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New Faces (film)

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New Faces
Directed byHarry Horner
John Beal (sketches)
Eugene Anderson, Jr. (assi)
Written byRonny Graham
Melvin Brooks
Paul Lynde (additional)
Luther Davis (additional)
John Cleveland (additional)
Produced byEdward L. Alperson
Berman Swarttz (co)
Leonard Sillman (Associate)
Starring
CinematographyLucien Ballard
Edited byAce Herman
Music byRaoul Kraushaar
Production
company
Edward L. Alperson Productions
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • February 19, 1954 (1954-02-19)
Running time
96 minutes
98-99 minutes (US)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

New Faces is a 1954 American film adaptation of the musical revue New Faces of 1952 directed by Harry Horner with sketches directed by John Beal. Filmed in Cinemascope and Eastmancolor it was released by 20th Century Fox on March 6, 1954.

The film is sometimes referred to as New Faces of 1952, from the original Broadway show's title.

Plot summary

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The film was essentially a reproduction of the stage revue with a thin plot added. This involved a producer and performer (Ronny Graham) in financial trouble on opening night. A wealthy Texan, whose daughter is in the show, offers to help out on the condition that he finds the show to be of high-enough quality and commercial potential to warrant the investment. Meanwhile, Clary locks a bill collector in a dressing room until the show is finished and he can collect the money.[1] If the Texan performer's father is not impressed with her talent, she will be expected to return to Texas rather than pursuing her show-business career. Her attempts to impress onstage are hampered by the fact that her signature song is repeatedly cut short so that she can introduce the next act. But at the end of the show, the backer is duly impressed and his daughter not only has her talent validated, but announces that she will be marrying the other cast member with whom she's in love.

Cast

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Starring
Under-billed cast
  • June Carroll as Herself
  • Virginia de Luce as Virginia de Luce Clayborn
  • Paul Lynde as Himself
  • Bill Mullikin as Himself
  • Rosemary O'Reilly as Herself
  • Allen Conroy as Herself
  • Jimmy Russell as Himself
  • George Smiley as Himself
  • Polly Ward as Herself
  • Carol Lawrence as Herself
  • Johnny Laverty as Himself
  • Elizabeth Logue as Herself
  • Faith Burwell as Herself
  • Clark Ranger as Himself
  • Henry Kulky as Mr. Dee
  • Charles Watts as Mr. Clayborn[1]

Background

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Ronny Graham, Eartha Kitt, Robert Clary, Alice Ghostley, June Carroll, Virginia De Luce, Carol Lawrence, Patricia Hammerlee, Paul Lynde, and Bill Millikin reprised their stage roles.

The sketches include Lynde's famous "Trip of the Month" monologue, and a Death of a Salesman parody with Graham, Lynde and Ghostley, written by Mel Brooks, who is billed in the credits as "Melvin Brooks." In a March 2012 appearance at the American Cinematheque, Brooks said the sketch was originally written for another revue, "Curtain Going Up," but that show closed during its tryout in Philadelphia. However, Sillman had seen the show and asked him if he could import the sketch for "New Faces." Brooks readily agreed and thanked him for "saving my Broadway career." He added that Arthur Miller came to a performance and afterwards sent him a note which read, "I am not upset. But I should be."[citation needed]

Soundtrack

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The song order was changed and expanded and some songs were omitted, or had their lyrics updated. The song "Natty Puts her Hair Up" was omitted; however, an abridged version was used as an instrumental in a dance routine. The song "Don't Fall Asleep" was omitted. The song "Love is a Simple thing" omitted the final verse, that being the Charles Addams character verse, because it was too outdated.[citation needed] Also, an extra verse was added to "Lizzie Borden". Some of the lines in "Monotonous" were replaced and updated, omitting the line "Ike Likes Me", and being replaced with writing the "Dragnet" theme instead.

