The Stork Club
(1945)
98 mins | Musical comedy | 28 December 1945
Director:
Hal WalkerWriters:
B. G. DeSylva, John McGowanCinematographer:
Charles Lang Jr.Editor:
Gladys CarleyProduction Designers:
Hans Dreier, Earl HedrickProduction Company:
B. G. DeSylva Productions, Inc.This film was B. G. DeSylva's first independent production following his relinquishing of the post of executive producer in charge of production at Paramount. A HR news item on the day production began noted that actor Noel Madison was to make his debut as a feature director with this film, but by 24 Apr 1945, he had withdrawn from the film and was replaced by Hal Walker. Madison later became a producer and director. On 13 Jul 1945, HR announced that associate producer Harold Wilson took over the final preparations for the film because B. G. DeSylva was ill. According to news items in HR, DeSylva purchased the right to use the Stork Club's name from his friend, Sherman Billingsley. More than seven hundred photographs of the Stork Club at 3 East 53rd Street in New York City were taken to guide the set designers for this film. The film marked the debut of singer Andy Russell. HR also noted that in mid-Jan 1945, Danny Kaye was considered for Betty Hutton's co-star in the film. Harry Hays Morgan, who had a bit role in the film, was formerly in the diplomatic service in Europe and was a member of the American Olympic bobsled team for two years. ...
This film was B. G. DeSylva's first independent production following his relinquishing of the post of executive producer in charge of production at Paramount. A HR news item on the day production began noted that actor Noel Madison was to make his debut as a feature director with this film, but by 24 Apr 1945, he had withdrawn from the film and was replaced by Hal Walker. Madison later became a producer and director. On 13 Jul 1945, HR announced that associate producer Harold Wilson took over the final preparations for the film because B. G. DeSylva was ill. According to news items in HR, DeSylva purchased the right to use the Stork Club's name from his friend, Sherman Billingsley. More than seven hundred photographs of the Stork Club at 3 East 53rd Street in New York City were taken to guide the set designers for this film. The film marked the debut of singer Andy Russell. HR also noted that in mid-Jan 1945, Danny Kaye was considered for Betty Hutton's co-star in the film. Harry Hays Morgan, who had a bit role in the film, was formerly in the diplomatic service in Europe and was a member of the American Olympic bobsled team for two years.
Wealthy Irishman J. B. Bates, whose wife of forty years left him six months previously because of his parsimony, stumbles off a pier and is saved by Judy Peabody, a hat check girl at Manhattan's famous Stork Club. Bates's near-drowning causes him to ponder his miserly ways, and he instructs his lawyer, Tom Curtis, to send Judy a letter informing her that accounts have been opened for her at a bank, a hotel, and a department store because she has been "most accommodating" to her benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous. Wearing shabby clothes, Bates arrives at the Stork Club to see Judy receive the letter, and Judy, believing he is a vagabond, gets him a job as a busboy. Bates quits within minutes, and Judy, who calls him "Pop," takes him in. Judy, meanwhile, suspects that her benefactor is her boss, Sherman Billingsley, a "wolf" with ulterior motives. Judy's bandleader boyfriend, Danny Wilton, returns unexpectedly from a stint in the Marines and assumes that Judy is a kept woman. When Judy confronts Billingsley, he merely escorts her out of his office, and Danny, who hoped to get an audition with Billingsley, sees him with his arm around Judy. Determined to help Danny, Judy tells his band to stay with her at her hotel, the Yorke Towers. She then buys them all new clothes in an effort to bankrupt her benefactor for ruining her love affair. To stop Judy from spending any more of his money, Bates confesses that he is the benefactor, but she does not believe him. Judy then calls Curtis, but he refuses to confirm Bates's story. Meanwhile, Judy rehearses with the band ...
Wealthy Irishman J. B. Bates, whose wife of forty years left him six months previously because of his parsimony, stumbles off a pier and is saved by Judy Peabody, a hat check girl at Manhattan's famous Stork Club. Bates's near-drowning causes him to ponder his miserly ways, and he instructs his lawyer, Tom Curtis, to send Judy a letter informing her that accounts have been opened for her at a bank, a hotel, and a department store because she has been "most accommodating" to her benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous. Wearing shabby clothes, Bates arrives at the Stork Club to see Judy receive the letter, and Judy, believing he is a vagabond, gets him a job as a busboy. Bates quits within minutes, and Judy, who calls him "Pop," takes him in. Judy, meanwhile, suspects that her benefactor is her boss, Sherman Billingsley, a "wolf" with ulterior motives. Judy's bandleader boyfriend, Danny Wilton, returns unexpectedly from a stint in the Marines and assumes that Judy is a kept woman. When Judy confronts Billingsley, he merely escorts her out of his office, and Danny, who hoped to get an audition with Billingsley, sees him with his arm around Judy. Determined to help Danny, Judy tells his band to stay with her at her hotel, the Yorke Towers. She then buys them all new clothes in an effort to bankrupt her benefactor for ruining her love affair. To stop Judy from spending any more of his money, Bates confesses that he is the benefactor, but she does not believe him. Judy then calls Curtis, but he refuses to confirm Bates's story. Meanwhile, Judy rehearses with the band and gets them a job with Billingsley by posing as gossip columnist Walter Winchell. When Bates's estranged wife Edith arrives at the Yorke Towers, Judy assures her that she is not "Pop's" mistress and that "Pop" loves his wife. Edith then informs Judy that "Pop" is rich, and Judy, finally realizing he is her benefactor, schemes with Edith to get their men back during the band's debut at the Stork Club that night. When the band plays Edith and Bates's song, they are reconciled. Curtis then assures Danny that "Pop" was Judy's benefactor, and Judy sings with the band. Bates and Edith then give Danny and Judy a million dollars for a wedding present.
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