Something for the Birds

Johnnie Adams, an engraver in Washington, uses some of the invitations his firm makes to crash Washington parties. He gets to be called "Admiral", and is accepted as part of the social group.

Johnnie meets Anne Richards, who's interested in preventing a gas company from drilling on certain west coast lands, which would destroy the breeding grounds of some California condors.

She enlists Johnnie's aid, and he asks Steve Bennett, a lobbyist, for help. However, unknown to him, Bennett's company is also employed to lobby Congress to develop the land: and he's the one they've chosen.

When an investigating committee gets on the job, Johnnie's actual position is exposed, and he comes in for national publicity.

This makes it possible for the bird sanctuary to be saved, and Johnnie gets his job back, with a promotion. Steve, who has had a falling out with Anne, finds himself invited to his own wedding, by Anne, to her: she had Johnnie print the invitations: smiling, he puts one in his pocket.

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• Victor Mature as Steve Bennett
• Patricia Neal as Anne Richards
• Edmund Gwenn as Admiral Johnnie Adams
• Larry Keating as Roy Patterson
• Gladys Hurlbut as Della Rice
• Hugh Sanders as Jim Grady
• Christian Rub as Leo Fischer
• Wilton Graff as Taylor
• Ian Wolfe as Foster
• Madge Blake as Mrs. J.L.Chadwick
• Archer MacDonald as T.Courtney Lemmer
• Richard Garrick as Chandler
• Russell Gaige as Winthrop
• John Brown as Mr. Lund
• Camillo Guercio as Duncan
• Joan Miller as Mac
• Norman Field as Judge
• Gordon Nelson as Senator O'Malley
• Emmett Vogan as Senator Beecham
• John Ayres as Congressman Walker
• Charles Watts as Jessup
• Norma Varden as Congresswoman Bates
• John Maxwell as Congressman Craig
• Louise Lorimer as Mrs. Winthrop

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The film was based on an original story by Joseph Petracca and Alvin Josephy about the romance between an environmentalist and a lobbyist. It was purchased by 20th Century Fox in October 1950 and assigned to producer Sam Engel.{{Cite news|title=METRO WILL FILM BASEBALL COMEDY: 'Angels in the Outfield,' Written by Priest, Bought by Studio for Spencer Tracy Vehicle |author=THOMAS F. BRADY|date=Oct 12, 1950|work=New York Times|page=52}} Boris Ingster wrote the script. The original stars were Anne Baxter (environmentalist), Paul Douglas (lobbyist) and Victor Moore (admiral). However, Douglas dropped out when his contract with Fox terminated, and he was replaced by Dana Andrews.{{Cite news|title=FILM COUNCIL ENDS 4-DAY CONFERENCE: Plans Made at Final Session for Newsreel to Counteract Stories Damaging Industry Swanson Discussing Clothes|author=THOMAS M. PRYOR|date=July 27, 1951|work=New York Times|page=15}}{{Cite news|title=Drama: Anne Baxter to Star as Birds' Defender|date=July 27, 1951|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A6}}

The film took some months to go into production. By April 1952, Baxter had dropped out and Jeanne Crain was to star. But Crain had just given birth and could not get medical clearance to make the movie so Patricia Neal was cast instead.{{Cite news|title=Looking at Hollywood: Elizabeth Taylor to Play in Sea Adventure Film|author=Hedda Hopper's Staff|date=Apr 10, 1952|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|page=c2}}{{Cite news|title=TELEVISION OR NO, MOVIES ARE ON GO: Survey in Los Angeles Shows First-Run Theatres Doing Better Than Last Year|author=THOMAS M. PRYOR|date=Apr 4, 1952|work=New York Times|page=20}} The male romantic lead was given to Victor Mature, who was meant to be in The Farmer Takes a Wife for Fox but was reassigned. At this stage the title had been changed to Old Sailors Never Die.{{Cite news|title=Looking at Hollywood: Vic Mature Cast as Fast Talking Lobbyist|author=HEDDA HOPPER'S STAFF|date=Apr 26, 1952|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|page=a2}} The other lead role was given to Edmund Gwenn, who played a counterfeiter for Fox in Mister 880.{{Cite news|title=NEWS NOTES ON PEOPLE AND PICTURES|author=A. H. WEILER|date=Sep 28, 1952|work=New York Times|page=X5}}

I.A.L. Diamond was bought in to rewrite the script.[http://www.afi.com/wise/films/something_for_the_birds/sftb.html "Something for the Birds"] at AFI

Filming started May 1952.{{Cite news|title=FILM MEN TO FIGHT 2 G. O. P. CANDIDATES: Decrying 'Unfair' Attacks, Anti-Communists Will Oppose Their Congressional Bids|author=THOMAS M. PRYOR|date=Apr 26, 1952|work=New York Times|page=18}} The cast included Christian Rub, making his first film in five years.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Betsy Drake Will Join Husband Cary at Metro; Hlutton, Estelita Team|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=May 27, 1952|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B7}}

"It's a nice script", said Neal. "I've appeared in comedies before but this is my first real comedy role."{{Cite news|title=PORTRAIT OF THE LADY NAMED NEAL|author=HOWARD THOMPSON|date=Nov 2, 1952|work=New York Times|page=X5}}

Producer Julius Blaustein liked Mature and Neal so much he bought an original story from Francis Cockerell, The Desert, to reteam them but it was never made.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Patricia Neal, Mature Will Star in 'Desert'|date=May 8, 1952|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B10}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|id=0045173|title=Something for the Birds}}
• {{TCMDb title|90755}}
• [https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0DEED8103AE23BBC4D52DFB7678389649EDE Review of film] at New York Times

{{Robert Wise}}

Category:1950s American films

Category:1950s English-language films

Category:1952 films

Category:1952 comedy films

Category:20th Century Fox films

Category:American black-and-white films

Category:American comedy films

Category:Films directed by Robert Wise

Category:Films produced by Samuel G. Engel

Category:Films set in Washington, D.C.