''Luxury Liner'' is a 1948 romantic musical comedy film produced by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

. It was directed by

Richard Whorf Richard Whorf (June 4, 1906 – December 14, 1966) was an American actor, writer and film director. Life and acting career Whorf was born in Winthrop, Massachusetts to Harry and Sarah (née Lee) Whorf. His older brother was linguist Benjamin Le ...

, and written by

Richard Connell Richard Edward Connell Jr. (October 17, 1893 – November 22, 1949) was an American author and journalist. He is best remembered for his short story "The Most Dangerous Game" (1924). Connell was one of the most popular American short story wr ...

, Gladys Lehman and Karl Kamb (uncredited). It was originally titled ''Maiden Voyage''. An earlier film with the same title '' Luxury Liner'' (1933), starred George Brent and Zita Johann, and was directed by

Lothar Mendes Lothar Mendes (19 May 1894 – 24 February 1974) was a German-born screenwriter and film director. His two best known films are '' Jew Süss'' (1934) and '' The Man Who Could Work Miracles'' (1936), both productions for British studios. Career B ...

Plot

Jeremy Bradford, the captain of an ocean liner, visits his teenaged daughter named Polly, and takes her to see a performance of the opera ''

Aida ''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 Decemb ...

''. Polly is entranced by the singing talents of Olaf Eriksen and Zita Romanka. Upon learning that Olaf and Zita will be passengers on her father's voyage to Rio de Janeiro, she begs her father to come along, but Captain Bradford says no. He is furious when he eventually discovers that Polly is on board his ship as a stowaway, and he puts her to work in the ship's galley. Also on board is Laura Dene, a jilted bride, and her fiancé Charles, who can't decide if he wants to marry her. Polly and Laura become friends, though Laura isn't aware at first that Polly is the captain's daughter. Captain Bradford forgives Polly for stowing away, and he allows her to sing a duet with Olaf aboard ship. Polly is equally pleased when her father develops a romantic interest in Laura, which turns out to be mutual.

Cast

George Brent George Brent (born George Brendan Nolan; 15 March 1904 – 26 May 1979) was an Irish-American stage, film, and television actor. He is best remembered for the eleven films he made with Bette Davis, which included '' Jezebel'' and '' Dark Victo ...

as Captain Jeremy Bradford *

Jane Powell Jane Powell (born Suzanne Lorraine Burce; April 1, 1929 – September 16, 2021) was an American actress, singer, and dancer who first appeared in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musicals in the 1940s and 50s. With her soprano voice and girl-next-door image ...

as Polly Bradford *

Lauritz Melchior Lauritz Melchior (20 March 1890 – 18 March 1973) was a Danish-American opera singer. He was the preeminent Richard Wagner, Wagnerian tenor of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s and has come to be considered the quintessence of his voice type. Late i ...

as Olaf Eriksen * Frances Gifford as Laura Dene * Marina Koshetz as Zita Romanka *

Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Spanish musician and bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. In New York City ...

as himself * Thomas E. Breen as Denis Mulvy *

Richard Derr Richard Derr (June 15, 1917 – May 8, 1992) was an American actor who worked on stage, screen, and television, performing in both starring and supporting roles. Early years Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Derr graduated from Norristown High ...

as Charles G.K. Worton *

John Ridgely John Ridgely (born John Huntington Rea, September 6, 1909 – January 18, 1968) was an American film character actor with over 175 film credits. Early years Ridgely was born in Chicago, Illinois,Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: T ...

as Chief Officer Carver *

Connie Gilchrist Rose Constance Gilchrist (July 17, 1895 – March 3, 1985) was an American stage, film, and television actress. Among her screen credits are her roles in the Hollywood productions '' Cry 'Havoc (1943), ''A Letter to Three Wives'' (1949), ...

as Bertha *

The Pied Pipers The Pied Pipers is an American popular singing group originally formed in the late 1930s. They had several chart hits through the 1940s, both under their own name and in association with Tommy Dorsey and with Frank Sinatra. Origins Originally ...

as Themselves * Jane Isbell as Girl (uncredited)

Reception

The film was a box-office hit for MGM, and earned $2,297,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $1,831,000 overseas, resulting in a profit of $428,000."Top Grossers of 1948", ''Variety'' 5 January 1949 p 46
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References

External links

* * * * * 1948 films American romantic comedy films Films directed by Richard Whorf Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1948 romantic comedy films 1948 musical comedy films American romantic musical films Films produced by Joe Pasternak Films scored by Adolph Deutsch Films set on ships 1940s romantic musical films American musical comedy films 1940s American films {{romantic-musical-film-stub