Song Performer(s) Composer(s) Lyricist(s)
"Opening" Company Ronny Graham Peter DeVries
"C'est si bon" Eartha Kitt Henri Betti André Hornez
"He Takes Me off His Income Tax" Virginia Wilson Arthur Siegel June Carroll
"Lucky Pierre" Robert Clary, Carol Lawrence, Virginia Wilson, Patricia Hammerlee, and Bill Mullikin Ronny Graham
"Penny Candy" June Carroll and Company Arthur Siegel June Carroll
"Boston Beguine" Alice Ghostley Sheldon Harnick
"Love Is a Simple Thing" Rosemary O'Reilly, Robert Clary, and Eartha Kitt Arthur Siegel June Carroll
"Time for Tea" June Carroll and Alice Ghostley
"Alouette" Robert Clary, Carol Lawrence, Virginia Wilson, and Patricia Hammerlee Traditional
"Santa Baby" Eartha Kitt Philip Springer Joan Javits, Tony Springer
"Waltzing in Venice" /
"Take off the Mask" 		Ronny Graham and Alice Ghostley Ronny Graham
"Raining Memories" Robert Clary
"Uska Dara" Eartha Kitt Traditional
"I'm in Love with Miss Logan" Robert Clary Ronny Graham
"Lizzie Borden" Company Michael Brown
"Bal, petit bal" Eartha Kitt and Robert Clary Francis Lemarque
"Monotonous" Eartha Kitt Arthur Siegel June Carroll
Closing/Encore Company Unknown Unknown
"Crazy, Man!" Unclear Ronny Graham Paul Lynde[citation needed]
"Convention Bound" Unclear Ronny Graham[citation needed]

Eartha Kitt (EP)

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Main article: Eartha Kitt (EP)

Full title Eartha Kitt Sings Songs from the Edward L. Alperson CinemaScope Production of Leonard Sillman's "New Faces", this was a 45 speed 7" extended play released around 1954 to market on the commercial success of the film's star, Eartha Kitt, after the film's release.[2] The extended play was released by RCA Victor with the catalog number EPA-557. It was later issued in the United Kingdom in 1956,[3] and in Germany perhaps around 1960.[4]

Track listing

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Track list and credits adapted from liner notes of original release.[2] Track lengths are approximate and based on releases of the songs on different versions of That Bad Eartha.[5][6][7]

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Orchestra conductorLength
1."C'est si bon"
Henri René2:59
2."Monotonous" (from the musical revue "Leonard Sillman's New Faces Of 1952")
Anton Coppola3:48
Total length:6:47
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Orchestra conductorLength
1."Uska Dara" (A Turkish Tale)TraditionalHenri René3:11
2."Santa Baby"
  • Joan Javits
  • Philip Springer
  • Tony Springer
Henri René2:52
Total length:6:03

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Catalog No. Ref.
United States 1954 7" Vinyl RCA Victor EPA 557 [2]
Australia 195? RCA Australia, J. Albert & Son 20001 [8]
United Kingdom 1956 RCA EPA-557 [3]
Germany 1960 RCA, Kapp[citation needed] EPA-557 [4]

References

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  1. ^ a b New Faces (1954) TCM Overview, Turner Classic Movies, Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc. A Time Warner Company.
  2. ^ a b c "Eartha Kitt – Eartha Kitt". discogs. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "SINGS SONGS FROM NEW FACES EP". musicstack.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Eartha Kitt Sings Songs from the Edward L. Alperson CinemaScope Production of Leonard Sillman's "New Faces"". Rate Your Music. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  5. ^ That Bad Eartha (10" United Kingdom version) (label note). Eartha Kitt. His Master's Voice. 1955.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ That Bad Eartha (12" version) (label note). Eartha Kitt. RCA Records. 1956.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ That Bad Eartha (2006 Italian CD re-issue) (liner note). Eartha Kitt. Universe Italy. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "EARTHA KITT "Eartha Sings" RCA EP 45rpm EX". eBay, mrjuicymusic (seller). Retrieved December 14, 2014.
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