Too Many Girls is a 1940 American musical comedy film directed by George Abbott, who had also directed the hit Broadway musical on which it was based, which ran for 249 performances.[2][3] The film's screenplay is by John Twist, and it stars Lucille Ball, Richard Carlson, Ann Miller, Eddie Bracken, Frances Langford, Desi Arnaz and Hal Le Roy.
| Too Many Girls | |
|---|---|
 theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | George Abbott |
| Screenplay by | John Twist |
| Based on | Too Many Girls 1939 musical by George Marion Jr., Richard Rodgers, and Lorenz Hart |
| Produced by | George Abbott[1] |
| Starring | Lucille Ball Richard Carlson Ann Miller Eddie Bracken Frances Langford Desi Arnaz Hal Le Roy |
| Cinematography | Frank Redman |
| Edited by | William Hamilton |
| Music by | George Bassman Songs: Richard Rodgers (music) Lorenz Hart (lyrics) |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Too Many Girls was released by RKO Pictures on October 8, 1940, to mixed critical reception.[4][5][6] In the decades since its release, it has become primarily known for being the film on which Ball and Arnaz met; they eloped shortly after the film's release.
Plot edit
Tycoon Harvey Casey (Harry Shannon) is frustrated by his daughter Connie's (Lucille Ball) frequent efforts to escape her hired bodyguards. She arrives back in the United States from finishing school in Italy, intent on going to Harvey's alma mater Pottawatomie College in Stop Gap, New Mexico. He is suspicious of her intentions, and even more concerned about her safety. After meeting Princeton football star Clint Kelly (Richard Carlson), Casey wants to hire him and his fellow players – Jojo Jordan (Eddie Bracken), Manuelito Lynch (Desi Arnaz), and Al Terwilliger (Hal Le Roy) – to discreetly serve as Connie's bodyguards at Pottawatomie. The boys all sign contracts to conceal their positions to Connie, and containing an "anti-romance" clause.
Since Harvey has attended, however, the college has fallen into financial strife. Student leaders Eileen (Frances Langford) and Pepe (Ann Miller) try to raise $300 to fend off debt collectors. When the three boys arrive, they are able to give the money from their salaries. Meanwhile, Clint rides the bus with Connie, and witnesses her deliver a letter to an Indian man addressed to Beverly Waverly. Connie befriends Eileen and Pepe, and becomes suspicious that someone is following her.
The boys become popular at the school, even more so as they turn the school's terrible football team into one of the country's best. Clint discovers that Connie has only come to the school to chase her latest beau, British playwright Beverly Waverly (Douglas Walton). As the other three boys find themselves chased by the female student body, Clint withdraws socially to focus on his studies and job. Harvey uses his connections to further the team's reach.
Connie eventually begins pursuing Clint, who finds it increasingly difficult to honor the "anti-romance" clause as he has fallen for Connie. The boys are concerned about the effect their relationship will have on them, Clint himself, and the football team. After Connie tells him who she really is, Clint also divulges his and the boys' position and the "anti-romance" clause. A devastated Connie drops out of Pottawatomie, and forces the boys to come back East with her.
The student body attempts to hold their football stars hostage, successful in capturing Manuelito but allowing the other three to escape. Beverly convinces Connie to allow the three boys to come back and play in the game. Clint initially refuses to go on, but Connie arrives to convince him so and confesses that she loves him. After winning the big game, Clint and Connie dance as the college celebrates.
Cast edit
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Cast notes:
- Desi Arnaz, Eddie Bracken, Hal LeRoy, Libby Bennett, Ivy Scott, Byron Shores and Van Johnson all also appeared in the Broadway musical on which the film is based, playing the same characters. It was the Broadway debut for all of them except LeRoy.[3][1]
- During the course of filming, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz fell in love. They eloped on November 30, 1940.[1]
Production edit
Too Many Girls originated as a Broadway musical that debuted in October 1939. In February 1940, RKO paid $100,000 for the rights to the musical to create a film adaption. Filming on Too Many Girls began on June 22.[1]
Songs edit
The songs in Too Many Girls were all written by Richard Rodgers, who composed the music, and Lorenz Hart, who wrote the lyrics. The songs are:[1]
- "You're Nearer"
- "Pottawatomie"
- "I Didn't Know What Time It Was"
- "Spic and Spanish"
- "Love Never Went to College"
- "'Cause We All Got Cake"
- "Heroes in the Fall"
All the songs also appeared in the Broadway musical, except for "You're Nearer". Songs that were used in the stage musical and not used in the film were "Tempt Me Not", "My Prince", "I Like to Recognize the Tune", "The Sweethearts of the Team", "She Could Shake the Maracas", "Too Many Girls", and "Give it Back to the Indians".[7]
Critical response edit
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that Too Many Girls was a "pleasant, light-hearted and wholly ingenuous campus film" but that director George Abbot "has permitted it to sag in the middle, at which point the thin spots baldly show." He complained that some of the dance numbers looked dark and gloomy. "If the intention was to be impressive, it has failed. For 'Too Many Girls' is a simple, conventional rah-rah picture, without any place for pretense. And there is not enough to it, on the whole, for Mr. Abbott to squander dancers recklessly."[5]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Too Many Girls at the American Film Institute Catalog
- ^ Green, Stanley (1999) Hollywood Musicals Year by Year (2nd ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0-634-00765-3 p.99
- ^ a b "Too Many Girls" Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Staff. "Too Many Girls (1940) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ a b Crowther, Bosley (November 21, 1940). "The Screen in Review: 'Too Many Girls' Makes Appearance at Loew's Criterion". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ Staff. "Too Many Girls Trailer, Reviews and Schedule for Too Many Girls". TV Guide. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ "Too Many Girls: Songs" Internet Broadway Database
