Kelly won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role, which previously had earned Uta Hagen her first Tony Award in the play's original Broadway production. The role, a non-glamorous departure for Kelly, was as the alcoholic actor's long-suffering wife.
In a theatre, auditions are being held for a new musical production titled The Land Around Us. Director Bernie Dodd watches a number performed by fading star Frank Elgin and suggests that he be cast in the leading role. This is met with strong opposition from Philip Cook, the show's producer.
However, Bernie insists on the down-on-his-luck Frank, who is living in a modest apartment with his wife Georgie. They are grateful for the opportunity, though not entirely certain Frank can handle the work.
Mealy-mouthed to the director's face, Frank is actually a demanding alcoholic who is completely dependent on his wife. Initially Frank leads Bernie to believe that Georgie is the reason for the decline in his career, resulting in Bernie mistakenly blaming her for everything that happens during rehearsals, including Frank's requests for a dresser and a run-of-the-show contract, first behind her back and eventually to her face. What he does not know is that the real reason why Frank's career has ended is his insecurity. When their five-year-old son Johnny was hit by a car and died while in Frank's care, he was devastated. Bernie also believed Georgie to be suicidal and a drunk, when it is actually Frank who is both; partly using his son's death an excuse to cover up his insecurity, Frank has been reduced to a suicidal alcoholic.
Humiliated when he learns the truth, Bernie realizes that behind his hatred of Georgie was a strong attraction to her. His anger melts away and he kisses her. She tells him that it does not mean that anything has changed.
Frank's performance is a success on opening night. Afterward, he demands respect from Cook, which he and his wife had not been given before the opening. Previously Georgie had said that if only Frank could stand on his own two feet, she could get away from him. At a party to celebrate the play's opening, Bernie believes Georgie will be free to leave Frank, and tells her that he loves her. Later Frank tells them he has noticed their longing looks, and all three talk. Shortly after, Frank leaves the party. Georgie says goodbye to Bernie, and he tells her he appreciates a woman who is loyal. She kisses him lightly and goes to catch up with Frank.
Victor Young as recording studio conductor (uncredited)
Receptionedit
Filmed between February and April 1954, the film had its benefit world premiere at Criterion Theatre, New York on December 15, 1954. The Gala West Coast Premiere took place at the Stanley Warner Theatre, Wilshire Blvd. at Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, on December 21. This was a benefit for the United States Olympic Fund. The critical response was very favorable with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times writing, "The Country Girl comes along fitly as one of the fine and forceful pictures of the year."[3]Variety summed it up with "[a]n exceptionally well performed essay on an alcoholic song man, with Bing Crosby the one carrying on a bottle romance, Country Girl is high on boxoffice punch. It's a strong, intense show that's certain to be talked about."[4]
Some of the dialogue from the film was used in the 2007 Mika song "Grace Kelly". The film is referenced by name in the television series I Love Lucy in the 1955 episode "L.A. at Last" by William Holden who guest-starred in the episode.
Referencesedit
^"All Time Domestic Champs". Variety. January 6, 1960. p. 34.
^"Festival de Cannes: The Country Girl". festival-cannes.com. Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
country, girl, 1954, film, country, girl, 1954, american, drama, film, written, directed, george, seaton, starring, bing, crosby, grace, kelly, william, holden, adapted, seaton, from, clifford, odets, 1950, play, same, name, film, about, alcoholic, been, actor. The Country Girl is a 1954 American drama film written and directed by George Seaton and starring Bing Crosby Grace Kelly and William Holden Adapted by Seaton from Clifford Odets 1950 play of the same name the film is about an alcoholic has been actor singer struggling with the one last chance he has been given to resurrect his career Seaton won the Academy Award for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay It was entered in the 1955 Cannes Film Festival 2 The Country GirlTheatrical release posterDirected byGeorge SeatonScreenplay byGeorge SeatonBased onThe Country Girlby Clifford OdetsProduced byWilliam PerlbergStarringBing Crosby Grace Kelly William HoldenCinematographyJohn F WarrenEdited byEllsworth HoaglandMusic byVictor YoungProductioncompanyPerlberg Seaton ProductionsDistributed byParamount PicturesRelease dateDecember 11 1954 1954 12 11 Los Angeles Running time104 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBox office 6 5 million est U S Canada rentals 1 Kelly won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role which previously had earned Uta Hagen her first Tony Award in the play s original Broadway production The role a non glamorous departure for Kelly was as the alcoholic actor s long suffering wife Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Reception 3 1 Awards and nominations 4 Soundtrack 5 In popular culture 6 References 7 External linksPlot editIn a theatre auditions are being held for a new musical production titled The Land Around Us Director Bernie Dodd watches a number performed by fading star Frank Elgin and suggests that he be cast in the leading role This is met with strong opposition from Philip Cook the show s producer However Bernie insists on the down on his luck Frank who is living in a modest apartment with his wife Georgie They are grateful for the opportunity though not entirely certain Frank can handle the work nbsp Drive in advertisement from 1955Mealy mouthed to the director s face Frank is actually a demanding alcoholic who is completely dependent on his wife Initially Frank leads Bernie to believe that Georgie is the reason for the decline in his