Free for All (film)
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| Free for All | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Charles Barton |
| Screenplay by | Robert Buckner |
| Story by | Herbert Clyde Lewis |
| Produced by | Robert Buckner |
| Starring | Robert Cummings Ann Blyth Percy Kilbride |
| Cinematography | George Robinson |
| Edited by | Ralph Dawson |
| Music by | Frank Skinner |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Free for All is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Charles Barton and starring Robert Cummings, Ann Blyth and Percy Kilbride.[1][2]
A young man invents a pill that can turn water into gasoline. While staying in Washington DC to register his patent, he falls in love with his host's daughter. However, she works for a major oil company and after she lets slip to her employers about the magical new formula, they desperately try to get their hands on it.
Cast
- Robert Cummings as Christopher Parker
- Ann Blyth as Alva Abbott
- Percy Kilbride as Henry J. Abbott
- Ray Collins as A.B. Blair
- Donald Woods as Roger Abernathy
- Mikhail Rasumny as Dr. Axel Torgelson
- Percy Helton as Joe Hershey
- Harry Antrim as Mr. Whiting
- Wallis Clark as Mr. Van Alstyne
- Frank Ferguson as Hap Ross
- Dooley Wilson as Aristotle
- Russell Simpson as Farmer
- Lester Matthews as Mr. Aberson
- Murray Alper as McGuinness
- Bill Walker as Herbert
- Kenneth Tobey as Pilot
- Harris Brown as Colonel
- Willard Waterman as Commander H.C. Christie
Production
The film was based on a story by Herbert Clyde Lewis called Patent Applied For. In August 1947 Universal announced they had purchased the story and it would be the first film made by producer-writer Robert Buckner under Buckner's new contract with the studio.[3]
In May 1949 the studio announced the film would be called Hot Water and would star Ann Blyth, who had recently been put on suspension by the studio; her casting meant the suspension was lifted. The project meant Buckner's proposed film Paradise Lost, 1949 was pushed back on Universal's schedule.[4]
In May 1949 Robert Cummings was cast in the male lead and Charles Barton was appointed director.[5][6] In June the title was changed to Free for All.[7]
Filming started in Washington in June 1949.[8] The Daughters of the American Revolution opposed filming comedy scenes at Mount Vernon. A compromise was reached where the scenes were shot at the grounds but not inside the shrine. There were twenty days filming at the studio.[9]
Reception
Filmink called it "a weak comedy, not helped by the fact that his [Cummings'] co-star was Ann Blyth – Cummings couldn’t carry a film on his own shoulders if the material was weak, he needed someone strong to bounce off."[10]
