The Country Girl (1954)

A director hires an alcoholic has-been and strikes up a stormy relationship with the actor's wife, who he believes is the cause of all the man's problems.

Director:

George Seaton

Writers:

Clifford Odets (play), George Seaton (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, William Holden

Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bing Crosby	...	Frank Elgin
Grace Kelly	...	Georgie Elgin
William Holden	...	Bernie Dodd
Anthony Ross	...	Philip Cook
Gene Reynolds	...	Larry
Jacqueline Fontaine	...	Lounge Singer
Eddie Ryder	...	Ed
Robert Kent	...	Paul Unger
John W. Reynolds	...	Henry Johnson

Storyline

Washed up singer/actor Frank Elgin has a chance to make a come-back when director Bernie Dodd offers him the leading role in his new musical. Frank however is very insecure, turns to alcohol and shuns even the smallest of responsibilities, leaving everything up to his wife Georgie who finds it harder and harder to cope with her husband's lack of spirit. Bernie tries to help Frank regain his self-confidence, believing that it is Georgie who's the cause of his insecurity.

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Plot Keywords:

director | alcoholic | actor | drunkenness | drinking | 

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Taglines:

How far should a woman go...to redeem the man she loves?

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the first day of shooting, Bing Crosby took so long getting on stage that director George Seaton had to go see what the hold up was. He found Crosby in the make-up chair, all nerves and wearing a toupee that he'd worn in College Humor (1933) from 21 years before. Seaton told him that the wig would not do, to which Crosby replied that he couldn't look too old, as he had his audience to think about. Eventually Seaton was able to convince him that he was supposed to look his age.

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Quotes

Georgie Elgin: Frank's on stage.
Bernie Dodd: I know. I want to talk to you.
Georgie Elgin: The last time we talked, Mr. Dodd, you reduced me to tears. I promise you, it won't happen again.

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Connections

Featured in Living Famously: Grace Kelly (2002)

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Soundtracks

Dissertation on the State of Bliss (Love and Learn Blues)
by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin
Sung by Jacqueline Fontaine and Bing Crosby

User Reviews

**** Effective relationship drama

Strong film version of Clifford Odets' play about an over-the-hill alcoholic singer (Bing Crosby) whose attempts at a comeback in a big Broadway musical seem to be thwarted by his long-suffering and unhappy wife (Grace Kelly), despite the assistance of a well-meaning director (William Holden). The drama is at times melodramatic (director George Seaton tends to push Kelly a little over the top) but it's still pretty potent today (and a lot more effective than the television version done in 1982 with Faye Dunaway). The film's best asset is Holden's fiery performance as the director-his energy keeps the drama pulsing. Some audience members might enjoy the laugh they get from seeing Hollywood try to make Grace Kelly look plain by throwing her behind a pair of thick glasses and a woolly sweater.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Country Girl

Filming Locations:

The closing shot is 1070 Park Avenue, at 88th Street, in New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Perlberg-Seaton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1