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{{short description|1938 film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Boy Meets Girl | name = Boy Meets Girl
| image = Boy Meets Girl poster.jpg | image = Boy Meets Girl (1938 film) poster.jpg
| caption = theatrical release poster | caption = theatrical release poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = ] | producer = ]
| screenplay = ]<br>] | screenplay = ]<br>]
| based on = ''Boy Meets Girl'' (play) by<br>Bella Spewack<br>Sam Spewack | based_on = {{based on|'']''<br>1935 play|Bella Spewack and Sam Spewack}}
| starring = ]<br>] | starring = ]<br>]
| music =
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = ] | editing = ]
| studio = ] | studio = ]
| distributor = Warner Bros. | distributor = Warner Bros.
| released = {{Film date|1938|8|27|''US''}} | released = {{Film date|1938|8|27}}
| runtime = 86 minutes | runtime = 86 minutes
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}} }}


'''''Boy Meets Girl''''' is a 1938 American ] film directed by ]. It stars ] and ], and features ], ], ], and ].<ref name="NY Times">{{cite web|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/6855/Boy-Meets-Girl/overview |title=Boy Meets Girl |accessdate=2012-07-31 |work=NY Times}}</ref> The screenplay by ] and ] is based on their 1935 stage play of the same name, which ran for 669 performances on ].<ref> on the ]</ref> The two zany screenwriters played by Cagney and O'Brien were based on ] and ], while Ralph Bellamy's part as the producer was based on ] of ].<ref name=tcmart /> '''''Boy Meets Girl''''' is a 1938 American ] film directed by ] and starring ] and ]. The supporting cast features ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="Boy Meets Girl">{{cite web|url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/61/boy-meets-girl#credits|title=Boy Meets Girl|work=]|publisher=] (])|location=]|access-date=October 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="NY Times">{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/6855/Boy-Meets-Girl/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204104217/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/6855/Boy-Meets-Girl/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2008 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=] |author=Hal Erickson |title=Boy Meets Girl |author-link=Hal Erickson (author) |date=2008 |access-date=July 31, 2012 }}</ref> The screenplay by ] and ] is based on their 1935 stage play of the same name,{{sfn|Goble|1999|page=696}}{{sfn|King|1997|page=52}}{{sfn|Fischer|2013|page=243}} which ran for 669 performances on ].<ref> on the ]</ref> The two zany screenwriters played by Cagney and O'Brien were based on ] and ], while Ralph Bellamy's part as the producer was based on ] of ].<ref name=tcmart />


==Plot== ==Plot==
Two screenwriters (] and ]) are in need of a story for cowboy star Larry Toms (]). When studio waitress Susie Seabrook (]) faints in the office of producer C.F. Friday (]) because she is pregnant, the writers get an idea for a story about a cowboy and a baby, and cast Susie's unborn baby Happy in the part. The story will be the classic Hollywood tale: Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. When they all leave to sell the idea to their boss, Susie meets and is intrigued by, Rodney Bevan (]), a good-looking young Englishman who is an extra on one of the studio's films. Two screenwriters, Law and Benson (] and ]), are in need of a story for cowboy star Larry Toms (]). When studio waitress Susie Seabrook (]) faints in the office of producer C.F. Friday (]) because she is pregnant, the writers get an idea for a story about a cowboy and a baby, and cast Susie's unborn baby Happy in the part. The story will be the classic Hollywood tale: Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. When they all leave to sell the idea to their boss, Susie meets and is intrigued by, Rodney Bowman (]), a good-looking young Englishman who is an extra on one of the studio's films.


Larry is tired of having a scene-stealing baby as a co-star, and his agent, Rossetti (]), devises a scheme to have Larry woo Susie in order to marry her and, as Happy's father, get him out of show business and into a normal life. When they hear about this, Benson and Law hire Rodney, unaware that Susie knows him, to pretend to be Susie's long-lost husband, Happy's father; Rodney thinks it's just an acting job, and is not in on the deception. Their plan works, and Larry disavows any planned future with Susie, but an wanted result is that Baby Happy is fired due to the scandal. Larry is tired of having a scene-stealing baby as a co-star, and his agent, Rossetti (]), devises a scheme to have Larry woo Susie in order to marry her and, as Happy's father, get him out of show business and into a normal life. When they hear about this, Benson and Law hire Rodney, unaware that Susie knows him, to pretend to be Susie's long-lost husband, Happy's father; Rodney thinks it's just an acting job, and is not in on the deception. Their plan works, and Larry disavows any planned future with Susie, but an unwanted result is that Baby Happy is fired due to the scandal.


