Pal Joey (Film)

Pal Joey is an American film musical by George Sidney with Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak from the year 1957. Was used as master of the same Broadway musical by John O'Hara, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. In addition to the standard song Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered such as The Lady Is a Tramp, and My Funny Valentine also famous songs from other musicals by Rodgers and Hart were used for the film. The film, which was in the United States among the ten most successful productions of the year, the time has received much critical acclaim and solidified Sinatra's reputation as an entertainer.

  • 3.1 reviews
  • 3.2 Awards 3.2.1 Oscar
  • 3.2.2 Golden Globe
  • 3.2.3 Laurel Award

Action

After he was thrown out of a city, because he had the young daughter of the mayor made ​​advances, ends up singer Joey Evans at the station of San Francisco. Without a penny in his pocket, he sets out to get hold of a new commitment in a nightclub. When he learns that his old friend Ned Galvin with his band in the " Barbary Coast Club" occurs, he sees his chance. But the owner of the restaurant, Mike Miggins is not to be willing to sing the well-known for its unreliability Joey on its stage. However, after the star of the show does not appear, Joey spontaneously jump in for him and entertains the audience with his snappy sayings and secure vocals, Mike finally makes him a still. Among the dancers of the club include the pretty blonde Linda English, to the Joey immediately raises an eye.

When Ned is committed with his band for a charity event, Joey and Linda are also one of the party. Hosted by the wealthy widow Vera Simpson, whose face Joey sounds familiar right away. During the auction that raises money for a good cause, Joey falls back on how he knows Vera: She went once as a striptease dancer and was famous for her provocative veil dance. Spontaneous Joey decides to surprise his former colleague by cheeky announced over the microphone that Vera will show one of their old strip dance numbers for a good cause. Given these shameless revelation of her past Vera puts reluctantly a highly acclaimed dance on the dance floor. At the end of the evening, Joey and Linda Ned accompany their pension, where Joey notices that another room of Linda is still available next to the. The next morning, Linda is shocked when Joey is knocking on the door of her bathroom, she has to share immediately with him. Although Joey has wrapped the majority of the dancers of nightclubs around the finger after a few weeks, Linda remains skeptical of him. To avoid his permanent advances one more time, she brings Joey to a small dog to buy, he henceforth called Snuffy.

One evening immersed Vera surprising at the club. She is determined to take revenge for Joey's embarrassing gaffe at the auction. They ordered a few drinks and starts to flirt with him. But when Joey is preparing on stage to sing, she leaves the restaurant demonstratively without paying their bill. Mike makes Joey for the sudden disappearance of the esteemed guest responsible, which is why he dismisses the singer without notice. However, he gets involved in a deal with Joey: If he manages to persuade Vera to appear within a week at the club, he gets his job back. Contrary to expectations it creates Joey to lure the rich lady again in the club. Vera is fascinated by its bold, the frivolous nature - even worse when he insulted her with the song lines of a song. After that, they ride together to their yacht, where Joey she finally tells of his dream to have their own elegant nightclub. They draw closer to what Vera wakes up in her bedroom the next morning with a knowing smile.

Shortly thereafter, Joey pulls at Vera, enters his dog Snuffy in Linda's care and builds up with Vera's financial support on his own restaurant, which he baptizing them in the name of " Chez Joey ". Everything seems to be going well until he wants to Linda occur in his show. As this is rehearsing a daring striptease and the male employee zupfeifen her lustful, Joey is jealous in between and ends the sample. Just then, appears Vera, who is painfully aware that Joey has given away for the first time in his life his heart truly - but not to them but to Linda. Now she demanded of him to dismiss the rival. Should he fail to do so, she wants to close the club. But Joey refuses, even if it costs him his dream.

