Look Magazine is no easy proposition, you've got to be somewhat famous for that. Still O'Connor is a persistent fellow and since he's in love he becomes a man with a mission.

Dancing, lots of dancing is what I Love Melvin has the most of. You'll be out of breath watching the stars perform a lot of dance routines in the 76 minute running time of the movie. No great song hits from the score of Josef Myrow and Mack Gordon, but lot's of dancing routines built around it.

The supporting cast fits comfortably in their roles. Best in the supporting cast in my opinion is Jim Backus who is O'Connor's boss and mentor. If being slightly demented qualifies you to be a magazine photographer, Backus certainly fills the bill. Also Robert Taylor makes a brief appearance as Reynolds dreams of going to Hollywood.

I Love Melvin is dated because of the passing of Look Magazine. I'm wiling to bet that the younger folks watching this film will think that Look Magazine was something made up for the film. Believe me, it wasn't and I Love Melvin might just be it's tribute film.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Love Melvin

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:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1