Spring Reunion
Spring Reunion is a 1956 American drama film that centers on the fifteen-year reunion of the fictional Carson High School class of 1941. It was the second film produced by Kirk Douglas' film production company Bryna Productions. Spring Reunion was a screen comeback for actress Betty Hutton, her first film in five years since her departure from Paramount Studios in 1952, after the completion of the musical Somebody Loves Me. Although Hutton's performance was praised by several critics, the film generated little interest and failed at the box office. It was Hutton's last feature film. The film opened at the Astoria Theatre in London, England in late December 1956.
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| Spring Reunion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Robert Pirosh John E. Burch (assistant) |
| Written by | Robert Alan Aurthur |
| Produced by | Jerry Bresler |
| Starring | Betty Hutton Dana Andrews |
| Cinematography | Harold Lipstein |
| Edited by | Leon Barsha |
| Music by | Earle Hagen Herbert W. Spencer |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Spring Reunion is a 1956 American drama film that centers on the fifteen-year reunion of the fictional Carson High School class of 1941. It was the second film produced by Kirk Douglas' film production company Bryna Productions.[1]
Spring Reunion was a screen comeback for actress Betty Hutton, her first film in five years since her departure from Paramount Studios in 1952, after the completion of the musical Somebody Loves Me. Although Hutton's performance was praised by several critics, the film generated little interest and failed at the box office. It was Hutton's last feature film. The film opened at the Astoria Theatre in London, England in late December 1956.[2][3]
Plot
[edit]Maggie Brewster (Betty Hutton), once voted the most popular girl in her class, has a successful real estate career, but regrets that she never married. When she runs into an old flame at the reunion (Dana Andrews), it looks as if the two might be meant for each other after all. However, Fred's aversion to commitment and Maggie's unwillingness to step out of her comfort zone threaten to kill their romance before it begins.
Cast
[edit]- Betty Hutton as Margaret 'Maggie' Brewster
- Dana Andrews as Fred Davis
- Jean Hagen as Barna Forrest
- Robert F. Simon as Harry Brewster
- Laura La Plante as May Brewster
- Gordon Jones as Jack Frazer
- Sara Berner as Paula Kratz
- Irene Ryan as Miss Stapleton
- Herbert Anderson as Edward
- Richard Shannon as Nick
- Ken Curtis as Al
- Vivi Janiss as Grace
- Mimi Doyle as Alice
- Florence Sundstrom as Mary
- James Gleason as Mr. 'Collie' Collyer (as Jimmy Gleason)
- Mary Kaye as Singer
- Richard Deacon as Sidney
- Don Haggerty as Pete
- Shirley Mitchell as Jane the Receptionist
Reception
[edit]Writing in The New York Times, contemporary reviewer A. H. Weiler panned the film, saying, "Although it fleetingly captures the loneliness of some of its principals, it is largely a nostalgia-ridden and unimaginative comedy-drama that makes its points haltingly and without impact. Like the members of Carson High School's class of '41, 'Spring Reunion' tries desperately but fails to make its rosy dreams come alive."[4]
References
[edit]- ^ The Independent Film Journal (Jul 1955-Jul 1956). Media History Digital Library. ITOA Independent, Inc. 1955.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "31 Dec 1956, 8 - Evening Standard at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ Variety (1957). Variety (January 1957). Media History Digital Library. New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company.
- ^ Weiler, A.H. (May 6, 1957). "Screen: 'Spring Reunion'". The New York Times. p. 25.
External links
[edit]- Spring Reunion at IMDb
- Spring Reunion at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)
- Spring Reunion at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
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