| The Shopworn Angel | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | H.C. Potter |
| Written by | |
| Based on | "Private Pettigrew's Girl" 1918 short story by Dana Burnet |
| Produced by | Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Joseph Ruttenberg William H. Daniels (uncredited) |
| Edited by | W. Donn Hayes |
| Music by | Edward Ward |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Loew's Inc. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $531,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,042,000[1] |
The Shopworn Angel is a 1938 Americandrama film directed byH. C. Potter and starringMargaret Sullavan,James Stewart andWalter Pidgeon.[2][3] TheMGM release featured the second screen pairing ofMargaret Sullavan andJames Stewart following their successful teaming in theUniversal Pictures productionNext Time We Love two years earlier.
Thescreenplay byWaldo Salt is the thirdfeature film adaptation of a Dana Burnetshort story, "Private Pettigrew's Girl", originally published in theSaturday Evening Post in 1918. The first version wasPettigrew's Girl, asilent film released in 1919, and the second wasThe Shopworn Angel (1928), a part-talkie released byParamount Pictures starringNancy Carroll,Gary Cooper, andPaul Lukas.
After the United States entersWorld War I in 1917, the limousine carrying Daisy Heath, a sophisticatedBroadwaymusical theatre star, knocks down Bill Pettigrew, a naive young soldier fromTexas. A policeman orders the chauffeur to take Bill back to camp. During the ride, he becomes slightly acquainted with the cynical, but not cold-hearted Daisy.
Upon their arrival at the army camp, Bill lets his buddies assume that Daisy is the date he had lied about. In fact, he has no one. When they find out the truth, they decide to get even. On their next leave, they take Bill to Daisy's show, so he can introduce them. However, Daisy pretends that she is Bill's girl. As they spend more time together, she begins to warm to him, much to the increasing jealousy of her wealthy real boyfriend, Sam Bailey, who is financing Daisy's show.
When Sam takes Daisy out for an afternoon at his Connecticut estate for the first time, she tells him that Bill has shown her what true love looks like and made her realize she actually does love Sam. She also believes that the rivalry has also given new depth to Sam's love for her.
That same day, Bill learns that his unit is finally going to ship out for the fighting inEurope. When he cannot get a leave, he goesAWOL so he can propose marriage. Daisy opts to accept so that he can sail forFrance with something to look forward to. Sam objects to the odd arrangement privately to Daisy, but kindly refrains from telling Bill the truth. The two marry; then Bill has to leave immediately.
He sends her cheerful letters every day. Then, a letter comes from the War Department. As Daisy is in the middle of a performance, her maid Martha takes it to Sam, sitting in the audience. When Sam opens the letter, Bill's ID tag falls out. Daisy sees it, tears fill her eyes as she realizes that Bill has been killed, but she bravely finishes singing "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag".
The film underwent major personnel changes during its development stages. The directing assignment first went toRichard Thorpe, thenJulien Duvivier, before Potter was given the task. Originally cast as Daisy Heath wasJean Harlow, who died before filming began. She initially was replaced byJoan Crawford, who then yielded the role toRosalind Russell, before newly signed MGM contract player Sullavan finally came on board.Melvyn Douglas originally was signed to play Sam Bailey, but the role ultimately went toWalter Pidgeon.[4]
First-time screenwriter Salt had to adhere to the strict regulations of theHays Code, which required him to dilute many of the sexually explicit elements of the preceding film versions of the story. This included transforming Daisy from a hard-edgedchorus girl into a leading lady and Sam from her gangster lover into her wealthy, high society boyfriend.
Although not deemed an official remake ofThe Shopworn Angel, theParamount Pictures filmThat Kind of Woman (1959) shared a very similar plot.
The film's soundtrack included tunes popular during World War I such as "You're in the Army Now," "Over There," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "K-K-K-Katy," "The Darktown Strutters' Ball," "(There Are) Smiles," and "Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit-Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile!." Margaret Sullavan's vocals weredubbed byMary Martin.
Time described the film as "a tearjerker in the grand manner — simple, senile and heroically sentimental."[5]
According to MGM records the film earned $722,000 in the US and Canada and $320,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $146,000.[1]