Sleepy Lagoon
Cast & Crew
Joseph Santley
Judy Canova
Dennis Day
Ruth Donnelly
Joe Sawyer
Ernest Truex
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Radio station owner Sarah Rogers, the head of the women's reform party in the small town of Sleepy Lagoon, needs a malleable candidate for mayor, and decides upon naïve Judy Joyner, who runs a coffee shop. The current mayor, Cyrus Coates, is supported by Sheriff Lem Bates and Judge Samuel Sneed, but Judy's earnest speeches advocating wholesome recreational facilities win the election for her. Judy's victory displeases her fiancé, chiropractor Lancelot Hillie, who complains that she does not have enough time for him anymore. Lancelot changes his mind about Judy's new position when she appoints him civilian defense commisioner, however, and she hopes that he will finally set the date for their wedding after five years of engagement. Meanwhile, Sarah closes all the bars in town, and when Judy recommends re-opening an old amusement park, she also suggests that they contact her uncle, Dudley Joyner. Judy believes that Dudley is the head of a large amusement corporation, but he is actually a repairman and reluctant stooge for racketeer Joe "Brains" Lucarno. When Judy calls him, Dudley states that he cannot help her, but Brains insists that they move in on Sleepy Lagoon to fleece the citizens out of their boom town cash. Judy is delighted to see her uncle, who is being forced by Brains to perpetuate his businessman charade. Time passes as Sarah organizes the townswomen and the park is refurbished. Brains, meanwhile, establishes his stronghold in a subterranean basement, where he installs crooked gambling tables. On opening day at the park, the crowds swarm in, and while Lancelot listens to his favorite singer, Dennis Day, Judy allows herself to be romanced by Lumpy, one of Brains's mugs. The park does a thriving business, as does the secret casino, but Judy remains unaware of the illegal activity as she is preoccupied with Lancelot's lack of jealousy over her increasing involvement with Lumpy. Meanwhile, Cyrus has become sick of women running the town and is determined to regain his office. He, Lem and Samuel begin investigating the casinos, but when they arrest Brains, the racketeer maintains that he was working under Judy's orders, and she is arrested also. Brains keeps Dudley hidden so that he cannot testify on Judy's behalf, and all looks grim for the mayor. When a youngster finds evidence that Dudley is being held at the park, Judy and Lancelot go in disguise to investigate. Despite being separated from Lancelot and chased by Brains's thugs, Judy finds her uncle. Just as they are about to be captured by the criminals, Lancelot reappears with the female auxiliary militia that he has trained. The women round up the racketeers, and a happy romantic conclusion is reached by both Sarah and Dudley, and Judy and Lancelot.
Director
Joseph Santley
Cast
Judy Canova
Dennis Day
Ruth Donnelly
Joe Sawyer
Ernest Truex
Douglas Fowley
Will Wright
Herbert Corthell
Ellen Lowe
Forrest Taylor
Kitty Mchugh
Eddie Chandler
Jack Raymond
Margaret Reid
Mike Riley
Sammy Stein
Jack Kenney
Jay Novello
Eddie Gribbon
Mozelle Cravens
Jack Gardner
Jeannine Lehr
Walter Soderling
Donald Wilmot
Johnny Walsh
Emil Van Horn
Rondo Hatton
Darby Jones
Art La Forrest
Armand Cortes
Frank Austin
James Farley
Frank Graham
Larry Stewart
Crew
George Carleton Brown
Tom Carman
Prescott Chaplin
Eric Coates
Albert J. Cohen
Phil Ford
Frank Gill Jr.
Kenneth Holmes
Russell Kimball
Jack Lawrence
Phil Ohman
Adele Palmer
Walter Scharf
Otto Siegel
Bud Thackery
Richard Van Enger
Ned Washington
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to a October 14, 1942 Hollywood Reporter news item, Joe E. Brown, who had previously appeared with Judy Canova in two Republic films was to be her co-star in this film. Another Hollywood Reporter news item noted that Milt Britton and His Band were to appear in the film, but the deal for their services fell through due to a scheduling conflict. Although a April 29, 1943 Hollywood Reporter news item noted that the songs "A Tenderloin Steak and You" and "Copper Colored Cutie from Kalua," written by Ned Washington and Phil Ohman, would be included in the film, they do not appear in the completed picture.
