Tom, Dick and Harry is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Garson Kanin and starring Ginger Rogers, George Murphy, Alan Marshal, Phil Silvers, and Burgess Meredith.[2] It was produced and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The screen play written by Paul Jarrico, Rogers was working on the film when she was awarded the Oscar as Best Actress for her 1940 performance in Kitty Foyle. It was her first film released after her Oscar win. It was remade as The Girl Most Likely (1957), a musical which was also the last film released by RKO.
| Tom, Dick and Harry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Garson Kanin |
| Written by | Paul Jarrico |
| Produced by | Robert Sisk |
| Starring | Ginger Rogers George Murphy Alan Marshal Burgess Meredith |
| Cinematography | Merritt Gerstad |
| Edited by | John Sturges |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $806,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,628,000[1] |
Plot
editJanie (Ginger Rogers) is a telephone operator and a daydreamer. Her fondest wish is to land a rich husband. She has a boyfriend, Tom (George Murphy), a car salesman, who wants to get married, which results in Janie dreaming about what their life together would be like.
Listening in on a long-distance phone call between the wealthiest eligible bachelor in town, Dick Hamilton (Alan Marshal), and the girl Dick has been dating, Janie makes a wish that she could meet him. When an expensive car pulls alongside her that instant, Janie takes it as her wish being granted. Turns out it is garage mechanic Harry (Burgess Meredith), driving it to be repaired.
Harry is immediately smitten. He spends time with Janie, kisses her and proposes marriage. Janie's head is spinning and she daydreams about being a mechanic's wife.
Disconnecting a call, Janie causes a quarrel between Dick and his girl. She ends up meeting Dick and falling for him. Tom and Harry are waiting for her, leading Janie to declare that she's engaged to all three. A dream of being Dick's wealthy wife causes her to choose him, but at the last minute, a kiss from Harry changes her mind one last time.
Cast
edit- Ginger Rogers as Janie
- George Murphy as Tom
- Alan Marshal as Dick
- Burgess Meredith as Harry
- Phil Silvers as Ice Cream Vendor
- Joe Cunningham as Father
- Jane Seymour as Mother
- Lenore Lonergan as Butch, Janie's sister
- Vickie Lester as Paula
- Betty Breckenridge as Gertrude
- Sarah Edwards as Mrs. Burton
- William Halligan as Mr. Burton
- Gayle Mellott as Brenda Whitney Jr.
- Edna Holland as Miss Schlom, Janie's Boss
- Joseph E. Bernard as Judge in Dream
- Sidney Skolsky as Photographer
Reception
editThe film earned a profit of $234,000.[1] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an aggregate score of 100% based on 5 critic reviews.[3]
References
editBibliography
edit- Fetrow, Alan G. Feature Films, 1940-1949: a United States Filmography. McFarland, 1994.