When their plot is exposed, the two writers are fired, and Law makes plans to move to Vermont to suffer and write the ], but Benson, whose wife has just left him, is too deep in debt to leave - so they come up with another plan. They have a friend in London send a wire to B.K. (]), the head of the studio, with an offer from a British studio to buy it, as long as Baby Happy is under contract. Under the circumstances, Happy, Benson and Law are all re-hired. When their plot is exposed, the two writers are fired, and Law makes plans to move to Vermont to suffer and write the ], but Benson, whose wife has just left him, is too deep in debt to leave - so they come up with another plan. They have a friend in London send a wire to B.K. (]), the head of the studio, with an offer from a British studio to buy it, as long as Baby Happy is under contract. Under the circumstances, Happy, Benson and Law are all re-hired.


Just then, Rodney bursts into the office and asks Susie to marry him and come to England. Benson and Law try to persuade Susie that Rodney is a no-good cheat and philanderer only after her money, but the American representative of the British studio shows up to identify him as the son of an English lord. The rep also reveals that the plan to purchase the studio is a fraud. Producer C.F. wants to fire Benson and Law again, but their new contracts are iron-clad. Susie leaves with Rodney, heading for England, and C.F. learns that his wife is pregnant. Just then, Rodney bursts into the office and asks Susie to marry him and come to England. Benson and Law try to persuade Susie that Rodney is a no-good cheat and philanderer only after her money, but the American representative of the British studio shows up to identify him as the son of an English lord. The rep also reveals that the plan to purchase the studio is a fraud. Producer C.F. wants to fire Benson and Law again, but their new contracts are iron-clad. Susie leaves with Rodney, heading for England, and C.F. learns that his wife is pregnant.


==Cast== ==Cast==
{{castlist|
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
* ] as Robert Law * ] as Robert Law
* ] as J. Carlyle "J.C." Benson * ] as J. Carlyle "J.C." Benson
Line 40: Line 39:
* ] as Rossetti, Larry's agent * ] as Rossetti, Larry's agent
* ] as Larry Toms * ] as Larry Toms
* ] as Rodney Bevan * ] as Rodney Bowman
* ] as radio announcer at premiere * ] as radio announcer at premiere
{{col-break|gap=4em}}
* Paul Clark as Happy * Paul Clark as Happy
* ] as Peggy * ] as Peggy
Line 48: Line 46:
* Harry Seymour as Slade, a songwriter * Harry Seymour as Slade, a songwriter
* Bert Hanlon as Green, a songwriter * Bert Hanlon as Green, a songwriter
* ] as Major Thompson * ] as Major Thompson
* ] as B.K., the head of the studio * ] as B.K. Whitacre, the head of the studio
}}
{{col-end}}


==Production== ==Production==
The '']'' said that ] was originally considered to play Susie; according to modern sources, Davies' lover, ], rejected the film for Davies because he thought it was too racy for her,<ref name=tcmnotes /> while others report that he did so because his ] was severing relations with Warner Bros. Still others put the decision on Davies herself, upset with cast changes for the film or with the size of her part. In any case, Davies did not do the picture, and never made another film.<ref name=tcmart /> According to '']'' ] was originally considered to play Susie. The media has speculated on several reasons for the change in casting. One is that Davies' lover, ], rejected the film for Davies because he thought it was too racy for her.<ref name=tcmnotes /> Another is that Hearst rejected the film because his ] was severing relations with Warner Bros. Another possible reason is that Davies rejected the role herself, upset with cast changes for the film or with the size of her part. In any case, Davies did not do the picture, and never made another film.<ref name=tcmart />


''Boy Meets Girl'' was Cagney's eighth picture with comedy-specialst director ], out of the nine they would eventually make together; it was also Pat O'Brien's eighth out of an eventual ten with Bacon, and the fifth of nine to pair up Cagney and O'Brien together. Cagney, O'Brien, their ''Boy Meet Girl'' co-stars Ralph Bellamy and Frank McHugh, along with ] and ], called themselves "The Boys Club" and had dinner together on Thursday nights.<ref name=tcmart>Thames, Stephanie. on ]</ref> ''Boy Meets Girl'' was Cagney's eighth picture with comedy-specialist director ], out of the nine they would eventually make together; it was also Pat O'Brien's eighth out of an eventual ten with Bacon, and the fifth of nine to pair Cagney and O'Brien. Cagney, O'Brien, their ''Boy Meet Girl'' co-stars Ralph Bellamy and Frank McHugh, along with ] and ], called themselves "The Boys Club" and had dinner together on Thursday nights.<ref name=tcmart>Thames, Stephanie. on ]</ref>


