Take Me to Town
{{Short description|1953 film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Take Me to Town
| image = File:Take Me to Town.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Douglas Sirk
| producer = Ross Hunter
| screenplay = Richard Morris
| story = Richard Morris
| starring = Ann Sheridan
Sterling Hayden
| music = Joseph Gershenson
| cinematography = Russell Metty
| editing = Milton Carruth
| color_process = Technicolor
| studio = Universal International Pictures
| distributor = Universal Pictures
| released = {{Film date|1953|06|12|Los Angeles|1953|06|19|New York City}}
| runtime = 81 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = $1 million (US rentals)'The Top Box Office Hits of 1953', Variety, January 13, 1954
}}
Take Me To Town is a 1953 American Comedy Western film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Ann Sheridan and Sterling Hayden.
Plot
Pursued by a federal Marshal and needing a place to hide out, the musical comedy singer/dancer Mae Madison settles down to work in a new town under a new name, Vermilion O'Toole, pursued by her (apparent) partner in crime, Newt Cole.
The lady fugitive comes across three young boys who are looking for a new wife for their recently widowed dad, Will Hall, a lumberjack and local preacher. With the aid of her friend and boss Rose she flees from the Marshal, to look after the three boys while their father is working away. Complications - including ructions from Will's sanctimonious congregation - arise when the new 'housekeeper' and Will begin to hit it off.
The denouement unfolds during the performance of a stage show, put on by Vermilion to raise money to build a church for Will.
Cast
- Ann Sheridan as Vermilion O'Toole
- Sterling Hayden as Will Hall
- Phillip Reed as Newton Cole
- Lee Patrick as Rose
- Lee Aaker as Corney
- Harvey Grant as Petey
- Dustey Henley as Bucket
- Larry Gates as Ed Daggett
- Forrest Lewis as Ed Higgins
- Phyllis Stanley as Mrs. Stoffer
- Dorothy Neumann as Felice Pickett
- Ann Tyrrell as Louise Pickett
Future Disney Television leading men, Fess Parker and Guy Williams, both appeared uncredited in small speaking roles.
Production
The film was Ross Hunter's first as a producer. The onetime actor was working as a teacher when Ann Sheridan suggested he turn to producing. He worked without salary at the Motion Picture Center to learn producing, then managed to set up the film Take Me to Town at Universal. Sheridan's normal price was $475,000 per film but she agreed to $100,000 to work with Hunter. "It was Annie who really gave me my first break," later recalled Hunter. "She was a very great lady."{{cite news |title=Three Cheers For Ross Hunter |author=Norma Lee Browning |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=April 28, 1968}}
In 1960, Hunter was reportedly working on a Broadway version Vermillion. It was never made.{{cite news|title=HUNTER OF LOVE, LADIES, SUCCESS|first=Eugene|last=Archer|newspaper=New York Times|date=16 October 1960|page=X9}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0046397|title=Take Me to Town}}
- {{AFI film|id=51058|title=Take Me to Town}}
- {{TCMDb title|id=92242|title=Take Me to Town}}
{{Douglas Sirk}}
{{Ross Hunter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Take Me To Town}}
Category:1953 Western (genre) films
Category:American Western (genre) films
Category:Films directed by Douglas Sirk
Category:Films produced by Ross Hunter
Category:Films scored by Henry Mancini
Category:Films scored by Herman Stein
Category:Universal Pictures films
Category:1950s English-language films
Category:English-language Western (genre) films
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