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Susie Steps Out

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Susie Steps Out
Directed byReginald Le Borg
Screenplay byElwood Ullman
Fred Freiberger
Story byReginald Le Borg
Kurt Neumann
Produced byRalph Cohn
Mary Pickford
Buddy Rogers
StarringDavid Bruce
Cleatus Caldwell
Nita Hunter
Howard Freeman
Grady Sutton
Margaret Dumont
CinematographyRobert Pittack
Edited byLynn Harrison
Music byHal Borne
Production
company
Comet Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • December 13, 1946 (1946-12-13)
Running time
65 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Susie Steps Out is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Reginald Le Borg, written by Elwood Ullman and Fred Freiberger, and starring David Bruce, Cleatus Caldwell, Nita Hunter, Howard Freeman, Grady Sutton and Margaret Dumont. It was released on December 13, 1946 by United Artists.[1][2]

Plot

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Jeffrey Westcott is a popular singer represented by Mr. Starr's advertising agency. He is attracted to Clara Russell, a secretary at the agency.

Clara and her 15-year-old sister Susie are concerned because their father, a cello player, is unable to work. Susie lies that she is 19 and lands a job singing in a nightclub. Jeffrey goes to the club with Starr sees that the girl is underage, though he is unaware that Clara is her sister. He takes her home, where Clara finds him and mistakenly accuses him of improper behavior.

Starr's wife believes that he is having an affair with his secretary and has Clara is fired. Susie confronts her and explains all.

Cast

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Production

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Susie Steps Out was the first of director Reginald LeBorg’s projects for Comet Pictures, produced by Charles “Buddy” Rogers and Ralph Cohn. Rogers and Cohn conceived of the film as a “B” picture, providing a second feature for double-feature screenings.[3] LeBorg, who had proved his efficiency in delivering low-budget features on schedule and under-budget for Universal Pictures was considered the ideal choice to direct.[4] Suzie Steps Out was shot in 15 days.[5]

The nightclub setting was particularly appealing to LeBorg. A prolific director of “ soundies,” and an accomplished pianist, he “loved to be associated with any project that involved music.”[6] Susie Steps Out includes songs by Hal Borne and Eddie Cherkose.[7]

Retrospective appraisal

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Characterizing the film as a “cheerful, yet unremarkable feature,” film historian Wheeler W. Dixon merits LeBorg for the “deft” handling of the actors, and “bringing his usual glossy professionalism to the musical sequences.”[8]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Susie Steps Out". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Susie Steps Out (1946) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  3. ^ Dixon, 1992 p. 23-24
  4. ^ Dixon, 1992 p. 23-24
  5. ^ Dixon, 1992 p. 67: LeBorg in interview with Dixon, 1988.
  6. ^ Dixon, 1992, p. 24: See here for LeBorg, playing from memory Miklos Rosza’s score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound (1945).
  7. ^ Dixon, 1992 p. 24
  8. ^ Dixon, 1992 p. 24

References

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