The Talk of the Town (1942 film)

Infobox Film | name = The Talk of the Town


image_size=175px
caption = DVD cover
director = George Stevens
producer = George Stevens
Fred Guiol
writer = Irwin Shaw
Sidney Buchman
starring = Cary Grant
Jean Arthur
Ronald Colman
Rex Ingram
music =Friedrich Hollaender
cinematography = Ted Tetzlaff
editing =
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = 20 August 1942
runtime = 118 min.
imdb_id = 0035417

"The Talk of the Town" (1942) is a comedy film released by Columbia Pictures, starring Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Ronald Colman, Edgar Buchanan, and Glenda Farrell.

The movie was adapted by Dale Van Every, Irwin Shaw and Sidney Buchman from the story by Sidney Harmon. It was directed by George Stevens. There was also a 1905 musical called "The Talk of the Town" that played at the Lyric Theatre in London and on Broadway in 1907, with Victor Moore.

It was nominated for a number of Academy Awards:
*Best Picture
*Best Writing, Original Story
*Best Writing, Screenplay
*Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White (Fay Babcock, Lionel Banks, Rudolph Sternad)
*Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
*Best Film Editing
*Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture

Plot

Mill worker and political activist Leopold Dilg (Grant) is accused of burning down a mill and causing the death of a foreman in the fire. In the middle of his trial, Dilg escapes from jail and seeks shelter in a house owned by former schoolmate Nora Shelley (Arthur), now a schoolteacher on whom he has had a crush for years. Shelley has the house rented for the summer to distinguished law Professor Michael Lightcap (Colman), who plans to write a book. Both Lightcap and Dilg arrive within minutes of each other.

When Dilg is spotted by Lightcap, Shelley passes him off as her gardener. Lightcap and Dilg enjoy having spirited discussions about the law, Lightcap arguing from an academic viewpoint, while Dilg subscribes to a more practical approach. They become good friends as a result.

As a result of prodding by Shelley and Dilg's lawyer, Lightcap becomes suspicious and starts, in spite of his initial reluctance, to investigate further. He romances the girlfriend of the supposed murder victim and discovers that the former foreman is still alive and hiding is Boston. He is 'persuaded' to return to town and admit his guilt and that of the mill owner.

Lightcap also comvinces Dilg of the importance of following the law and Dilg gives himself up. In due course, he is set free.

Soon afterward, Lightcap is appointed to the Supreme Court. He asks Shelley to marry him. Dilg tells her that he's a fine man, but she decides in favor of Dilg.

Though there are elements of screwball comedy, this is essentially a social (and political) drama with some comedic scenes. Stevens are adept at this kind of film making.

External links

*imdb title | id=0035417| title=The Talk of the Town
* [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=92288 "The Talk of the Town" at TCM Movie Database]