Susan Slept Here [Remaster]

SUSAN SLEPT HERE [1954 / 2016] [Warner Archive Collection] [Blu-ray] It’s All About A Man-About-Town and A Girl About 18! Debbie Reynolds and Dick Powell Share A Breezy May – December Romance!Screenwriter Mark Christopher [Dick Powell] gets a Christmas present that isn’t on his Santa list: a 17-year-old delinquent named Susan Beauregard Landis [Debbie Reynolds], deposited in his bachelor pad by a cop pal who doesn’t want to see the kid spend Christmas behind bars. Touched by Susan Beauregard Landis’s plight, Mark Christopher decides there’s only one way to keep her out of juvenile delinquency: marry her in name only and get an annulment when she comes of age. But after a Las Vegas elopement, Susan Beaurgard Landis isn’t so sure she wants to be the ex-Mrs. Christopher. Dick Powell (in his last film role before devoting himself to a hugely successful TV career) and Debbie Reynolds plays the (maybe) mismatched couple in a big-hearted romantic comedy from animator-turned-director Frank Tashlin that makes merry use of its Yuletide setting. Oscar Narrator by Ken Carpenter.FILM FACT: Awards and Nomination: Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Music, Original Song "Hold My Hand" (sung by Don Cornell). Nominated: Best Sound and Recording for John Aalberg. Debbie Reynolds later admitted having "a mad crush on" Dick Powell. "He taught me common courtesy and to treat my crew and colleagues with equal respect.Cast: Dick Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Anne Francis, Glenda Farrell, Alvy Moore, Horace McMahon, Herb Vigran, Les Tremayne, Mara Lane, Rita Johnson, Maidie Norman, Lela Bliss (uncredited), Daws Butler (voice) (uncredited), Ken Carpenter (Oscar Narrator) (uncredited), Ellen Corby (uncredited), June Foray (voice) (uncredited), Art Gilmore (voice) (uncredited), Barry Norton (uncredited), Louella Parsons (voice) (uncredited), Red Skelton (uncredited) and Brick Sullivan (uncredited),Director: Frank TashlinProducer: Harriet ParsonsScreenplay: Alex Gottlieb (screenplay/play) and Steve Fisher (play)Composer: Leigh Harline and Richard MyersCinematography: Nicholas MusuracaVideo Resolution: 1080p [Technicolor]Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio StereoSubtitles: English SDHRunning Time: 98 minutesRegion: All RegionsStudio: RKO Radio Pictures / Warner Archive CollectionAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: This RKO Radio Pictures ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ [1954] romantic comedy teaming of piquantly bouncy Debbie Reynolds and the more seasoned Dick Powell seems like a good idea, and the two stars are cavorting in this bantam-weight vehicle best described as totally harmless fun frolics.On Christmas Eve screenwriter Dick Powell is visited by two Los Angeles policemen he knows and gets an unexpected gift in the form of delinquent Debbie Reynolds, leading to a May-December romance that's played out over the holiday season. RKO Radio Pictures ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ [1954] has the distinction of being the only film in history narrated by an Academy Award, The OSCAR® statuette, won by the screenwriter, and fills us in on how a policeman delivers the rambunctious teenager to its owner's door because juvenile delinquency is the subject of his latest screenplay. The screenwriter's fiancée, played by Anne Francis, is not amused by the complications that ensue.Twenty-two-year-old Debbie Reynolds and 50-year-old Dick Powell form an unlikely yet engaging couple in the satirical comedy, which takes aim at psychiatry, conspicuous consumption and the Hollywood establishment. The Isabella Alexander [Anne Francis] character's new romantic interest allows for an unbilled guest-star appearance, the surprise of which won't be spoiled here. It does seem safe, however, to note that the mother of producer Harriet Parsons, gossip maven acerbic Louella Parsons (also uncredited), provides a telephone voice. ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ won OSCAR® nominations for the Best Song, the Jack Lawrence and Richard Myers "Hold My Hand," and for John Aalberg's Sound Recording.At any rate, one misunderstanding follows another, as Miss Debbie Reynolds, abetted by her husband's secretary, Maude Snodgrass [Glenda Farrell] (welcome back!), outwits a waspish handyman, Virgil – Mark's assistant [Alvy Moore], and a vicious ex-fiancée, Isabella Alexander [Anne Francis]. These broad, shrill incidents, which include one brief and assuredly limp ballet dream sequence, lead to the inevitable happy ending. On the whole, ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ remains as familiar as a summer breeze.The RKO Radio Pictures film proved to be the swan song for an actor in feature films for Dick Powell, whose career had begun as a baby-faced crooner in such Warner Bros. musicals as ‘42nd Street’ [1933] and took a surprising turn when he switched to tough-guy roles beginning with hard-boiled detective Philip Marlowe in ‘Murder, My Sweet’ [1945]. By the time of ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE,’ Dick Powell had already begun producing and directing feature films. Dick Powell remained active through the early 1960s in television, where, with his Four Star Productions, Dick Powell was considered a leader in the development of dramatic anthology series.My favourite aspect of the film is the way it slyly plays with the censors in constructing some of the dialogue. For instance, when Susan Beauregard Landis notices a picture of Mark Christopher’s long-time lover, Isabella Alexander [Anne Francis], it leads to this hilarious exchange:Susan Beaurgard Landis: “You know, I’d like to get a dye job and a facial like her.”Mark Christopher: “Isabella is a natural blond.”Susan Beaurgard Landis: “You sure?”Mark Christopher: “We’re very good friends [pause] She told me.”When I first heard this line, I practically gasped with laughter at the little hint of naughtiness in Dick Powell’s delivery of that last line. The meaning Dick Powell injects into that weighted pause is just one of the things that make’s Dick Powell a severely-underrated actor.There are lots more films about Hollywood from around this time that are far more obnoxious than this one. There's a plot point in here that plays a little racier now then it would have back when the movie came out. It would probably be problematic now, but it's an innocent enough story for 1954. Though it still plays a little bit creepy, I find it to be quite endearing, and especially the beautiful Technicolor film has a pretty amazing dream sequence, which the director Frank Tashlin was prone to include it into some of his films from time to time and often seemed to take page out of the Busby Berkeley's playbook when he did put them in his films. The one in ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ is worthy of ‘SINGIN' IN THE RAIN’ and it is pretty fantastic, especially with this new Warner Archive Collection Blu-Ray looks stunning and shows off the Technicolor palette very nicely and again especially that beautiful romantic dream sequence, that looks absolutely stunning!Blu-ray Video Quality – Warner Archive Collection ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ once again brings us another Hollywood fare, with another brilliant 1080p [Technicolor] image transfer, with also another equally impressive 1.66:1 aspect ratio that fills the TV screen so beautiful. Colour reproduction is, in a word, superb. The palette favours a lot of candy-floss hues, faithfully reproduced. Flesh tones are startlingly genuine. Few ‘Technicolor’ releases from this particular vintage have never looked this good for this Blu-ray release. Contrast is bang on and consistent. Prepare to be pleasantly startled by the amount of fine detail on display. This is a brilliant reference quality visual presentation of a just so-so fun frolic film. This is another peerless example of what deep catalogue mastering is all about or rather, should be; and Warner Archive Collection is raising the bar ever higher with a flawless 1080p rendering in the superb delicious Technicolor that always looks totally delicious in this vintage 3-strip Technicolor release.Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Archive Collection ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ once again brings us another Hollywood fare, with another brilliant audio experience 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo. The 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo is delicious and sonically rich in unexpected ways, particularly the bookended main and end titles; the chorus warbling the song, ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE;’ and it is all wonderful and bouncy, with hardly no substance to hurt the brain, and is a flavourful panache that like of candy floss, which of course is all fluffy and enjoyable fun that will tickle your fancy. It’s fun and if you like your fluff, you will positively adore this Blu-ray disc.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Theatrical Trailer [1954] [480i] [1.33:1] [2:15] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE.’ This is sadly the only extra, and has not been remastered in 1080p, because Warner Archive Collection library for RKO Radio Films library does not contain the original element. Sadly, compared to the beautiful Technicolor print of the film, it seems this was copied from a previous DVD release. But despite this, it is a great fun filled presentation trailer.Finally, ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ is ultimately a charming little picture, despite the slightly “folksy” factor of the age gap in the characters. And though only the first half of the film involves around Christmas, it is still a nice little film to watch by the fire as you wait impatiently for Santa Claus to arrive with goodies. ‘SUSAN SLEPT HERE’ couldn't be made today. Even the greatest actress could not pull off Debbie Reynolds's combination of naïveté and incipient womanliness in a contemporary setting, and her "sham" marriage with a 35-year-old would immediately be denounced as inappropriate (or worse) at times. Frank Tashlin's comedy belongs to a more innocent times scenario, and it uses that innocence to transform what might otherwise be a sordid tale into a cheerful holiday picture suitable for the whole family. It might be a Christmas Day fare viewing, but it is ideal to be watched anytime of the year, so catch it if you can, especially on this brilliant Blu-ray disc! Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film FanLe Cinema ParadisoWARE, United Kingdom

