Lucy Gallant

Lucy Gallant
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Robert Parrish
Screenplay by	John Lee Mahin Winston Miller
Based on	novella, "The Life of Lucy Gallant," by Margaret Cousins
Produced by	William H. Pine William C. Thomas
Starring	Jane Wyman Charlton Heston Claire Trevor Thelma Ritter William Demarest Wallace Ford
Cinematography	Lionel Lindon
Edited by	Howard A. Smith
Music by	Nathan Van Cleave
Production company	Pine-Thomas Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	October 20, 1955 (1955-10-20)
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1,300,000 (US)^[1]

Lucy Gallant is a 1955 American drama film directed by Robert Parrish and written by John Lee Mahin and Winston Miller. The film stars Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, Thelma Ritter, William Demarest and Wallace Ford.^[2]^[3]^[4] The film was released on October 20, 1955, by Paramount Pictures.^[5]

The story is based on a novella, "The Life of Lucy Gallant," by Texas-born author Margaret Cousins (1905-1996), published in Good Housekeeping magazine in May 1953.^[6]^[7]

It was the last film Pine-Thomas Productions made at Paramount, an association that had endured since 1940.^[8]

Plot

While traveling from New York City to Mexico, the stylish Lucy Gallant is stranded by a storm in fictitious big oil boom town New City, Texas, where rancher Casey Cole helps find her suitable lodging. The public reaction to her fashions persuades Lucy to sell the contents of her trousseau, and she decides to stay and open a dress shop.

Lucy lives at Molly Basserman's boarding house and runs her store out of Lady "Mac" MacBeth's brothel, called the Red Derrick. She obtains a loan from banker Charlie Madden. She is courted by Casey, who learns that Lucy was jilted at the altar when her fiance found out about her father's dishonest business practices.

Casey insists that she give up her business. They quarrel, and after joining the United States Army during World War II, he becomes engaged to a fashion model in Paris. But Casey soon returns to Texas to save Lucy from banker Madden's underhanded business dealings. He also salvages their romance.

Cast

Jane Wyman as Lucy Gallant
Charlton Heston as Casey Cole
Claire Trevor as Lady "Mac" MacBeth
Thelma Ritter as Molly Basserman
William Demarest as Charlie Madden
Wallace Ford as Gus Basserman
Tom Helmore as Jim Wardman
Gloria Talbott as Laura Wilson
James Westerfield as Harry Wilson
Mary Field as Irma Wilson
Texas Governor Allan Shivers as himself
Edith Head as herself

Production

The film was based on a novella, "The Longest Day of the Year" (which was later turned into the novel "The Life of Lucy Gallant"). Paramount bought the screen rights and hired John Lee Mahin to adapt it. The story was set in Oklahoma but the film is set in Texas.^[9]

The producers wanted Joan Crawford for the lead.^[10] Eventually the role went to Jane Wyman, who was borrowed from Warner Bros.^[11] Charlton Heston, who had just made The Far Horizons for Pine-Thomas, signed to play her co star.^[12] John Lee Mahin wrote the script and Robert Parrish agreed to direct.^[13] Thelma Ritter and Claire Trevor were cast in the two main support roles.

Filming started August 18, 1954. Texas Governor Allan Shivers plays himself. So too does costumer Edith Head.^[14]

Edith Head's designs were later sold commercially.^[15]^[16]

Jody McCrea made his film debut in the picture.^[17]

References

^ "1955's Top Grossers". Variety. January 25, 1956. p. 15.
^ "Lucy Gallant (1955) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
^ Crowther, Bosley (1955-10-21). "Movie Review - Lucy Gallant - Screen: Fashion Show in Boom Town; Lucy Gallant' Wins Texan at Victoria Producing Team Makes Concession to Women". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
^ "Lucy Gallant". Afi.com. Retrieved 2016-03-26.
^ LUCY GALLANT Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 22, Iss. 252, (Jan 1, 1955): 140.
^ Grider, Sylvia Ann; Rodenberger, Lou Halsell, eds. (2003). Let's Hear It: Stories by Texas Women Writers. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 1585442933.
^ "Margaret Cousins, Fiction Writer, 91". The New York Times. August 2, 1996. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
^ Pine-Thomas Ends Paramount Film Contract Los Angeles Times17 Dec 1954: 13
^ ACTORS TO STAGE SHOWS FOR TROOPS New York Times 17 Dec 1953: 51.
^ Looking at Hollywood: Visit to Studio Lot Is Like a Trip Abroad Hopper, Hedda Chicago Daily Tribune 19 Jan 1954: b2.
^ Jane Wyman Goes Out on Loan, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, 17 June 1954: 38.
^ HESTON TO CO-STAR WITH JANE WYMAN New York Times 23 June 1954: 22
^ Patty Andrews to Star in 'Three Charms' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 25 June 1954: B7.
^ ERY LAST WORD IN TYPE-CASTING New York Times17 Sep 1954: 19
^ "FILM FASHIONS". Cairns Post. No. 16, 423. Queensland, Australia. 30 October 1954. p. 4. Retrieved 20 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Hollywood Glamor Fashions". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 23, no. 29. Australia. 14 December 1955. p. 40. Retrieved 20 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Frozen asset of films". The Sun. No. 13998. New South Wales, Australia. 23 December 1954. p. 14 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 20 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.