career resulting in Bernie mistakenly blaming her for everything that happens during rehearsals including Frank s requests for a dresser and a run of the show contract first behind her back and eventually to her face What he does not know is that the real reason why Frank s career has ended is his insecurity When their five year old son Johnny was hit by a car and died while in Frank s care he was devastated Bernie also believed Georgie to be suicidal and a drunk when it is actually Frank who is both partly using his son s death an excuse to cover up his insecurity Frank has been reduced to a suicidal alcoholic Humiliated when he learns the truth Bernie realizes that behind his hatred of Georgie was a strong attraction to her His anger melts away and he kisses her She tells him that it does not mean that anything has changed Frank s performance is a success on opening night Afterward he demands respect from Cook which he and his wife had not been given before the opening Previously Georgie had said that if only Frank could stand on his own two feet she could get away from him At a party to celebrate the play s opening Bernie believes Georgie will be free to leave Frank and tells her that he loves her Later Frank tells them he has noticed their longing looks and all three talk Shortly after Frank leaves the party Georgie says goodbye to Bernie and he tells her he appreciates a woman who is loyal She kisses him lightly and goes to catch up with Frank Cast editBing Crosby as Frank Elgin Grace Kelly as Georgie Elgin William Holden as Bernie Dodd Anthony Ross as Philip Cook Gene Reynolds as Larry Jacqueline Fontaine as lounge singer Eddie Ryder as Ed Robert Kent as Paul Unger John W Reynolds as Henry Johnson Victor Young as recording studio conductor uncredited Reception editFilmed between February and April 1954 the film had its benefit world premiere at Criterion Theatre New York on December 15 1954 The Gala West Coast Premiere took place at the Stanley Warner Theatre Wilshire Blvd at Canon Drive Beverly Hills on December 21 This was a benefit for the United States Olympic Fund The critical response was very favorable with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times writing The Country Girl comes along fitly as one of the fine and forceful pictures of the year 3 Variety summed it up with a n exceptionally well performed essay on an alcoholic song man with Bing Crosby the one carrying on a bottle romance Country Girl is high on boxoffice punch It s a strong intense show that s certain to be talked about 4 Awards and nominations edit Award Category Nominee s Result Ref Academy Awards Best Motion Picture William Perlberg Nominated 5 6 Best Director George Seaton NominatedBest Actor Bing Crosby NominatedBest Actress Grace Kelly WonBest Screenplay George Seaton WonBest Art Direction Black and White Art Direction Hal Pereira and Roland Anderson Set Decoration Samuel M Comer and Grace Gregory NominatedBest Cinematography Black and White John F Warren NominatedBritish Academy Film Awards Best Foreign Actress Grace Kelly Nominated 7 Cannes Film Festival Palme d Or George Seaton Nominated 8 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nominated 9 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama Grace Kelly Won 10 National Board of Review Awards Top Ten Films 3rd Place 11 Best Actor Bing Crosby WonBest Actress Grace Kelly also for Dial M for Murder and Rear Window WonNew York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Film Nominated 12 Best Director George Seaton NominatedBest Actress Grace Kelly also for Dial M for Murder and Rear Window WonWriters Guild of America Awards Best Written American Drama George Seaton Nominated 13 Soundtrack editAll the songs were written by Harold Arlen music and Ira Gershwin lyrics It s Mine It s Yours sung by Bing Crosby The Search Is Through sung by Bing Crosby The Land Around Us sung by Bing Crosby Dissertation on the State of Bliss sung by Jacqueline Fontaine and Bing CrosbyBing Crosby recorded four of the songs for Decca Records 14 and these were issued on a 10 inch LP titled The Country Girl Little Boy Lost Crosby s songs were also included in the Bing s Hollywood series In popular culture editSome of the dialogue from the film was used in the 2007 Mika song Grace Kelly The film is referenced by name in the television series I Love Lucy in the 1955 episode L A at Last by William Holden who guest starred in the episode References edit All Time Domestic Champs Variety January 6 1960 p 34 Festival de Cannes The Country Girl festival cannes com Cannes Film Festival Retrieved 2009 01 31 Crowther Bosley December 16 1954 Movie Review The Country Girl 1954 Screen Crosby Acts in Country Girl Film Based on Odets Drama Makes Bow The New York Times Archived from the original on February 3 2016 Retrieved January 27 2016 The Country Girl Variety December 1 1954 The 27th Academy Awards 1955 Nominees and Winners Oscars org Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Retrieved 2011 08 20 NY Times The Country Girl Movies amp TV Dept The New York Times 2012 Archived from the original on 2012 10 18 Retrieved 2008 12 21 BAFTA Awards Film in 1956 BAFTA 1956 Retrieved 16 September 2016 Official Selection 1955 All the Selection festival cannes fr Archived from the original on 26 December 2013 7th DGA Awards Directors Guild of America Awards Retrieved July 5 2021 The Country Girl Golden Globes HFPA Retrieved July 5 2021 1954 Award Winners National Board of Review Retrieved July 5 2021 1954 New York Film Critics Circle Awards New York Film Critics Circle Retrieved July 5 2021 Awards Winners wga org Writers Guild of America Archived from the original on 2012 12 05 Retrieved 2010 06 06 A Bing Crosby Discography A Bing Crosby Discography Retrieved January 28 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Country Girl 1954 film The Country Girl at IMDb The Country Girl at AllMovie The Country Girl at Rotten Tomatoes The Country Girl at the American Film Institute Catalog The Country Girl at the TCM Movie Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Country Girl 1954 film amp oldid 1152838887, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
