Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Green Dolphin Street


Based on a novel by Elizabeth Goudge, Green Dolphin Street is a story about, as one critic phrased it, "a slip of the pen." A fugitive sailor, hiding out in New Zealand, writes to his faraway sweetheart and asks her to be his bride. The problem is, he's drunk while writing the letter and addresses it to the wrong woman, the sister of his intended, played by Lana Turner. The MGM starlet was riding high after the previous year's smash hit, The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), and was given top billing.

As for Turner's other co-stars in Green Dolphin Street, Donna Reed was cast as her sister, Marguerite, and newcomer Richard Hart played the man of their affections. Reed, having earned acclaim for It's a Wonderful Life (1946), would go on to win an Oscar for her performance as an ambitious prostitute in From Here to Eternity (1953).

Did you Know??
  • Katharine Hepburn was slated for a starring role in the film.
  • Reed, who initially did not want to play the role of "Marguerite" because she thought that Lana Turner was prettier and that audiences would not believe that "William" would chose her over Lana, is quoted as saying, "Lana's gorgeous. If I play that part, it'll ruin the picture."
  • According to a 1947 article in Look magazine, which referred to this picture as a "$3,000,000 film," $500,000 was spent on the earthquake scene alone.
  • Green Dolphin Street received an Academy Award for Best Special Effects, and was nominated for Best Sound Recording.
  • Lana Turner and Van Heflin reprised their roles in a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast on 19 Sep 1949.

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