Small Town Girl (1953)

Wonderful character development!

Sick Product of a Sick System

hyped garbage

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Not one of the great MGM musicals. But if you like them at all, you will probably want to see Small Town Girl.It's about what goes on when a NYC playboy speeds (85 mph) through upstate Duck Creek, gets arrested, and has to do jail time. He's kind of a jerk, at first, but handsome (Farley Granger). Jane Powell plays the daughter of the local judge, and the kinda-sorta girlfriend of a local boy (Bobby Van) who dreams of a big Broadway career. Farley's girl, by the way, is a Broadway performer (Ann Miller).The plot finds Jane helping Farley out of jail for the night, I won't go into the reasons. They (and we) get to see Nat King Cole in a nightclub, singing the sultry, Burn Low, My Flaming Heart. Farley's escape causes a big hoo-hah but it all gets resolved nicely by the end, of course.You should see it for the cast, performing in imaginatively staged (by Busby Berkeley) musical numbers, a couple of which were good enough to be featured in the That's Entertainment films. They include a memorable number in which Ann Miller dances among disembodied human limbs that play various musical instruments, and the equally delightful bouncing dance (really just choreographed hopping) performed by Bobby Van on the back lot small-town set. (Mr Van said he was sick for a year after doing this number, and it's not really surprising). Bobby also does a socko number in his father's small town store, the lyrics of which (if memory serves) go something like, "Hey, Mister Taxi Driver, take me to Broadway, to wonderful Broadway, that razzle dazzle heart of New York." The kid really knocks himself out.The cast includes Fay Wray and Robert Keith (as Jane's parents), S. Z. "Cuddles" Sakall (as Bobby's father), Billie Burke (as Farley's mother), and Chill Wills (as the jailor). Jane Powell is lovely, charming, and a beautiful singer. It's a nice little show you will probably enjoy.

It is hard to believe that this film was released 64 years ago. I love these classic dance/musicals/romance films and this is a top notch Busby Berkeley dance and song production. Farley Granger plays the rich and spoiled Rick Livingston who thinks his money can buy anything. That is until he attempts to speed through the little town of Duck Creek and he is caught speeding at 85 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone.Before he can get his wallet out and pay the fine Rick's big mouth gets him in big trouble with Duck Creek's local town Judge Gordon Kimbell (Robert Keith) and he is sentenced to 30 days in the town jail. Before he knows it he is falling for the judge's pretty daughter Cindy played by Jane Powell. So Cindy convinces the jailer named Happy (Chill Wills) to let Rick out of jail for just a few hours so that he can wish his mother a Happy Birthday where he lives in New York city.There are great supporting cast members in Chill Wills, Ann Miller and Bobby Van. This film includes a dozen or so song and dance numbers that are very lively but you must enjoy Busby Berkeley to appreciate the 1950's song and dance era for which this is an excellent example of the simpler times. I enjoy being able to escape for 90 minutes to a simpler time with song, dance, romance and laughter. I hope Small Town Girl comes out soon in the Blu Ray format with all the brilliant colors this film exposed. If you want something current to compare it to just think of 2016's multiple Oscar winner La La Land. This film has it all and I give it an 8 out of 10 rating

The small Connecticut town "Duck Creek" is shaken by the arrival of handsome Farley Granger (as Rick Livingston). The wealthy young man was caught "driving like a maniac" (at 85 MPH) and sentenced to 30 days in the pokey. Duck Creek's young women practically camp out at the jail, due to Mr. Granger's extreme handsomeness and wealth. The "Small Town Girl" to watch, though, is bubbly blonde Jane Powell (as Cindy Kimbell). The judge's daughter, Ms. Powell sings soprano in the church choir (and elsewhere). She wants to reform Granger, who was all set to marry sophisticated Broadway musical star Ann Miller (as Lisa Bellmount)..."Small Town Girl" would have you believe Powell and Granger are an exciting young couple. They are not. Watching the dull duo's courtship would be insufferable, if not for the movie's musical numbers performed by Ms. Miller and aspiring young Bobby Van (as Ludwig Schlemmer). Granger has no chemistry with Powell, but Miller makes his kissing scenes simmer. And Powell is a fool to pass on Mr. Van, who looks like he'd be a fun and devoted lover. Miller's highlight is her sizzling "I've Gotta Hear that Beat" and Van's energetic jumping "Street Dance" must be seen. Even better is Van's earlier store-stopper "Take Me to Broadway".***** Small Town Girl (1953-04-10) Leslie Kardos ~ Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Bobby Van, Ann Miller

Does anyone know any behind the scenes info about the dance number "Take Me to Broadway" as performed by Bobby Van in this movie? It is comprised of several minutes of hopping. For example, did he do it in one take? Did he have to have special shoes that had major cushioning inside? Whose idea was it to have him perform a dance that consisted only of hopping? As someone who has suffered from shin splints, I think this choreography would make him a prime candidate for that or some other kind of injury as a result of this dance. Did he do special warm-ups? This just struck me as I watching the film on May 21, TCM channel. Some people will think it odd to focus on this, when the major dance number is Ann Miller's, but I just got to thinking . . .