My favorite Debbie Reynolds movie.

Absolutely loved it!

Love Debbie Reynolds! She's cute and funny in this movie.

This movie was a fun -- and clean! -- departure from your typical romantic comedy of today. Debbie Reynolds plays an underage girl that gets picked up for vagrancy. The cops that pick her up take her to Dick Powell's apartment, since he is a struggling writer who needs a great line for a story. The deal is that he gets to write a story using her as his primary source of inspiration, and she gets to spend Christmas OUT of jail. Inevitably, she falls for him but alas! he's an older man with an older girlfriend (no, he's not the marrying kind) who is way more sophisticated than the little girl in his room. Of course, Debbie manages to answer the phone to his older girl several times: "No, he's not in here, he's in the kitchen...oh, I'm in the bedroom. No, I can't go get him--I'm not dressed!" There are a good many lines that are just hilarious--and remind us of a time when humorous lines didn't have to contain four-letter-words to raise a chuckle.I bought this movie for my sister's birthday--she had seen (and showed me!) the trailer, and we both decided that we needed to see it. I wouldn't hold your breath for your husband to be enthusiastic about sitting through it, but if you and your girlfriends are looking for a reason to stay up and drink hot chocolate when everyone knows you should be in bed...!!

Gorgeous color presentation. Maybe the story isn't that plausible but it makes wonderful escapism. Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds-even if year's apart- look very good. 1954 was a very good year. I'm so thankful that WB Blu-rays have SDH, even if their DVDs do not. This technicolor version is perfect. A beautiful presentation.

The dvd played well. Fun story. Dick Powell is probably around 45 years old playing a 34 year old man who marries a 17 year old girl to keep her from going to juvenal detention. The girl falls in love with him, but he has trouble returning the affection.

I haven't played this DVD and hope that it will work. I purchased this movie, as it was the first movie I had seen with Debbie Reynolds and immediately, became a fan.OMG!!! I just watched this movie that I first seen as a pre-teen and it was even better then I remembered it. This Blu-Ray disc is superb and if you're a Debbie Reynolds fan, this is a must buy. From this seller, I received this DVD much sooner then the projected date of projected reception. I give this movie, 10 stars.

Hard to find locally

We stumbled over this some time ago and have watched it many times before it was available on Blu Ray, which we've now purchased. It has some truly wonderful moments, and no poor ones at all. It's a masterfully constructed rom com with some excellent performances, some good performances and none you'd even call mediocre. There's really nothing bad to say about this at all. It's set at Christmas but it's neither saccharin nor religious. It's great that someone saw the sense in remastering it. It certainly deserved it.

