Never Say Die (1939 film)

Never Say Die (1939)
VHS cover
Directed by	Elliot Nugent
Produced by	Paul Jones
Written by	Play: William H. Post William Collier Screenplay: Dan Hartman Frank Butler Preston Sturges
Starring	Martha Raye Bob Hope
Music by	Songs: Ralph Rainger (music) Leo Robin (lyrics) Score: Charles Bradshaw John Leipold Leo Shuken
Cinematography	Leo Tover
Editing by	James Smith
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	9 March 1939 (NYC) 14 April (gen US)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Never Say Die is a 1939 romantic comedy film starring Martha Raye and Bob Hope. Based on a play of the same title by William H. Post and William Collier,^[1] which ran on Broadway for 151 performances in 1912,^[2] the film was directed by Elliot Nugent and written for the screen by Dan Hartman, Frank Butler and Preston Sturges. The supporting cast features Andy Devine, Alan Mowbray, Gale Sondergaard, Sig Ruman and Monty Woolley.

The Post/Collier play had previously been adapted in 1924 as a silent film of the same name^[3] and was remade as the 2004 South Korean film Someone Special. Other films with the same or similar titles are not related.

Plot

When test results get mixed up, multi-millionaire hypochondriac John Kidley (Bob Hope) is told that he only has a month to live. He dumps his fiancee, Juno Marko (Gale Sondergaard), and heads for the Swiss spa of Bad Gaswasser, where he meets a young Texas heiress, Mickey Hawkins (Martha Raye). Mickey has been betrothed to the fortune hunting Prince Smirnow (Alan Mowbray), but is in love with Henry Munch (Andy Devine), a bus driver from back home. Believing he is dying, and wanting to help out, John suggests that he and Mickey get married, planning on leaving her his fortune so that she can marry who she wants when he's gone. On their honeymoon, with Henry along as a chaperone, the couple fall in love for real, although, of course, they don't realize it right away. Eventually, John bests the Prince in a duel, Henry and Juno get engaged, and John and Mickey get to stay together.^[4][5]

Cast

• Martha Raye as Mickey Hawkins
• Bob Hope as John Kidley
• Andy Devine as Henry Munch
• Alan Mowbray as Prince Smirnov
• Gale Sondergaard as Juno Marko
• Sig Ruman as Poppa Ingleborg
• Ernest Cossart as Jeepers
• Paul Harvey as Jasper Hawkins
• Frances Arms as Momma Ingleborg
• Ivan F. Simpson as Kretsky
• Monty Woolley as Dr. Schmidt
• Foy Van Dolsen as Kretsky's bodyguard
• Christian Rub as The mayor

Cast notes:

• Hans Conried has a small uncredited part, only his second film appearance.^[6]
• Albert Dekker, who plays the uncredited role of "Kidley's second" was an established Broadway star^[7] before turning to film acting.^[8]

Songs

• "The Tra La La and the Oom Pah Pah" - by Ralph Rainger (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics)^[9]

Production

Never Say Die was originally slated to star Jack Benny and Franciska Gaal, under the direction of Raoul Walsh and produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr.^[10] The film was in production from early October to early December 1938, and premiered in New York on 9 March 1939.^[11] It went into general release on 14 April of that year.^[12]

References

1. ^ TCM Screenplay info
2. ^ Never Say Die (play) at the Internet Broadway Database
3. ^ Never Say Die (1924) at the Internet Movie Database
4. ^ TCM Full synopsis
5. ^ Brennan, Sandra Plot synopsis (Allmovie)
6. ^ Hand Conreid at the Internet Movie Database
7. ^ Albert Dekker at the Internet Broadway Database
8. ^ Albert Dekker at the Internet Movie Database
9. ^ IMDB Soundtrack listings
10. ^ TCM Notes
11. ^ TCM Overview
12. ^ IMDB Release dates

External links

• Never Say Die (play) at the Internet Broadway Database
• Never Say Die (1939) at the Internet Movie Database
• Never Say Die (1939) at the TCM Movie Database
• Never Say Die (1939) at AllRovi