The Voice of the Turtle (film)
The Voice of the Turtle is a 1947 romantic comedy film directed by Irving Rapper and starring Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Parker, Eve Arden, and Wayne Morris. It was based on the long-running 1943 stage play The Voice of the Turtle by John Van Druten.[3] In the 1950s, it was re-released and shown on television under the title One for the Book.[4]
| The Voice of the Turtle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Irving Rapper |
| Produced by | Charles Hoffman |
| Written by | |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Max Steiner |
| Cinematography | Sol Polito |
| Edited by | Rudi Fehr |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,380,000[1] |
| Box office | $2,450,000 (US rentals)[2] or $3,116,000[1] |
Plot
It is December 1944 in New York City. Sally Middleton, a naive young actress, is jilted by her lover, a theatrical producer, for becoming too serious about their relationship. Heartbroken, Sally vows not to let herself fall in love again. Nevertheless, she agrees to a dinner date with Bill Page, an Army sergeant on a weekend pass, after Bill is stood up by her sophisticated friend Olive Lashbrooke.
When Bill has trouble getting a hotel room, he ends up spending the weekend at Sally's apartment, which is considered risque under the social mores of the time. Although Bill and Sally sleep in separate rooms, the arrangement creates awkward situations for Sally, especially when she finds herself developing feelings for Bill.
Olive, having at first set her sights on a Navy officer, has second thoughts and makes a play for Bill. But Bill has fallen for Sally, and eventually convinces her to set aside her fears and start a new romance with him, one that they both hope will end in marriage.
Cast
- Ronald Reagan as Sgt. Bill Page
- Eleanor Parker as Sally Middleton
- Eve Arden as Olive Lashbrooke
- Kent Smith as Kenneth Bartlett
- Wayne Morris as Cmdr. Ned Burling
Box office
According to Warner Bros records the film earned $2,617,000 domestically and $499,000 foreign.[1]
Critical Reception
Many critics compared the film to the original play, which finished its Broadway run one week after the film's release. Time magazine complained, "The movie is most coyly prurient where the play was most pleasantly candid," while the New York Times found the film version more satisfying because it was "morally wholesome and ideally romantic."[5]
See also
References
- Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 28 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
- "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety 5 January 1949 p 46
- T.M.P. (December 26, 1947). "The Voice of the Turtle (1947) 'Voice Turtle' Becomes Movie". The New York Times.
- Greg Ferrara. "One for the Book (1948)". TCM.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- Schildcrout, Jordan (2019). In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays. New York and London: Routledge. p. 73. ISBN 978-0367210908.
External links
- The Voice of the Turtle at IMDb
- The Voice of the Turtle at the TCM Movie Database
- The Voice of the Turtle at TV Guide