Tom, Dick and Harry (1941 film)
Tom, Dick and Harry is a 1941 comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, written by Paul Jarrico, and starring Ginger Rogers, George Murphy, Alan Marshal, Phil Silvers, and Burgess Meredith. The film was released by RKO Radio Pictures.
| Tom, Dick and Harry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Garson Kanin Fred Fleck (assistant) |
| Produced by | Robert Sisk |
| Written by | Paul Jarrico |
| Starring | Ginger Rogers George Murphy Alan Marshal Burgess Meredith |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Merritt Gerstad |
| Edited by | John Sturges |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $806,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,628,000[1] |
This role was Ginger Rogers' day job when she was awarded the Oscar as Best Actress for her 1940 performance in Kitty Foyle. It was her first film released after winning her Oscar.
The film was remade as The Girl Most Likely (1957), a musical which also proved to be the last film released by RKO.
Plot
Janie (Ginger Rogers) is a telephone operator and a daydreamer. Her fondest wish is to land a rich husband. She has a boyfriend, Tom (George Murphy), a car salesman, who wants to get married, which results in Janie dreaming about what their life together would be like.
Listening in on a long-distance phone call between the wealthiest eligible bachelor in town, Dick Hamilton (Alan Marshal), and the girl Dick has been dating, Janie makes a wish that she could meet him. When an expensive car pulls alongside her that instant, Janie takes it as her wish being granted. Turns out it is garage mechanic Harry (Burgess Meredith), driving it to be repaired.
Harry is immediately smitten. He spends time with Janie, kisses her and proposes marriage. Janie's head is spinning and she daydreams about being a mechanic's wife.
Disconnecting a call, Janie causes a quarrel between Dick and his girl. She ends up meeting Dick and falling for him. Tom and Harry are waiting for her, leading Janie to declare that she's engaged to all three. A dream of being Dick's wealthy wife causes her to choose him, but at the last minute, a kiss from Harry changes her mind one last time.
Cast
- Ginger Rogers as Janie
- George Murphy as Tom
- Alan Marshal as Dick
- Burgess Meredith as Harry
- Phil Silvers as Ice Cream Vendor
- Joe Cunningham as Father
- Jane Seymour as Mother
- Lenore Lonergan as Butch (Janie's sister)
- Vickie Lester as Paula (Vickie Lester)
- Betty Breckenridge as Gertrude
Reception
The film earned a profit of $234,000.[1]
References
- Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931–1951', Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p56