Dear Ruth
| Dear Ruth | |
|---|---|
 Movie poster | |
| Directed by | William D. Russell |
| Produced by | Paul Jones |
| Written by |
Norman Krasna (play) Arthur Sheekman |
| Starring |
Joan Caulfield William Holden Mona Freeman Edward Arnold |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $3.8 million |
Dear Ruth is a 1947 romantic comedy film starring Joan Caulfield, William Holden, Mona Freeman, and Edward Arnold. It was based on the Broadway play of the same name by Norman Krasna. A teenage girl has a soldier for a pen pal, but uses her older sister's name and photograph. Then the man shows up while on a two-day leave.
Cast
- Joan Caulfield as Ruth Wilkins
- William Holden as Lieutenant William Seacroft
- Mona Freeman as Miriam Wilkins
- Edward Arnold as Judge Wilkins
- Billy De Wolfe as Albert Kummer
- Mary Philips as Mrs. Edie Wilkins
- Virginia Welles as Martha Seacroft
- Kenny O'Morrison as Sergeant Chuck Vincent
Play
| Dear Ruth | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Norman Krasna |
| Date premiered | 13 December 1944 |
| Place premiered | Henry Millers Theatre, Broadway |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | The living-room of the Wilkins home, Kew Gardens, Long Island. Late Summer, 1944. |
| IBDB profile | |
Norman Krasna had written a serious play, The Man with Blond Hair, which received a tepid response. He says Moss Hart suggested he write a commercial comedy instead along the lines of Junior Miss. Krasna based the family in the play on that of Groucho Marx, who was a good friend and occasional collaborator.[1] The play was named in honour of Krasna's first wife, Ruth.[2]
The original production of the play was directed by Moss Hart and starred John Dall. It was a large success, running for 680 performances.[3]
Film rights were sold for a reported $450,000.[4]
References
- ↑
- McGilligan, Patrick, "Norman Krasna: The Woolworth's Touch", Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age, University of California Press,1986 p218, 226
- ↑ Norman Krasna's Wife Is Awarded Divorce, The Washington Post (1923–1954) [Washington, D.C] 28 Apr 1950: 3.
- ↑ Dear Ruth at Playbill
- ↑ SCREEN NEWS: 'DEAR RUTH' IS BOUGHT FOR REPORTED $450,000 Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923–Current file) [New York, N.Y] 08 Feb 1945: 14.
External links
- Dear Ruth at the Internet Movie Database
- Dear Ruth at the TCM Movie Database
- Dear Ruth at allmovie