STORK CLUB … 1945

The Stork Club 1945

Director:  Hal Walker
Stars: Betty Hutton, Barry Fitzgerald and Don DeFore

STORYLINE
Judy Peabody saves an old man from drowning. He turns out to be Jerry Bates, "J.B." to his lawyer Curtis, "Pop" to Judy, who mistakenly believes the wealthy old-timer to be poor.

Pop instructs his lawyer to reward Judy with everything her heart desires, anonymously. A hat check girl at New York's popular Stork Club nightclub, Judy's dream is for her bandleader boyfriend Danny to return home from the Marines so she can sing with his band.

A letter from Curtis informs the young lady that she now has a brand new apartment, free of charge, and a line of credit at a fashionable department store, no strings attached. She promptly buys dresses and furs, without knowing the identity of her benefactor.

Pop comes to the Stork Club to keep an eye on her. She lands him a job as a busboy, but that doesn't work out, so she invites Pop to share her apartment. Danny comes home, excited to see her until he sees the apartment, the clothes and the old man. Believing her to be a "kept" woman, he falls out of love with Judy.

Billingsley is invited by Judy to hear the band. Impressed, he gives them a job at the club. Judy finally discovers that Pop is responsible for her new riches and is able to win back Danny's love.

RELEASE DATES

USA 19 December 1945 (New York City, New York)
USA 28 December 1945

TAGLINES:

It's a WONDERFUL Story ... About the GRANDEST people ... Having the LOVELIEST Time at ... New York's Most GLITTERING Night Spot!
Don can't give Betty anything but love ... Barry can't give her anything but millions! They'll give you the time of your life at New York's capital of Glamour, Gaiety, Love, Laughter and Music!

Technical SpecsRuntime: 98 min
Sound Mix: Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Colour: Black and White
Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1

QUOTES:

Judy Peabody: You know I think he's a bit screwy, he thinks a girl named Ruby Stevens is Barbara Stanwyck!

TRIVIA:

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 24, 1947 with Betty Hutton reprising her film role.
For the week of March 2, 1946, Betty Hutton's jovial, racing rendition of "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" (music by Hoagy Carmichael, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster), via Capitol Records, sprinted to first place on the "Billboard" singles chart. Mr. Carmichael produced two best-selling takes on this number, one side in 1945for the short-lived ARA label (1944-1946), plus a second waxing in 1946 on Decca.

Soundtrack

•    Andy Russell - "Love Me" (Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn)
•    Betty Hutton - "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" (Music by Hoagy Carmichael, Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster)
•    Betty Hutton and Andy Russell - "If I Had A Dozen Hearts" (Music by Harry Revel, Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster)
•    Betty Hutton - "I'm a Square in the Social Circle" (Music and lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans)
•    Betty Hutton - "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree" (Music by Egbert Van Alstyne, Lyrics by Harry Williams)
•    The band - "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"
•    Barry Fitzgerald and Mary Young - "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"

Trailer: