By Frank Miller
Saturday's Children
Brief Synopsis
A young inventor's new marriage is jeopardized by financial problems.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Vincent Sherman
Director
John Garfield
Rims Rosson
Anne Shirley
Bobby Halevy
Claude Rains
Mr. [Henry] Halevy
Roscoe Karns
Willie Sands
Lee Patrick
Florrie Sands
Film Details
Also Known As
Married, Pretty and Poor
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Comedy
Romance
Release Date
May
11,
1940
Premiere Information
New York opening: week of 4 May 1940
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Saturday's Children by Maxwell Anderson (New York, 26 Jan 1927).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Synopsis
On her first day at work, Bobby Halevy meets eccentric inventor Rims Rosson, and the two begin dating. After several months of courtship, Bobby has fallen in love with Rims when he announces that he has been offered a good job turning hemp into silk in the Philippines and is leaving in two days. On the night of Rims's going-away party, Bobby's older sister, Florrie Sands, counsels her sister on how to trap Rims into marriage before he leaves. Florrie coaches Bobby to make Rims jealous by convincing him that she is going to marry someone else, and the trick works as Rims cancels his trip to marry Bobby. The marriage runs smoothly for several months until Bobby loses her job because of the war. The couple's mounting financial difficulties result in marital difficulties. Consequently, when Rims receives a letter from the Philippines, notifying him that the job is still open, Bobby, who has just learned she is pregnant, tears up the letter and conceals it and her pregnancy from Rims. The couple's finances take a turn for the worse when Rims receives a wage cut, forcing the newlyweds to consider moving into the senior Halevys already overcrowded apartment. This last financial blow is too great for Rims, who becomes embittered about losing his one chance at success in the Philippines. Feeling guilty, Bobby tells Rims about the letter offering him the position in Manila, and he lashes out at her with harsh recriminations. Fearful of telling Rims about her pregnancy, Bobby admits that she tricked him into marriage, and furious, he leaves for the Philippines. On the day that he is to sail for Manila, Rims confesses to his father-in-law that he really loves Bobby and would take her with him if he could afford it. Believing that he has failed his daughter, Pops stages a deliberate accident to collect the insurance money and keep the couple together. Although he is unhurt, Pop's sacrifice gives Rims new courage to face the future, and he decides to stay with Bobby. Realizing that Rims really does love her, Bobby finally tells him that she is expecting a baby.
Director
Vincent Sherman
Director
Cast
John Garfield
Rims Rosson
Anne Shirley
Bobby Halevy
Claude Rains
Mr. [Henry] Halevy
Roscoe Karns
Willie Sands
Lee Patrick
Florrie Sands
Dennie Moore
Gertrude Mills
George Tobias
Herbie Smith
Elizabeth Risdon
Mrs. [Myrtle] Halevy
Berton Churchill
Mr. Norman
John Ridgely
Mr. MacReady
Margot Stevenson
Mrs. MacReady
Claude Wisberg
Boy
Jack Mower
Mac
Glen Cavender
Elevator operator
Gus Glassmire
Joe
Frank Faylen
Cab driver
Nell O'day
Girl
John Qualen
First carpenter
Tom Dugan
Second carpenter
Creighton Hale
Mailman
Maris Wrixon
Nurse
Lucille Fairbanks
Nurse
Paul Panzer
Night watchman
Sam Flint
Doctor
Crew
Milo Anderson
Gowns
Henry Blanke
Associate Producer
Robert Burks
Special Effects
Elmer Decker
Assistant Director
Julius J. Epstein
Screenwriter
Philip G. Epstein
Screenwriter
John Flinn
Publicist
Leo F. Forbstein
Music Director
James Wong Howe
Photography
Lee Hugunin
Unit Manager
Owen Marks
Film Editor
Irving Rapper
Dialogue Director
Hugh Reticker
Art Director
C. A. Riggs
Sound
Jack L. Warner
Company
Perc Westmore
Makeup
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Film Details
Also Known As
Married, Pretty and Poor
Genre
Drama
Adaptation
Comedy
Romance
Release Date
May
11,
1940
Premiere Information
New York opening: week of 4 May 1940
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Saturday's Children by Maxwell Anderson (New York, 26 Jan 1927).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Articles
Saturday's Children -
Stars John Garfield and Anne Shirley looked back fondly on this third adaptation of Maxwell Anderson's hit play. The comedy-drama about a young woman tricking her sweetheart into marriage only to face a life of economic hardships had originally starred Ruth Gordon when it debuted on Broadway in 1927. First National bought the rights and filmed it with Corinne Griffith and Grant Withers starring under Gregory La Cava's direction. First National remade it as Maybe It's Love (1935) with Gloria Stuart and Ross Alexander. Though this was the third version of the story in 11 years, the studio gave it an A production, with a screenplay by Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein, direction by up-and-coming Vincent Sherman and cinematography by James Wong Howe. They also gave the production a strong supporting cast, with Claude Rains as Shirley's father, Lee Patrick as her scheming sister and Roscoe Karns as her wisecracking brother-in-law. The studio had hoped to borrow James Stewart from MGM for the lead, but that fell through, giving Garfield one of his favorite roles. Julius Epstein would later say the part of dreamy inventor was the closest Garfield ever came to playing himself.
By Frank Miller
By Frank Miller
Saturday's Children -
Stars John Garfield and Anne Shirley looked back fondly on this third adaptation of Maxwell Anderson's hit play. The comedy-drama about a young woman tricking her sweetheart into marriage only to face a life of economic hardships had originally starred Ruth Gordon when it debuted on Broadway in 1927. First National bought the rights and filmed it with Corinne Griffith and Grant Withers starring under Gregory La Cava's direction. First National remade it as Maybe It's Love (1935) with Gloria Stuart and Ross Alexander. Though this was the third version of the story in 11 years, the studio gave it an A production, with a screenplay by Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein, direction by up-and-coming Vincent Sherman and cinematography by James Wong Howe. They also gave the production a strong supporting cast, with Claude Rains as Shirley's father, Lee Patrick as her scheming sister and Roscoe Karns as her wisecracking brother-in-law. The studio had hoped to borrow James Stewart from MGM for the lead, but that fell through, giving Garfield one of his favorite roles. Julius Epstein would later say the part of dreamy inventor was the closest Garfield ever came to playing himself.
By Frank Miller
Quotes
Trivia
The play opened in New York City, New York, USA on 26 January 1927 and had 310 performances. In the cast were Humphrey Bogart, Beulah Bondi, Ruth Gordon and Roger Pryor.
Glen Cavender is in studio records as the elevator operator, but the role was played by Jack Wise.
James Stewart was to play "Rims Rosson" but was replaced by John Garfield. Jane Bryant was to play "Boby Halevy", but she retired to get married and was replaced by Olivia de Havilland, who was suspended when she refused the part. Una Merkel had the role of "Florrie Sands" but was replaced by Lee Patrick when she became ill.
Notes
The working title of this picture was Married, Pretty and Poor. According to several news items in Hollywood Reporter, the picture suffered from casting difficulties. James Stewart was originally slated for the lead, but was replaced by John Garfield. Then Jane Bryant, who was to play "Bobby Havley," retired from acting to get married, and the role was reassigned to Olivia de Havilland, who was suspended when she refused to play the part. Marilyn Merrick was next in line to play "Bobby," but the studio felt that she was too inexperienced and so replaced her with Anne Shirley. The last casting change occurred when Lee Patrick replaced Una Merkel in the role of "Florrie Sands" when Merkel became ill. For information about other films based on Maxwell Anderson's play, see entry above for Maybe It's Love.
