Song of the Open Road is a 1944 musical comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon, from a screenplay by Irving Phillips and Edward Verdier. It was the debut film of teenage singer Jane Powell. Powell's real name was Suzanne Burce, but prior to the release of this film MGM assigned her the stage name "Jane Powell" (the name of the character she portrays in this film).[1]

Song of the Open Road
Directed by	S. Sylvan Simon
Written by	Albert Mannheimer
Story by	Irving Phillips Edward Verdier
Produced by	Charles R. Rogers
Starring	Edgar Bergen Charlie McCarthy Bonita Granville W.C. Fields Sammy Kaye Jane Powell Peggy O'Neill Jackie Moran Bill Christy Reginald Denny Regis Toomey Rose Hobart Pat Starling Condos Brothers Hollywood Canteen Kids Catron & Popp
Cinematography	John W. Boyle
Edited by	Truman K. Wood
Music by	Charles Previn
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	June 1944 (1944-06)
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Overview

Child film star Jane Powell, tired of her life being run by her stage mother, runs away from home and tries to lead a "normal" life at a Crops Corps camp.[2] When a crop needs picking, Powell enlists the help of some celebrity friends.

This was W. C. Fields's next-to-last film; his last (Sensations of 1945) would be released only 9 days after this film was issued. In the film, Fields — who began his career as an accomplished juggler — plays himself and juggles some oranges for a few moments. He remarks "This used to be my racket". Then, missing a catch, he drops the oranges and walks away muttering "used to be my racket, but it isn't anymore!"

Cast

• Jane Powell as Jane Powell
• Bonita Granville as Bonnie
• Peggy O'Neill as Peggy
• Jackie Moran as Jack Moran
• Bill Christy as Bill
• Reginald Denny as Director Curtis
• Regis Toomey as Connors
• Rose Hobart as Mrs. Powell
• Sig Arno as Spolo
• Edgar Bergen as Edgar
• Charlie McCarthy as Charlie
• W. C. Fields as Himself
• Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra as Themselves
• Frank, Harry and Steve Condos as Condos Brothers
• The Lipham Four as The Lipham Four
• Irene Tedrow as Miss Casper
• Pat Starling as Pat
• Hollywood Canteen Kids as Themselves
• Catron & Popp as Themselves

Production

Director S. Sylvan Simon had terrible difficulty filming scenes with W. C. Fields due to Fields' alcoholism. After lunch hour he was often nowhere to be found. This problem was solved by luring Fields into his truck early in the day and removing the ladder. Fields would often rant and complain before eventually falling asleep.^{[citation needed]}

Although Fields often made fun of singers and singing in general, he had a fondness for the promising young singer Jane Powell and even referred to her (as "little Janie Powell") on one of his CBS radio broadcasts (preserved on transcription discs). Powell sang several songs in the film and made such an impression that MGM signed her to a contract to make a number of musical comedies for them, through the mid-1950s. Powell's real name was Suzanne Burce, but prior to the release of this film, MGM assigned her the stage name "Jane Powell", the name of the character she portrays in this film.[1]

Location shooting was done in Palm Springs, California and at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles.[3]

Award nominations

References

External links

• Song of the Open Road at IMDb
• Song of the Open Road at AllMovie