Bundle of Joy (1956)

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Robert Carson (writer)
Felix Jackson (story)
(more)

Release Date:

12 December 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Kitschy musical remake of "Bachelor Mother". Debbie Reynolds plays an over-eager clerk in a large department...

Plot Keywords:

Remake

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Eddie Fisher	...	Dan Merlin
Debbie Reynolds	...	Polly Parish
Adolphe Menjou	...	J. B. Merlin
Tommy Noonan	...	Freddie Miller
Nita Talbot	...	Mary
Una Merkel	...	Mrs. Dugan
Melville Cooper	...	Adams, the Butler
Bill Goodwin	...	Mr. Creely
Howard McNear	...	Mr. Appleby
Robert H. Harris	...	Mr. Hargraves
Mary Treen	...	Matron
Edward Brophy	...	Dance Contest Judge (as Edward S. Brophy)
Gil Stratton	...	Mike Clancy
Scott Douglas	...	Bill Rand
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roxanne Arlen	...	Blonde (uncredited)
Katherine Barrett	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Bonnie Bolding	...	Louise (uncredited)
Lesley-Marie Colburn	...	Little Girl (uncredited)
Douglas Evans	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Elizabeth Flournoy	...	Dan's Secretary (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Shopping Extra (uncredited)
James Gonzales	...	Dancer (uncredited)
David Gray	...	The Baby (uncredited)
Donald Gray	...	The Baby (uncredited)
Ed Hinton	...	Cop (uncredited)
Pamela Jayson	...	J.B.'s Secretary (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Maitre 'D (uncredited)
Joe Lanza	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lyle Latell	...	Head Bouncer (uncredited)
Rex Lease	...	Cashier (uncredited)
Babe London	...	Fat Woman (uncredited)
Paul Maxey	...	Santa Claus (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Allan Ray	...	Judge (uncredited)
Joey Ray	...	Attendant (uncredited)
Mabel Rea	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Leon Tyler	...	Stock Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Taurog

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Robert Carson		writer
Felix Jackson		story
Norman Krasna		writer
Arthur Sheekman		writer

Produced by
Edmund Grainger	....	producer

Original Music by
Josef Myrow

Cinematography by
William E. Snyder

Film Editing by
Harry Marker

Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino
Walter Holscher

Set Decoration by
Eli Benneche

Costume Design by
Howard Shoup		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist
Harry Maret	....	makeup supervisor (as Harry Maret Jr.)

Production Management
Cliff P. Broughton	....	unit production manager (as Cliff Broughton)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Terry Kellum	....	sound
Jean L. Speak	....	sound (as Jean Speak)

Music Department
Walter Scharf	....	conductor: background score
Walter Scharf	....	music adaptor: background score
Hugo Winterhalter	....	conductor: songs for Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
Hugo Winterhalter	....	music arranger: songs for Eddie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds

Other crew
Nick Castle	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #18147) | Finland:S

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Around 1956, singer Eddie Fisher and his agent Lew Wasserman were discussing roles for Fisher's acting debut. A project being discussed at the time was "What Makes Sammy Run?" by Budd Schulberg and Stuart Schulberg. Fisher wanted to play aggressive producer Sammy Glick, "the ultimate Jewish hustler. I knew a lot of real Sammy Glicks and I felt confident that was a character I could play." Lew Wasserman decided that the character was too much of a classic negative Jewish stereotype and that it would be bad for Fisher to play it. So Fisher went in the complete opposite direction (in retrospect, perhaps too far) with then-wife Debbie Reynolds in this squeaky clean comedy that Fisher hated, made to capitalize on the birth of their daughter, future Star Wars (1977) "Princess Leia" Carrie Fisher. The Schulberg project was eventually produced in 2 parts as "Sunday Showcase (1959)" {What Makes Sammy Run?: Part 1 (#1.2)} and "Sunday Showcase (1959)" {What Makes Sammy Run?: Part 2 (#1.3)} with Larry Blyden in the role.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Kleine Mutti (1935)

One of the best movies ever!!

I rarely comment on movies, but after seeing the other review for this film I felt compelled to write and tell everyone to ignore the other comment! If you like musicals, you'll love this. If you don't like musicals - well, what are you doing here in the first place? It's campy. It's cute. The songs (especially "How I love my pretty baby") are catchy and the story line is fun to follow. I've seen it dozens of times and highly recommend it! I would say it's my favorite Debbie Reynolds movie next to Singin' in the Rain. Can't wait for the DVD release! Seriously people! Take my advice! This is a must see for all musical lovers, or Debbie Reynolds lovers! Don't hesitate another second! Buy it already!