Then Linda Vera tries to persuade the club to reopen. This is quite willing, but only under the condition that Linda leaves town. Later, Vera returns to her yacht, where Joey already eagerly grabs his things. She wants to reconcile with him and offers him to marry her. Joey declines with thanks and Vera finally realizes that he has been changed by his love for Linda. Before Joey leaves the city, he looked again over the now closed " Chez Joey " and imagines what could have been from his dream. When he leaves the club wistful and thoughtful running along the street, he comes to meet with Linda Snuffy. Vera had Linda informed about Joey's travel plans and these generously drove in her car through San Francisco to find Joey. This warns Linda, prefer not to engage in it. But Linda suggests his concerns to the wind and is ready to start a life together with him.

Background

Prehistory

Columbia Pictures already acquired 1941 the film rights to John O'Hara's Broadway hit Pal Joey. But because of acute problems vorbeizumogeln the frivolous story of censorship and yet deliver a suitable script, the project was shelved. After Columbia's biggest star Rita Hayworth along with Gene Kelly in 1944 in the highly successful film musical Cover Girl ( Cover Girl ) occurred, studio boss Harry Cohn decided, both for Pal Joey again bring to the camera. Hayworth should the young Linda and Kelly play the title character. But Kelly, who had risen to the role of Joey in the early 1940s to the Broadway star was under contract to MGM. After Kelly dancing through it the goddess became even Hollywood stars, MGM was no longer willing to lend it to Columbia, which is why the filming of his time could not be realized.

As the musical in the early 1950s once again enjoyed great success on Broadway to Columbia tried one more time about writing an appropriate script. 1956 proudly proclaimed that the studio finally stand a satisfactory script, and pre-production is in full swing. Originally Billy Wilder should take over the government. But after he discussed the project at a lunch with studio boss Harry Cohn, leaned this from Wilder as a director. George Sidney, who with the film adaptations of musicals Show Boat and Kiss Me, Kate in the early 1950s was remarkable successes, was ultimately obliged as a director.

Occupation

First it was said that Marlon Brando was to play the Joey and Mae West 's rich Vera. But Frank Sinatra wanted at all costs to Joey embody on the screen and did everything he could to convince Harry Cohn of itself. This saw in the meantime Marlene Dietrich auditioned for the role of Vera. However, Dietrich said from when Cohn decided to occupy Jack Lemmon and not Sinatra as Joey. After further back and forth Sinatra Joey played and ultimately Hayworth took over the role of the older Vera, even though she was younger than Sinatra in truth three years. After the occupation of Linda with Columbia's new star, Kim Novak, the press rumored that it will come between Hayworth and her young rival on the set to disputes. But contrary to expectations, the two actresses got along well with each other. Even years later, Novak remembered favorably to Hayworth, describing them as " always very charming and amiable. "

As Frank Sinatra in 1957 at the height of his fame was as a Hollywood actor, entered the legitimate question as to whose name should be on the top of the posters - Sinatra or Hayworth. Quite the gentleman gave Sinatra Hayworth this privilege and explained it this way: " Who should as Rita otherwise be at the top? In my opinion it's Columbia Pictures and always will be! The studio they may have perhaps made ​​a star, but it was she who gave the studio status "Given the order - Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak - he joked to the press ." That's a sandwich, in which I love to be in the middle. " It turned out that ultimately, Pal Joey Rita Hayworth should be last film under her 20 -year-old Columbia Treaty. She then worked as a freelance actress.

Shooting

Filmed inter alia, in the University Avenue and the train station of Berkeley, California, and Washington Street in San Francisco, where the Spreckels mansion as Joey's Club Chez Joey was staged. In their vocals Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak were synchronized, Hayworth by Jo Ann Greer and Novak by Trudy Erwin. Were choreographed the dance numbers of Hayworth long-time friend, Hermes Pan, who is known for his close collaboration with dance legend Fred Astaire.

