Out of the Blue (1947 film)
| Out of the Blue | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Leigh Jason |
| Screenplay by | Vera Caspary Walter Bullock Edward Eliscu |
| Story by | Vera Caspary |
| Produced by | Isadore Goldsmith Bryan Foy |
| Starring | George Brent Virginia Mayo Turhan Bey Ann Dvorak Carole Landis |
| Cinematography | Jackson Rose |
| Edited by | Norman Colbert |
| Music by | Carmen Dragon |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Eagle-Lion Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.1 million[1] |
Out of the Blue is a 1947 American screwball comedy film based on the short story by Vera Caspary who also co-wrote the screenplay. It stars George Brent, Virginia Mayo, Turhan Bey, Ann Dvorak and Carole Landis. It was directed by Leigh Jason.
Plot
[edit]Arthur Earthleigh (George Brent) lives in an apartment in Greenwich Village where he is dominated by his wife Mae (Carole Landis) and annoyed by Rabelais, the German Shepherd owned by his neighbour, artist and swinging bachelor David (Turhan Bey). David has a constant parade of attractive women visiting his apartment to pose for him. He currently is being visited by Deborah (Virginia Mayo) who wants David's champion Rabelais to breed with her dog.
When his wife goes off to visit her sister, Arthur visits a bar where he's picked up by interior decorator Olive (Ann Dvorak) who comes home with him. Olive has a taste for brandy that she insists alleviates her heart condition but makes her tipsy. Arthur orders the reluctant Olive to leave, but Olive enters the guest room unbeknownst to Arthur. Waking up the next day Arthur discovers Olive has not only spent the night but redecorated the room. In attempting to get her to leave he knocks Olive down to the floor where he thinks she has died.
The film has Olive's 'body' moved about by David who uses Arthur's fear of having killed Olive to blackmail him into changing his mind about having a court order ordering David to get rid of his dog. Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the Village with two elderly snoopers (Elizabeth Patterson and Julia Dean) believing Olive is his victim. Adding to Arthur's troubles is his wife returning.
Cast
[edit]- George Brent as Arthur Earthleigh
- Virginia Mayo as Deborah Tyler
- Turhan Bey as David Gelleo
- Ann Dvorak as Olive Jensen
- Carole Landis as Mae Earthleigh
- Elizabeth Patterson as Miss Spring
- Julia Dean as Miss Ritchie
- Richard Lane as Detective Noonan
- Charles Smith as Elevator Boy (as Charlie Smith)
- Paul Harvey as Holliston
- Alton E. Horton as Detective Dombry
- Hadda Brooks as Singer
- Flame as Rabelais
Production
[edit]Mystery writer Vera Caspary's had a percentage deal with Eagle-Lion Films.[2] The previous year she wrote in England the screenplay of Bedelia, from her 1945 novel, which was also produced by her future husband Isadore Goldsmith. Her original short story for Out of the Blue appeared in Today's Woman magazine in September 1947. Hadda Brooks sings the title song in a nightclub.