In the scene which takes place at a glitzy Hollywood movie premiere, with Ronald Reagan &ndash; newly signed to Warner Bros. &ndash; playing the radio announcer, the name of the film is given as ''The White Rajah'', starring ]. This was the name of a script actually written by Flynn, but rejected for production as being too weak. Supposedly, Flynn was not happy with the in-joke.<ref name=tcmart /> In the scene which takes place at a glitzy Hollywood movie premiere, with Ronald Reagan &ndash; newly signed to Warner Bros. &ndash; playing the radio announcer, the name of the film is given as ''The White Rajah'', starring ]. This was the name of a script actually written by Flynn, but rejected for production as being too weak. Supposedly, Flynn was not happy with the in-joke.<ref name=tcmart />


==Reception== ==Reception==
Reviewers at the time of release thought that the requirements of the ] censors regarding Susies's pregnancy caused the satire of the original play to be less effective in the film.<ref name=tcmnotes> on ]</ref> Reviewers at the time of release thought that the requirements of the ] censors regarding Susies's pregnancy caused the satire of the original play to be less effective in the film.<ref name=tcmnotes> on ]</ref>

==Radio adaptation==
''Boy Meets Girl'' was presented on ''Old Gold Comedy Theatre'' May 20, 1945. The 30-minute adaptation starred ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Those Were The Days|journal=Nostalgia Digest|date=Winter 2014|volume=40|issue=1|pages=32–39}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin}}

* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yyqc0Qa6b60C&q=Blind+Spot%2C+by+Kenyon+Nicholson&pg=PA532|title=The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film|editor-first=Alan |editor-last=Goble|publisher=]|location=]|year=1999|edition=1st|isbn=978-1857392296|page=696}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Pfwojeztj0C&q=Adapted+from+Bella+and+Samuel+Spewack%27s+play+Boy+Meets+Girl.&pg=PA52|title=Hollywood on Stage: Playwrights Evaluate the Culture Industry (Studies in Modern Drama|first=Kimball|last=King|publisher=]|location=]|year=1997|isbn=978-0815328230|edition=1st|page=52}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nU4QAAAAQBAJ&q=Adapted+from+Bella+and+Samuel+Spewack%27s+play+Boy+Meets+Girl.&pg=PA243|title=Body Double: The Author Incarnate in the Cinema|first=Lucy|last=Fischer|publisher=]|location=]|year=2013|isbn=978-0813554488|page=243}}

{{Refend}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0029940|Boy Meets Girl}} * {{IMDb title|0029940|Boy Meets Girl}}
* {{tcmdb title|61|Boy Meets Girl}} * {{TCMDb title|61|Boy Meets Girl}}
* {{AFI film|4113}}
* {{ibdb title|12033|Boy Meets Girl ''(play)}} * {{IBDB title|12033|Boy Meets Girl|(play)}}
* at ] * at ]

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{{Lloyd Bacon}} {{Lloyd Bacon}}
{{Samuel and Bella Spewack}} {{Samuel and Bella Spewack}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Boy Meets Girl}}
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Latest revision as of 18:26, 21 December 2024

1938 film

Boy Meets Girl
theatrical release poster
Directed byLloyd Bacon
Screenplay byBella Spewack
Sam Spewack
Based onBoy Meets Girl
1935 play
by Bella Spewack and Sam Spewack
Produced bySamuel Bischoff
StarringJames Cagney
Pat O'Brien
CinematographySol Polito
Edited byWilliam Holmes
Production
company		Warner Bros.
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • August 27, 1938 (1938-08-27)
Running time86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Boy Meets Girl is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. The supporting cast features Marie Wilson, Ralph Bellamy, Frank McHugh, Dick Foran and Ronald Reagan. The screenplay by Bella and Sam Spewack is based on their 1935 stage play of the same name, which ran for 669 performances on Broadway. The two zany screenwriters played by Cagney and O'Brien were based on Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, while Ralph Bellamy's part as the producer was based on Darryl Zanuck of 20th Century Fox.

