Banjo
Brief Synopsis
A southern orphan has to leave her beloved dog behind when she moves North.
Cast & Crew
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Richard O. Fleischer
Director
Sharyn Moffett
Pat [Warren]
Jacqueline White
Elizabeth [Ames]
Walter Reed
Dr. Bob [Hartley]
Una O'connor
Harriet
Lanny Rees
Ned
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Release Date
May
15,
1947
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6,076ft
Synopsis
When her alcoholic father Gerald dies in a riding accident, nine-year-old Pat Warren must leave her Georgia home to live in Boston with her dead mother's wealthy sister. Although she bravely accepts the move, Pat insists that her bird dog Banjo, whom she has lovingly trained to hunt, go with her. After saying a tearful goodbye to her young friends and her father's servants, Lindy and Jasper, Pat is about to board the train north when she learns that Banjo must travel in the baggage car. To be near Banjo, Pat also rides in the baggage car and is befriended by Bill, the baggage man. As Pat heads for Boston, her aunt, the self-centered Elizabeth Ames, receives a letter informing her of Pat's impending arrival. Elizabeth, who has just broken her engagement to Dr. Bob Hartley for spending too much time with his patients, is packing for Bermuda, but reluctantly changes her mind when she learns of Pat's situation. As soon as she enters her aunt's lavish home, the free-spirited Pat is bombarded with criticisms regarding her manners. Although Pat maintains her cheerful disposition throughout Elizabeth's scoldings, she strongly objects when her aunt demands that Banjo be kept at all times in an outdoor pen. Despite Pat's pleas on Banjo's behalf, Elizabeth is adamant about the dog's place in her home. She even orders servant Jeffries to build a taller pen after Banjo escapes and chases a cat into her house. Banjo, however, soon outsmarts Jeffries and breaks free once more, but injures his paw in the process. After the wounded dog finds Pat, who is playing with her new friends, Judy, Beep and Skiddles, Pat takes him to see Dr. Bob. The kindly Bob treats the dog's paw and then learns that Pat is Elizabeth's niece. Bob entreats Elizabeth to go easier on Pat and Banjo, but she angrily refuses to listen. After Bob leaves, Pat comforts the distraught Elizabeth and later overhears Harriet, the housekeeper, telling her aunt that all of her problems would disappear if she gave in to her feelings for Bob. Hoping to improve her aunt's disposition, Pat pretends to be ill and demands to see Dr. Bob. Later, Pat confesses her ruse to Dr. Bob, who vows to continue the game until Elizabeth changes her mind about Banjo. Faced with Pat's "illness," Elizabeth agrees to be less strict with her and spends many enjoyable hours with her, Dr. Bob and Banjo. Elizabeth then gives Pat a leash for Banjo and allows her to walk the dog for the first time. When Beep suggests that they borrow a neighbor's shotgun to demonstrate Banjo's hunting skills, Pat, who has always yearned for a gun, eagerly agrees. In the park, Pat and Beep awkwardly fire two rounds, one of which lands in a passing police car. After Elizabeth is lectured by an angry police sergeant, she orders that Banjo be shipped back to Georgia. Unable to bear the separation, Pat slips away during the night and boards a south-bound train. In the baggage car, Pat is discovered by Bill, who notifies a frantic Elizabeth of her destination. Pat arrives in Georgia ahead of her aunt and Dr. Bob, who are flying down to retrieve her, and misses Lindy and Jasper at the station. Anxious to find Banjo, Pat takes the shortcut home through the swamp, and there is confronted by the infamous swamp bobcat. Just as the bobcat is about to attack her, Banjo, who has picked up her scent, rescues her. Banjo is then saved by Jasper, who shoots the bobcat, and Pat is happily reunited with Dr. Bob and Elizabeth, who promises to bring Banjo back to Boston.
Director
Richard O. Fleischer
Director
Cast
Sharyn Moffett
Pat [Warren]
Jacqueline White
Elizabeth [Ames]
Walter Reed
Dr. Bob [Hartley]
Una O'connor
Harriet
Lanny Rees
Ned
Louise Beavers
Lindy
Herbert Evans
Jeffries
Theron Jackson
Exodus
Howard Mcneely
Genesis
Ernest Whitman
Jasper
"banjo"
Himself
Robert Bray
Police officer
Lee Frederick
Police officer
Elena Warren
Nurse
Harry Harvey
Bill, the baggage man
Jean Moorehead
Judy
Robert Winans
Skiddles
George Mcdonald
Beep
Lester Matthews
Gerald Warren
Kenneth Macdonald
Sergeant
Crew
C. Bakaleinikoff
Music Director
Scott R. Beal
Assistant Director
Lou Bonnie
Banjo Music
Russell A. Cully
Special Effects
Albert S. D'agostino
Art Director
George E. Diskant
Director of Photography
Lillie Hayward
Producer
Lillie Hayward
Writer
Walter E. Keller
Art Director
Adolph Kuri
Set Decoration
Alexander Laszlo
Music
Les Millbrook
Film Editor
Clem Portman
Sound
Darrell Silvera
Set Decoration
Earl A. Wolcott
Sound
Film Details
Genre
Drama
Release Date
May
15,
1947
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 8m
Sound
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
6,076ft
Articles
Banjo -
This charming family film has been almost forgotten because of a disastrous preview. It combines two sure-fire box-office elements -- dogs and children. When country girl Pat (Sharyn Moffett) is orphaned, she insists on taking her beloved English Setter, Banjo, with her when she's sent to live with her snooty aunt (Jacqueline White) in Boston. That leads to a series of confrontations and misunderstandings between aunt and niece. Coming from a show business background, Moffett was one of the most natural child stars of the Hollywood era. She had her first big success in My Pal Wolf (1944), at the age of eight. That film's writer, Lillie Hayward then gave her a solid dramatic role in Child of Divorce (1946), which marked Richard Fleischer's feature film directorial debut. The three reunited for Banjo, but a disastrous preview of it in a college theatre where the students hooted at its simple, sentimental story, led RKO to demote Moffett to supporting roles and fire Hayward. Moffett retired from acting at the age of 19, eventually becoming an Episcopal minister. Hayward continued writing, finding a profitable berth at Disney, where she wrote The Shaggy Dog (1959) and some of their TV serials.
Banjo -
This charming family film has been almost forgotten because of a disastrous preview. It combines two sure-fire box-office elements -- dogs and children. When country girl Pat (Sharyn Moffett) is orphaned, she insists on taking her beloved English Setter, Banjo, with her when she's sent to live with her snooty aunt (Jacqueline White) in Boston. That leads to a series of confrontations and misunderstandings between aunt and niece. Coming from a show business background, Moffett was one of the most natural child stars of the Hollywood era. She had her first big success in My Pal Wolf (1944), at the age of eight. That film's writer, Lillie Hayward then gave her a solid dramatic role in Child of Divorce (1946), which marked Richard Fleischer's feature film directorial debut. The three reunited for Banjo, but a disastrous preview of it in a college theatre where the students hooted at its simple, sentimental story, led RKO to demote Moffett to supporting roles and fire Hayward. Moffett retired from acting at the age of 19, eventually becoming an Episcopal minister. Hayward continued writing, finding a profitable berth at Disney, where she wrote The Shaggy Dog (1959) and some of their TV serials.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Lillie Hayward's onscreen credit reads, "Produced and written by Lillie Hayward." According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, backgrounds for this film were shot in Georgia.