Differences from the stage version

The scene of action was moved from the original Chicago to San Francisco. Instead of a dancer Joey is a singer in the film. While he is an antihero on the stage and in the end remains alone, it was decided in the film version of a happy ending. Linda in turn was originally a stenographer and Vera, instead of a widow, a married woman. In the film version, there are also four songs that have been integrated from different stage shows: The Lady Is a Tramp, and My Funny Valentine come from Babes in Arms, There 's a Small Hotel from On Your Toes and I Did not Know What Time It Was from Too Many Girls. Of the 14 songs from the stage version remained only eight in the film. Two more can be heard as an instrumental background accompaniment (Plant You Now, Dig You Later and You Must not Kick It Around ).

Music and dance numbers

  • That Terrific Rainbow ( Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart): After Joey ( Frank Sinatra ) arrives in San Francisco and looking for a commitment as a singer, he lands in a club where Gladys (Barbara Nichols ), Linda (Kim Novak ), and other revue girls in skimpy costumes for That Terrific Rainbow ( Eng.: This magnificent Rainbow) sing on stage and dance.
  • I Did not Know What Time It Was ( Rodgers / Hart): To show off his vocal talents to the chief of the clubs, Joey spontaneously goes on stage and sings the song I Did not Know What Time It Was ( Eng.: I did not know how late it was), which is particularly well-received in his soulful performance in the female audience.
  • Great Big Town ( Rodgers / Hart): Then the Revue girl singing with stick and hat Great Big Town ( Eng.: The great city of ) a hymn to San Francisco. Again Joey goes spontaneously on stage and imitates the dance moves of the girls.
  • There 's a Small Hotel ( Rodgers / Hart): At the auction in Vera Simpson ( Rita Hayworth ) Villa sings Joey, accompanied by a large Big Band There 's a Small Hotel (German: There is a small hotel ), where he an eye on Vera throws and consciously with the song lines about the prospect of a common love night in a hotel flirting with her.
  • Zip ( Rodgers / Hart): When Joey Vera recognizes a former striptease dancer, he offers a dance routine from her for auction. Reluctantly Vera begins her performance to zip, in which she first told in chant for piano accompaniment, of her past as a stripper, which sees itself as an artist and interested intellectuals such as Stravinsky, Schopenhauer and Freud. She begins to sing and to get rid of their white gloves. In typical ambiguous movements of Burlesque dance she moves across the stage, making use of the silky white hauling her tight black evening dress.
  • I Could Write a Book ( Rodgers / Hart): Once again, the club in which he is employed, Joey sings the love song I Could Write a Book, to which he in her lavender dress pulls Linda on stage and encourages them with him to sing.
  • The Lady Is a Tramp ( Rodgers / Hart): When Vera one evening in orange evening gown with matching fur stole alone appears in the club, Joey sings in a blue jacket The Lady Is a Tramp ( Eng.: The lady is a tramp ) in front of her stage and accompanies herself to the piano. First, Vera feels offended when Joey designated by the song lines as a light girl playing the fine lady in appearance only. However, Vera is fascinated by its charming and ironic performances, so she willingly follows him to the stage where they dance together then to the melody of the song.
  • Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered ( Rodgers / Hart ) After their night of love with Joey Vera wakes up in her bedroom, where she in a yellow negligee in Newfound Liebestaumel the song Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (German: Enchanted, distraught, confused ) intones, is considered here in the mirror in the bathroom and then gets under the shower.
  • My Funny Valentine ( Rodgers / Hart): After Joey has opened his own club with Vera's financial support, Linda takes place there on the stage and sings melancholic ballad My Funny Valentine ( Eng.: My Funny Treasure ), with which she presents her alleged expresses the loss of Joey's affection.
  • Later, Linda performs a striptease club in Joeys at different melodies ( among others I Could Write a Book ), until it is only in corset and lace panties on the stage and Joey cancels her appearance.
  • What Do I Care for a Dame ( Rodgers / Hart): When Joey has to close his club, he returns one last time back there. In a dream sequence he is wearing the cynical song What Do I Care for a Dame ( Eng.: What cares me a woman ) before in top hat and tails. Also Vera and Linda appear and start in her black tight-fitting outfits around him to dance until Joey finally awakens from his daydream again.

