The Voice of the Turtle (film)

The Voice of the Turtle
The Voice of the Turtle
Directed by	Irving Rapper
Written by	John Van Druten; Charles Hoffman;
Produced by	Charles Hoffman
Starring	Ronald Reagan; Eleanor Parker; Eve Arden; Wayne Morris;
Cinematography	Sol Polito
Edited by	Rudi Fehr
Music by	Max Steiner
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date	December 25, 1947;
Running time	103 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2,380,000
Box office	$2,450,000 (US rentals) or $3,116,000

The Voice of the Turtle is a 1947 romantic comedy film directed by Irving Rapper and starring Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Parker, Eve Arden, and Wayne Morris. It was based on the long-running 1943 stage play The Voice of the Turtle by John Van Druten.^[3] In the 1950s, it was re-released and shown on television under the title One for the Book.^[4]

Plot[]

It is December 1944 in New York City. Sally Middleton, a naive young actress, is jilted by her lover, a theatrical producer, for becoming too serious about their relationship. Heartbroken, Sally vows not to let herself fall in love again. Nevertheless, she agrees to a dinner date with Bill Page, an Army sergeant on a weekend pass, after Bill is stood up by her sophisticated friend Olive Lashbrooke.

When Bill has trouble getting a hotel room, he ends up spending the weekend at Sally's apartment, which is considered risque under the social mores of the time. Although Bill and Sally sleep in separate rooms, the arrangement creates awkward situations for Sally, especially when she finds herself developing feelings for Bill.

Olive, having at first set her sights on a Navy officer, has second thoughts and makes a play for Bill. But Bill has fallen for Sally, and eventually convinces her to set aside her fears and start a new romance with him, one that they both hope will end in marriage.

Cast[]

Ronald Reagan as Sgt. Bill Page
Eleanor Parker as Sally Middleton
Eve Arden as Olive Lashbrooke
Kent Smith as Kenneth Bartlett
Wayne Morris as Cmdr. Ned Burling

Box office[]

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $2,617,000 domestically and $499,000 foreign.^[1]

Critical reception[]

Many critics compared the film to the original play, which finished its Broadway run one week after the film's release. Time magazine complained, "The movie is most coyly prurient where the play was most pleasantly candid," while The New York Times found the film version more satisfying because it was "morally wholesome and ideally romantic."^[5]

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 28 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
^ "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety 5 January 1949 p 46
^ T.M.P. (December 26, 1947). "The Voice of the Turtle (1947) 'Voice Turtle' Becomes Movie". The New York Times.
^ Greg Ferrara. "One for the Book (1948)". TCM.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
^ Schildcrout, Jordan (2019). In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays. New York and London: Routledge. p. 73. ISBN 978-0367210908.

External links[]

The Voice of the Turtle at IMDb
One for the Book at the TCM Movie Database
One for the Book at TV Guide

[warners-1] Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 28 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551

[2] "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety 5 January 1949 p 46

[3] T.M.P. (December 26, 1947). "The Voice of the Turtle (1947) 'Voice Turtle' Becomes Movie". The New York Times.

[4] Greg Ferrara. "One for the Book (1948)". TCM.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2020.

[5] Schildcrout, Jordan (2019). In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays. New York and London: Routledge. p. 73. ISBN 978-0367210908.

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