Films 

Cass Timberlaine (MGM 1947)

Spencer Tracy takes a long, hard look at Lana in 1947's "Cass Timberlaine". Lou Valentino Collection

Production Dates: March 29, 1947-July 22, 1947

Release Date: November 6, 1947.

Credited Cast and Crew:

Lana Turner, Spencer Tracy, Zachary Scott, Tom Drake.

Directed by: George Sidney

Writing Credits: Sinclair Lewis (novel), Donald Ogden Stewart and Sonia Levien (adaptation)

Produced by: Arthur Hornblow Jr.

Original Music by: Roy Webb

Cinematography by: Robert H. Planck

Synopsis: Despite the incredulous whispers of the town folk, it is love at first sight for small town judge Cass Timberlaine and girl-from-the-wrong-side-of-the tracks Ginny Marshland. The question is: can two people from opposite sides of town really make a go of it?

My Review: A really terrific, sentimental story of a love that survives despite all of the odds that will keep you engrossed from beginning to end. Tracy, as usual, plays the everyman, the regular guy with the heart of gold, buried underneath a gruff exterior, and Lana, though young enough to be his daughter, is perfect as the small town tomboy who steals his heart. Though she is less glamorous than usual (she even wears blue jeans in one scene-custom made by MGM's Irene-but jeans just the same!) she is now a strong enough performer to be able to match Tracy scene for scene (a far cry from the ingénue trying to keep up with he and Ingrid Bergman in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde way back in '41) and it makes the viewer wonder: how come they were never paired up again?

Actor Zachary Scott, who is best known for playing sleaze balls and shady characters is also in the cast, as well... a sleaze ball. He adds a terrific flavor to the mix and brings out another side of Lana's "Ginny" character. Scott's character shakes things up and makes the viewer wonder if there might not be a happy ending after all.

Your Review: What are YOUR thoughts on this film? Contact me at Liza@lanaturneronline.com

Highlights and Trivia

*For her role as a pitcher of the town's baseball team, Lana took about two hours of coaching from two members of the Monterey Blue Jays.

*Lana and Spencer Tracy also appear together in 1941's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Purchase Cass Timberlaine:

VHS

 

Photo Gallery

Hey! No Fair! That is so legal! Lana is struck out in "Cass Timberlaine", 1947. Lou Valentino Collection    Our Lana hitting a ball (!) in Cass Timberlaine, 1947. Lou Valentino Collection.    Lana as the catcher on the town's baseball team in "Cass Timberlaine", 1947. Lou Valentino Collection.    An observant Lana sits quietly on the set of "Cass Timberlaine" in 1948.    Spencer Tracy holds a vigil by Lana's bedside in 1947's "Cass Timberlaine".    A lobby card for 1948's "Cass Timberlaine".    A lobby card for 1948's "Cass Timberlaine".

 

 

 

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