Kiss the Boys Goodbye

Kiss the Boys Goodbye is a 1941 comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Mary Martin and Don Ameche. It is based on a play by Clare Boothe Luce which was inspired by the search for an actress to play Scarlett O'Hara in the film version of Gone with the Wind.[1]

Kiss the Boys Goodbye
Directed byVictor Schertzinger
Produced byPaul Jones
William LeBaron
Written byDwight Taylor
Harry Tugend
Based onplay by Clare Boothe Luce
StarringDon Ameche
Mary Martin
Music byVictor Young
CinematographyTed Tetzlaff
Edited byPaul Weatherwax
Production
company
Release date
August 1, 1941
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Cindy Lou Bethany was raised in the South, but is now a struggling actress and chorus girl in New York City, eager to find a starring role. An audition to portray a Southern belle in a big production is her big chance, but it ends before she gets a chance to show director Lloyd Lloyd what she can do.

The show's financial backer Top Rumson and writer Bert Fisher would like to hire a newcomer, but Lloyd feels more comfortable with his old standby, Myra Stanhope, even though she seems all wrong for this part. The producers travel South to cast the role, so Cindy Lou follows them there, looking up her Aunt Lily Lou and Uncle Jefferson Davis Bethany and scheming to show the New Yorkers what she can do.

Cindy Lou surprises everyone, not only with a musical number showing off her talents, but with a striptease thrown in that ends up with her diving into a swimming pool. Rayburn and others are delighted, but Lloyd is unamused and Gwen quarrels with Cindy Lou, who proceeds to toss her into the pool, too. By the time Lloyd returns to New York, however, he realizes that exactly the actress he is looking for is Cindy Lou, making her a star.

Cast

Original play

Luce completed the play in 1937 for producer Max Gordon.[2] Brock Pemberton was attached as director.[3]

The play opened in 1938.

References
  1. Clare Booth Luce obituary accessed 12 February 2013
  2. "NEWS OF THE STAGE: ' Room Service' Authors Writing New Play-Dixiana Troupe Waits Here for Further Developments". New York Times. May 27, 1937. p. 20.
  3. Mark Barron (Mar 13, 1938). "The Road Lures Again With Rich Returns to Hits: Producers Are Awakening to Fact That 'Sticks' Are Not Yet Dead. Road Lures". The Washington Post. p. TT2.


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