| Magnificent Doll | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Frank Borzage |
| Screenplay by | Irving Stone |
| Produced by | Jack H. Skirball |
| Starring | Ginger Rogers David Niven Burgess Meredith |
| Cinematography | Joseph A. Valentine |
| Edited by | Ted J. Kent |
| Music by | Hans J. Salter |
Production company | Hallmark Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Magnificent Doll is a 1946 Americanhistoricaldrama film directed byFrank Borzage and starringGinger Rogers asDolley Madison andDavid Niven asAaron Burr. The supporting cast featuresBurgess Meredith asJames Madison andGrandon Rhodes asThomas Jefferson. The screenplay was written byIrving Stone (author ofLust for Life andThe Agony and the Ecstasy).
In the late eighteenth century a young widow is wooed byAaron Burr andJames Madison.[1] At first, she prefers the charming Burr, but when he reveals his ambitions to rule the United States as a tyrant, she decides to marry Madison. After Burr tries tooverthrow the government, Dolley prevents him from being hanged by an angry mob.
Universal Pictures paidSam Goldwyn $100,000 to borrow David Niven for the film. Filming took place under theworking title ofThe Life of Dolly [sic]Madison from June to August in 1946 atUniversal City and a ranch inChatsworth, Los Angeles.[2] During production, Frances E. Williams complained about the lack of black extras and the director hired more black actors.
The sets and costumes cost $1.79 million.Vera West andTravis Banton designed the wardrobe andmillinerLilly Daché designed the hats that Ginger Rogers wore.[2][3]
RC Cola promoted the film with ads featuring Ginger Rogers in costume as Dolley Madison.[4] Rogers also travelled to Ohio to make a personal appearance at theCincinnati premiere.[5]
The New York Times criticized the film for its lack of historical accuracy.[3] David Niven later described the movie as a "stinker" and stated that he took the role because he needed the money.[6]
The film lost money at the box office[2] and became Ginger Rogers' least successful film withoutFred Astaire. Shortly after the premiere, Burr's descendent Samuel Burr founded the Aaron Burr Association to "keep alive the memory of Colonel Aaron Burr".[7]
 | This article related to an American drama film of the 1940s is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