Reception

The film was premiered simultaneously in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles on 25 October 1957 and went in December 1957 in the general rental within the United States. He played in the sequence at the U.S. box office a proud $ 4.7 million, making it one of the ten biggest box office hits of 1957. Pal Joey was very popular with the critics. Many of them, then and now, are in agreement that the title hero of the film, Frank Sinatra's signature role is defined and its image as a casual entertainer. For his performance, Sinatra also received the Golden Globe and Laurel Award for Best Actor. In Germany, Pal Joey was released in theaters on July 18, 1958.

Reviews

" This is undoubtedly Frank Sinatra Show. As loveable rogue with an iron ego he shows in an unusual role, a very lively and engaging personality. [ ... ] He is professionally supported by Miss Hayworth, which will draw the envy of all women, no doubt. As a red-haired beauty he ultimately leaves, it carries a number of negligees and robes that will make any designer pale. "

" Pal Joey is strong and witty conversation. [ ... ] Frank Sinatra is cast as irreverent, quick-witted Joey ideal. [ ... ] Hayworth, no longer the ingenue, Joey acts as sponsor with a lot of authority and performs their zip number in a fiery, amusing style that screams after addition. In the music The Lady Is a Tramp stands out. "

" Sinatra is great, he was born to play Joey. Miss Hayworth is extremely charming and delivers an excellent performance. "

" George Sidney directed here with a supple style, which perfectly brings the star of the film, Frank Sinatra advantage. It's a classic Sinatra role clarified and casual [ ... ]. Due to it, there is the gorgeous Rita Hayworth, which comes sometimes fiery, sometimes cool. Although it is synchronized, it makes Zip sensation and brings with Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered the canvas to a boil. Kim Novak is playful, but they can not compete with the other two. The Songs of Rodgers & Hart are absolutely first class and presented excellently. Overall, Pal Joey is a stylish and winning musical with all kinds of momentum. "

" The wohlgeölten songs and dances of the three main characters and the colorful spectacle of millionaire luxury and nightclub spells are rather hampered by fleet or snivelling dialogues as support. "

" Decorative musical with, frivolous ' story and songs by Rodgers / Hart ( The Lady is a Tramp ). "

" Great choreographed, with stars in top form. "

" A colorful, upbeat musical in which director George Sidney relies entirely on the art Sinatra. Especially good are the excellent vocal numbers of the successful composer - trailer combination Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. "

Awards

Oscar

Nominated:

  • Best Editing - Viola Lawrence, Jerome Thoms
  • Best Sound - John P. Livadary
  • Best Costume Design - Jean Louis

Golden Globe

Won:

  • Best Actor - Comedy or Musical - Frank Sinatra

Nominated:

  • Best Picture - Musical or Comedy

Laurel Award

German version

The German synchronous processing in 1958 by the Ultra Film Synchron GmbH Berlin.

DVD releases

  • Pal Joey. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2003

Soundtrack

  • Rodgers & Hart: Pal Joey. Original movie soundtrack. Hallmark in 2008, a CD with 16 film songs
  • Rodgers & Hart: Pal Joey - Deluxe Digipack. Blue Moon in 2008, a CD with 21 film songs
  • Rodgers & Hart: Pal Joey - Original Film Soundtrack. MD Music Company 2009
1957 in film Screenplay Dorothy Kingsley Pal Joey (musical) Fred Kohlmar Film score Elizabeth Patterson (actress) Broadway theatre Fauxpas Hermes Pan (choreographer) Too Many Girls (musical) Arthur Schopenhauer Corsage (bodice) 30th Academy Awards Academy Award for Best Film Editing Academy Award for Best Sound Walter Holscher William Kiernan Morris Stoloff Gisela Trowe Wolfgang Kieling Agnes Windeck The Three Musketeers (1948 film) Annie Get Your Gun (film) Young Bess The Eddy Duchin Story Bye Bye Birdie (Film)
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