邦題『奥様は芳紀十七才』マーク・クリストファー(ディック・パウエル)は、オスカー受賞歴もあるハリウッドの著名な脚本家。クリスマス・イヴの晩、恋人イザベラ(アン・フランシス)を訪れようとしていた彼のところに、友人の警部が、感化院から脱走した不良少女スーザン(デビー・レイノルズ)を連れて来る。脚本の研究材料ということで、以前から、マークが刑事に頼んでいたのだ。クリスマスを留置場で過ごさせるのも不憫だと思ったマークは、スーザンを泊めることにするのだが…。アニメーション畑出身で、後に、ジェリー・ルイスとの一連のコメディで腕を鳴らしたフランク・タシュリン監督のロマンチック・コメディの佳作。1930年代から主演俳優として活躍したディック・パウエルの最後の映画出演作品としても有名だ(パウエルは、その後、" Zane Grey Theatre "などのTV番組にシフトした)。プロデューサーのハリエット・パーソンズは、ハリウッドの有名なゴシップ・コラムニスト、ルエラ・パーソンズの娘。コメディアンのレッド・スケルトンのカメオ出演も楽しいところだ。独身の中年男性のもとに、17才の少女が転がり込んで一夜を過ごす…というあらすじからすると、ずいぶんときわどく、生臭い話を想像してしまうかもしれないが(実際、"Susan Slept Here"という性的なイメージを連想させる原題は、公開時、カトリック団体から非難を浴びたという)、タシュリン監督は、お得意のカートゥーン(漫画)的な人物造形や動き、スピード感溢れる演出で、実に愛らしく、おとぎ話のようなファンタジックな一編にしている(何せ、オスカー像のナレーションで話が始まるのだ！)。大人の男女の恋愛もののように、ウィットに富んだやりとりや、性的なニュアンスを含んだエレガントさはないものの、無邪気な少女が、年上の男性に気に入られようと、背伸びをする幼な妻としての奮闘ぶりが、健気でいじらしく描かれている。その幼な妻を演じるレイノルズの魅力抜きに、この作品は語れないだろう。はちきれんばかりの健康そうな丸顔に、ポニーテールに髪を結った小柄な身体のレイノルズは、言ってみれば、『 マッチスティック・メン 』のアリソン・ローマンのように、理想化されたイメージの少女像なのだが、無邪気で溌剌とした17才(実際は、当時22才だった)を演じていて実に素晴らしい。初登場のシーンでは、レインハットにレインコートのいでたちで(もちろん、『 雨に唄えば 』のパロディだろう)、小動物のようにアパート内を逃げ回るワイルドさを見せたかと思うと(このあたりの動きと間は、タシュリン演出の好例)、次第に心を開いて、口紅を塗ったり、華やかなドレスで女性らしく振舞おうとしたり…と、多感な時期の少女の予想不能な行動と千変万化の表情で、画面を彩っている。彼女以外では、スーザンは考えられないほどだ。相手役のパウエルも、スーザンの恋人というよりは、やさしい庇護者という感じで(当時50才だから当然なのだが)、落ち着いた円熟味とユーモアを併せ持った人物を好演。20年以上の映画界でのキャリアのフィナーレを飾る作品としては小粒で、役不足という感は否めないものの、それでも、映画ファンへの別れの挨拶をするように、夢のシーンで、甘い歌声を披露し、軽くステップを踏むのは、やはり感動的だ。タシュリン喜劇としては、彼のフィルモグラフィーの中でちょっと忘れられた感のある本作だが(" Who the Devil Made It: Conversations with Legendary Film Directors "のインタビューでも触れられていない)、主演の2人のおかげで、小品ながらも、伸びやかで気持ちの良い作品になっている。本DVD-Rは、米Warner Archiveによるオン・デマンド・DVD-R。米TCM放映用にリマスターされたマスターを使用したもの(1.66:1 スクイーズ)。レストアはされていないので、時折、大きめのキズなどが出るが、全体としては、色乗りも良く、ディテール表現も素晴らしい画質。音声も明瞭で、特に問題はない。本シリーズにしては珍しく、予告編も収録。英語(他言語も)字幕は、例によって未収録。北米盤ながら、R-0(=All)なので、日本のR-2 プレーヤーで視聴可能だ。 Zane Grey Theatreマッチスティック・メン雨に唄えばWho the Devil Made It: Conversations with Legendary Film Directors

Ordered for a friend who is somewhat of a classic connoisseur. He loved it years ago and loves it again now. Watches it over and over. Delivered on time and excellent quality.

This is a typical fifties comedy romance that is a pleasure to watch and remember.Debbie Reynolds and Dick Powell contribute a lot to the pleasure. If he is a trifle too matureto be romancing Debbie that was the way films were in those days.If you can get past that, the film is fine. Just sit back and enjoy the fun.....