Stage Struck (1958 film)

Stage Struck is a 1958 American drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda, Susan Strasberg and Christopher Plummer in his film debut. The screenplay, by Augustus and Ruth Goetz, is based on the stage play Morning Glory by Zoë Akins, which also served as the basis for the 1933 film Morning Glory starring Katharine Hepburn, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Adolphe Menjou in corresponding roles.

Stage Struck
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySidney Lumet
Produced byStuart Millar
Screenplay byAugustus and Ruth Goetz
Based onMorning Glory (play)
by Zoë Akins
StarringHenry Fonda
Susan Strasberg
Christopher Plummer
Music byAlex North
CinematographyFranz Planer
Maurice Hartzband
Edited byStuart Gilmore
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution (US)
Release date
  • March 6, 1958 (1958-03-06) (US)[1]
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

New Englander Eva Lovelace, an ingenue intent on conquering the Broadway stage, is willing to sacrifice everything, including her love for suave producer Lewis Easton, to achieve her goal. Her trials and tribulations ultimately lead to a moment of triumph when she successfully steps in for temperamental, Tallulah Bankhead-like, leading lady Rita Vernon.

Cast

Production

Filmed entirely on location in New York City, the film was produced by RKO Radio Pictures and distributed by Walt Disney Productions' then new distribution arm Buena Vista Film Distribution which replaced RKO as Disney's distributor.[2]

Critical reception

In his review in The New York Times, A.H. Weiler opined, "the moviemakers ... obviously are devoted people, whose emotions, unfortunately, rarely move a viewer ... The fact is that the bare bones of the plot ... do not constitute a great revelation in a sophisticated age ... Susan Strasberg ... is competent as the determined Eva Lovelace. She is petite and fragile and sometimes expressive but strangely pallid in a role that would seem to call for fire, not mere smoldering ... Christopher Plummer ... is restrained but effective. Joan Greenwood ... is explosively emotional ... and Herbert Marshall does well ... It makes a nice show even if it is not stirring."[3]

See also

References
  1. "Stage Struck: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  2. Disney’s forgotten live-action releases, 1957-59 at cartoonbrew.com
  3. A. H. Weiler (23 April 1958). "Movie Review - A Tale of the Theatre Retold; ' Stage Struck' Bows at the Normandie". The New York Times.
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