It Happened to Jane

Infobox Film
name = It Happened to Jane


image_size =
caption = Movie poster
director = Richard Quine
producer = Martin Melcher
Richard Quine
writer = Norman Katkov
Max Wilk
starring = Doris Day
Jack Lemmon
Ernie Kovacs
music = George Duning
cinematography = Charles Lawton Jr.
editing = Charles Nelson
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = 14 July, 1959
runtime = 97 mins
country = United States
language = English
amg_id = 1:96881
imdb_id = 0052933

"It Happened to Jane" is a 1959 romantic comedy film starring Doris Day, Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs directed by Richard Quine and written by Norman Katkov and Max Wilk.

Day plays Jane Osgood, a young widow who clashes with a railroad magnate after her shipment of lobsters is spoiled. Lemmon plays her attorney and love interest.

Plot

In May 1959, in the town of Cape Anne, Maine, a foulup by the Eastern & Portland Railroad results in the death of 300 lobsters shipped by Jane Osgood (Doris Day). She gets her lawyer and boyfriend, George Denham (Jack Lemmon), to go after the E&P to pay damages after her customer, the Marshall Town Country Club refuses all future orders.

In the E&P office in New York City, Harry Foster Malone (Ernie Kovacs) learns about the Osgood lawsuit. Due to the budget cuts Malone instated, there was no station agent at Marshall Town to receive the lobsters. Malone then sends employees Crawford Sloan (Walter Greaza) and Wilbur Peterson (Philip Coolidge) to Cape Anne to deal with the situation. The two men offer Jane $700, but Jane turns it down because the loss to her business reputation is more than that.

The next day, Jane wins in court, but E&P appeals the case to the Supreme Court in Augusta. George files a writ of execution to force payment and take possession of the train, Olde 97, in lieu of payment. Jane is interviewed by local newspaper reporter Matilda Runyon, who then calls the "Daily Mirror" in New York. Its editor orders his top reporter, Larry Hall (Steve Forrest), to go to Cape Anne for the story. There are also offers from television stations wanting to interview Jane. Malone retaliates by charging Jane rent for the siding on which the train is sitting.

In New York City, Jane appears on ABC, NBC, and CBS. Fearful of bad publicity, Malone finally gives in and cancels the rent, but gives Jane the train. Meanwhile, George becomes increasingly jealous when he sees Larry is attracted to Jane. That night, Larry asks Jane to marry him.

Back in Cape Anne, during a town meeting, Jane learns that Malone has ordered all his trains to bypass the town and has given Jane 48 hours to remove Olde 97. After Jane runs away, George scolds the townspeople for turning against her. George eventually finds Jane and encourages her not to give up. Realizing Olde 97 is just the way to deliver the lobsters, they drive back to town, where George gets everybody to fill up Olde 97's tender with coal from their homes. George recruits his uncle Otis, a retired E&P engineer, to drive the train.

Once Jane, her children, George, and the lobsters are on board, Olde 97 sets off. Malone does everything possible to delay the train. Jane becomes upset at the roundabout route Malone is forcing them to take. Eventually, the coal runs out, stopping Olde 97 and blocking traffic. Just then, Malone arrives by helicopter. Jane scolds him for his underhanded actions and Malone finally agrees to Jane's demands. Jane and George order Malone to come with them so he cannot cause any more trouble. He finally shows his good side by helping shovel coal. Larry and a photographer are waiting in Marshall Town. Seeing Larry, George kisses Jane in front of him. Jane agrees to marry George.

A few days later in Cape Anne, Jane has married George. As George is being sworn in as the new first selectman, a badly-needed fire engine pulls into town, a present from Malone.

Production

Olde 97 is based on the J-Class 2-8-2 steam locomotives that used to run on the New Haven Railroad. Olde 97 was a common nickname for steam locomotives that had the number 97 on them.

The final scene was filmed at the Chester Connecticut train station. People from all over Connecticut were invited to be extras in the movie.

Songs

*"It Happened To Jane", performed by Doris Day
*"Be Prepared", performed by Day
*"I've Been Workin' On The Railroad"

Cast

*Doris Day as Jane Osgood
*Jack Lemmon as George Denham
*Ernie Kovacs as Harry Foster Malone
*Steve Forrest as Larry Hall
*Teddy Rooney as Billy Osgood
*Gina Gillespie as Betty Osgood
*Russ Brown as Uncle Otis Denham
*Walter Greaza as Crawford Sloan
*Parker Fennelly as Homer Bean
*Mary Wickes as Matilda Runyon
*Dick Crockett as Clarence Runyon
*Philip Coolidge as Wilbur Peterson
*Max Showalter as Selwyn Harris
*John Cecil Holm as Aaron Caldwell
*Napoleon Whiting as Eugene The Waiter
*Dave Garroway as The Left Hand Host
*Robert Paige as "The Big Payoff" Host
*Garry Moore as "I've Got A Secret" Host
*Bill Cullen as Panelist
*Jayne Meadows as Panelist
*Henry Morgan as Panelist
*Betsy Palmer as Panelist

External links

*imdb title|0052933
*amg title|id=1:96881|title=It Happened to Jane
*tcmdb title|id=16149|title=It Happened to Jane