- One Touch of Venus (film)
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One Touch of Venus
Theatrical release posterDirected by William A. Seiter Produced by William A. Seiter
Lester CowanStarring Robert Walker
Ava GardnerMusic by Ann Ronell
Kurt WeillCinematography Frank F. Planer Distributed by Universal Pictures Release date(s) August 1948 Running time 82 minutes Country United States Language English One Touch of Venus (1948) is a film directed by William A. Seiter, starring Robert Walker and Ava Gardner, released by Universal Studios, and based on the Broadway musical of the same name, book written by S. J. Perelman and Ogden Nash, with music composed by Kurt Weill (lyrics by Nash). However, the film omits most of Weill's music.
In 1945, Mary Pickford announced that she would produce a film version of this musical with the Broadway cast, including Mary Martin, filmed in Technicolor, directed by Gregory La Cava, and released by United Artists. However, Martin got pregnant and Pickford sold the rights to Lester Cowan at Universal in August 1947. Ann Ronell, Cowan's wife, wrote the additional music that replaced much of Weill's material.
This movie is the inspiration for 1987's Mannequin.
Plot
Wealthy department-store mogul Whitfield Savory II buys a statue of Venus for $200,000. He plans to exhibit it in the store.
Eddie Hatch, a window dresser, kisses the statue on a whim. To his shock, Venus comes to life. She leaves the store and Eddie is accused of stealing the work of art.
Nobody believes the truth, including secretary Molly Stewart, who is Savory's right-hand woman, and Kerrigan, a detective. Venus turns up at Eddie's apartment, forcing him to hide her from girlfriend Gloria and roommate Joe.
Entranced by a Venus song of love, Joe falls for Eddie's girl Gloria. At the store, meanwhile, Venus has fallen asleep on a sofa and is discovered there by Whitfield, who is instantly smitten.
Kerrigan decides it's time for Eddie to be placed under arrest for the statue's theft. Venus, to save Eddie, is willing to seduce Whitfield, but a threat by Molly to leave him brings Whitfield back to his senses. He realizes it's Molly he truly loves.
Venus is called home by Jupiter and must return to Mount Olympus, so she returns to her pedestal. Whitfield can now display his work of art to the public. Eddie is the only one left alone, at least until he meets a new salesgirl who is a dead ringer for the goddess of love.
Cast
- Ava Gardner as Venus
- Robert Walker as Eddie
- Eve Arden as Molly
- Tom Conway as Whitfield
- Dick Haymes as Joe
- James Flavin as Kerrigan
External links
- One Touch of Venus at the Internet Movie Database
- One Touch of Venus at AllRovi
- One Touch of Venus at the TCM Movie Database
Films directed by William A. Seiter 1920s Up and at 'Em (1922) · The Beautiful and Damned (1922) · Daddies (1924) · Listen Lester (1924) · The Family Secret (1924) · Helen's Babies (1924) · The Mad Whirl (1925) · Dangerous Innocence (1925) · The Teaser (1925) · Skinner's Dress Suit (1926) · Why Be Good? (1929) · Smiling Irish Eyes (1929) · Footlights and Fools (1929)1930s Kiss Me Again (1930) · The Truth About Youth (1930) · Sunny (1930) · Going Wild (1930) · Caught Plastered (1931) · Way Back Home (1931) · Girl Crazy (1932) · Hot Saturday (1932) · Rafter Romance (1933) · Sons of the Desert (1933) · We're Rich Again (1934) · The Richest Girl in the World (1934) · Roberta (1935) · If You Could Only Cook (1935) · The Moon's Our Home (1936) · Dimples (1936) · Stowaway (1936) · This Is My Affair (1937) · Room Service (1938) · Susannah of the Mounties (1939) · Allegheny Uprising (1939)1940s It's a Date (1940) · Nice Girl? (1941) · Appointment for Love (1941) · Broadway (1942) · You Were Never Lovelier (1942) · Destroyer (1943) · A Lady Takes a Chance (1943) · Four Jills in a Jeep (1944) · Belle of the Yukon (1944) · The Affairs of Susan (1945) · Little Giant (1946) · I'll Be Yours (1947) · Up in Central Park (1948) · One Touch of Venus (1948)1950s Categories:- English-language films
- 1948 films
- 1940s musical films
- 1940s romantic comedy films
- American fantasy-comedy films
- American musical comedy films
- American romantic comedy films
- American romantic fantasy films
- American romantic musical films
- Films directed by William A. Seiter
- Universal Pictures films
- 1940s comedy film stubs
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