Ever Since Venus

Ever Since Venus
Ever Since Venus
Directed by	Arthur Dreifuss
Written by	McElbert Moore; Arthur Dreifuss
Produced by	Rudolph Flothow
Starring	Ina Ray Hutton; Hugh Herbert; Ann Savage; Billy Gilbert
Cinematography	Benjamin Kline
Edited by	Otto Meyer
Music by	Lyle Murphy; Mario Silva
Production; company	Columbia Pictures
Release date	September 14, 1944 (US);
Running time	75 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Ever Since Venus is a 1944 American comedy directed by Arthur Dreifuss, in his first effort for Columbia Pictures, and stars Ina Ray Hutton, Hugh Herbert, Ann Savage, and Billy Gilbert. It was Hutton's first major film role; she had become famous for her all-female band during the 1930s, which had been the inspiration for the band in Billy Wilder's 1959 film, Some Like It Hot.^[1]

Plot

A cosmetics manufacturer, J. Webster Hackett, hires Ina Ray Hutton and her band to headline a promotional beauty show. Hutton offers a thousand dollars reward for anyone who can submit a winning theme song. Not knowing of Hutton's offer, a local short order cook, Tiny Lewis, who is also an aspiring songwriter, gets one of his songs to Hutton. Hutton lets him know that she'll give him an answer within a day. When Lewis gets home, he finds out his roommates, Bradley Miller and Michele, have developed a new lipstick. A local beauty shop manager, Janet Wilson, thinks the product is a winner, as well as becoming enamored with Miller. She encourages them to enter the lipstick in a beauty products contest. Through a series and twists and turns, Lewis' song is chosen, and he and his roommates use the $1000 reward from the song contest to pay the fee needed to showcase their lipstick at the beauty products show. A rival manufacturer to Hackett, P.G. Grimble, backs the product and agrees to produce the lipstick at his factories. As the deal is announced, Brad and Janet end up together.

Cast

Ina Ray Hutton, and Her Orchestra
Hugh Herbert as P. G. Grimble
Ann Savage as Janet Wilson
Billy Gilbert as Tiny Lewis
Glenda Farrell as Babs Cartwright
Ross Hunter as Bradley Miller
Alan Mowbray as J. Webster Hackett
Marjorie Gateson as Maude Hackett
Thurston Hall as Edgar Pomeroy
Fritz Feld as Michele

Production

The original title of this production was Beauty For Sale.^[2] In November 1943 it was announced that the film was being scheduled for production at Columbia. Dreifuss left Monogram Pictures to return to Columbia as part of a deal to write/direct films, where he previously worked in the 1930s. Beauty was to be his first project on his return, with McElbert Moore assisting in the writing duties. The duo had written the story, and in November were beginning work on the screenplay.^[3] Shooting on the movie, whose title had been changed to Ever Since Venus, began the week of May 15, the only film to begin that week at Columbia, and making it one of fifty-five pictures being produced in Hollywood at that time.^[4] Also in May it was revealed that picture was to be a musical, produced by Rudolph Flothow, and the cast would contain Ann Savage, Ina Ray Hutton (and her band), Hugh Hubert, and Billy Gilbert.^[5] The film was in production from mid-May through the second week of June 1944.^[1]^[6] After production ended, it was revealed that Alan Mowbray, Ross Hunter, Glenda Farrell, Marjorie Gateson, Fritz Feld, and Bill Shawn were also members of the cast.^[7] As of the beginning of August, the film's release date had not been decided on,^[8] but by the second week of August it was announced as September 14.^[9] The film's success led to Dreifuss being given a long-term contract at Columbia.^[10] Months after its release, the Legion of Decency gave the film an "A-2" rating.^[11]

Reception

Harrison's Reports called the story thin and routine, but felt that the comedy overcame it. They particularly highlighted the work of Herbert and Gilbert, as well as enjoying the romantic elements as provided by Hunter and Savage.^[12] Meanwhile, The Film Daily gave the picture a very positive review, calling it "...a human story packed with laughs." They applauded Dreifuss' direction, rating it "expert", and extolled the virtues of Hutton and her orchestra.^[13] 'Motion Picture Daily also gave he picture good reviews, stating the Hutton gave the story "zing" and was "fresh and plentiful". They gave good marks to the direction of Dreifuss, and the musical numbers.^[14] The film also received positive press from the Motion Picture Herald, saying that the comedy contained "... more than its promise of mirth, music and merriment ...." They singled out Dreifuss' direction, the musical talents of Hutton, and the comedic efforts of Gilbert, Herbert, Mowbray and Feld.^[15] Showmen's Trade Review felt the film was good for top billing in double features, calling it "Excellent music and comedy". They gave high marks to Dreifuss' direction, as well as the comedic acting of Gilbert, Herbert, and Mowbray, and felt the pace of the film alternated nicely between drama, comedy and music. They also applauded Hutton and Savage's performances.^[16]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Ever Since Venus: Detail View". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
^ "Production in Hollywood Climbs to 57". Motion Picture Daily. June 1, 1944. p. 7. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^ "Dreifuss Leaves Mono, For New Columbia Deal". The Film Daily. November 22, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "Production Is Heavy, 55 Are Shooting". Motion Picture Daily. May 23, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "55 Pictures in Production as Shooting Starts On 10". Motion Picture Herald. May 27, 1944. p. 41. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "Production in Drop; Off 5, To 52 in Work". Motion Picture Daily. June 20, 1944. p. 10. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "Advance Synopses and Information: "Ever Since Venus"". Motion Picture Herald. July 1, 1944. p. 53. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "Release Chart". Motion Picture Herald. August 5, 1944. p. 68. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "Release Chart". Motion Picture Herald. August 12, 1944. p. 61. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "Hollywood". Motion Picture Daily. October 2, 1944. p. 7. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "Legion Classifies 10 New Pictures". Motion Picture Daily. November 16, 1944. p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ ""Ever Since Venus" with Ina Ray Hutton, Billy Gilbert and Hugh Herbert". Harrison's Reports. November 11, 1944. p. 182. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^ "Reviews of the New Films:"Ever Since Venus"". The Film Daily. September 22, 1944. p. 10. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^ "Reviews: "Ever Since Venus"". Motion Picture Daily. September 19, 1944. p. 10. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
^ "Product Digest: "Ever Since Venus"". Motion Picture Herald. September 23, 1944. p. 58. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^ "The Box Office Slant: "Ever Since Venus"". Showmen's Trade Review. September 30, 1944. p. 12. Retrieved August 23, 2017.