Plot

Two screenwriters, Law and Benson (James Cagney and Pat O'Brien), are in need of a story for cowboy star Larry Toms (Dick Foran). When studio waitress Susie Seabrook (Marie Wilson) faints in the office of producer C.F. Friday (Ralph Bellamy) because she is pregnant, the writers get an idea for a story about a cowboy and a baby, and cast Susie's unborn baby Happy in the part. The story will be the classic Hollywood tale: Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. When they all leave to sell the idea to their boss, Susie meets and is intrigued by, Rodney Bowman (Bruce Lester), a good-looking young Englishman who is an extra on one of the studio's films.

Larry is tired of having a scene-stealing baby as a co-star, and his agent, Rossetti (Frank McHugh), devises a scheme to have Larry woo Susie in order to marry her and, as Happy's father, get him out of show business and into a normal life. When they hear about this, Benson and Law hire Rodney, unaware that Susie knows him, to pretend to be Susie's long-lost husband, Happy's father; Rodney thinks it's just an acting job, and is not in on the deception. Their plan works, and Larry disavows any planned future with Susie, but an unwanted result is that Baby Happy is fired due to the scandal.

When their plot is exposed, the two writers are fired, and Law makes plans to move to Vermont to suffer and write the Great American Novel, but Benson, whose wife has just left him, is too deep in debt to leave - so they come up with another plan. They have a friend in London send a wire to B.K. (Pierre Watkin), the head of the studio, with an offer from a British studio to buy it, as long as Baby Happy is under contract. Under the circumstances, Happy, Benson and Law are all re-hired.

Just then, Rodney bursts into the office and asks Susie to marry him and come to England. Benson and Law try to persuade Susie that Rodney is a no-good cheat and philanderer only after her money, but the American representative of the British studio shows up to identify him as the son of an English lord. The rep also reveals that the plan to purchase the studio is a fraud. Producer C.F. wants to fire Benson and Law again, but their new contracts are iron-clad. Susie leaves with Rodney, heading for England, and C.F. learns that his wife is pregnant.

Cast

Production

According to The Hollywood Reporter Marion Davies was originally considered to play Susie. The media has speculated on several reasons for the change in casting. One is that Davies' lover, William Randolph Hearst, rejected the film for Davies because he thought it was too racy for her. Another is that Hearst rejected the film because his Cosmopolitan Productions was severing relations with Warner Bros. Another possible reason is that Davies rejected the role herself, upset with cast changes for the film or with the size of her part. In any case, Davies did not do the picture, and never made another film.

Boy Meets Girl was Cagney's eighth picture with comedy-specialist director Lloyd Bacon, out of the nine they would eventually make together; it was also Pat O'Brien's eighth out of an eventual ten with Bacon, and the fifth of nine to pair Cagney and O'Brien. Cagney, O'Brien, their Boy Meet Girl co-stars Ralph Bellamy and Frank McHugh, along with Spencer Tracy and Frank Morgan, called themselves "The Boys Club" and had dinner together on Thursday nights.

In the scene which takes place at a glitzy Hollywood movie premiere, with Ronald Reagan – newly signed to Warner Bros. – playing the radio announcer, the name of the film is given as The White Rajah, starring Errol Flynn. This was the name of a script actually written by Flynn, but rejected for production as being too weak. Supposedly, Flynn was not happy with the in-joke.

Reception

Reviewers at the time of release thought that the requirements of the Hays Office censors regarding Susies's pregnancy caused the satire of the original play to be less effective in the film.

Radio adaptation

Boy Meets Girl was presented on Old Gold Comedy Theatre May 20, 1945. The 30-minute adaptation starred Ann Sothern, Chester Morris, and Lee Tracy.

References

  1. "Boy Meets Girl". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  2. Hal Erickson (2008). "Boy Meets Girl". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  3. Goble 1999, p. 696.
  4. King 1997, p. 52.
  5. Fischer 2013, p. 243.
  6. "Boy Meets Girl" on the Internet Broadway Database
  7. ^ Thames, Stephanie. "Boy Meets Girl (1938)" on TCM.com
  8. ^ "Notes" on TCM.com
  9. "Those Were The Days". Nostalgia Digest. 40 (1): 32–39. Winter 2014.

Sources

External links

Films directed by Lloyd Bacon
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
Bella and Samuel Spewack
Books
Screenplays
Plays
Categories: