''The Toy Tiger'' is a 1956 American
comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
directed by
Jerry Hopper
Harold Hankins Hopper (July 29, 1907 – December 17, 1988), known professionally as Jerry Hopper, was an American film and television director, active from the mid-1940s through the early 1970s.
Early life
Jerry Hopper was born in Guthrie, ...
and starring
Laraine Day
Laraine Day (born La Raine Johnson, October 13, 1920 – November 10, 2007) was an American actress, radio and television commentator, and former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) contract star. As a leading lady, she was paired opposite major film sta ...
and
Jeff Chandler
Jeff Chandler (born Ira Grossel; yi, יראַ גראָססעל; December 15, 1918 – June 17, 1961) was an American actor, film producer, and singer, best remembered for playing Cochise in '' Broken Arrow'' (1950), for which he was no ...
. It is a remake of ''
Mad About Music
''Mad About Music'' is a 1938 American musical film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Deanna Durbin, Herbert Marshall, and Gail Patrick. Based on a story by Marcella Burke and Frederick Kohner, the film is about a girl at an exclusive boardin ...
'' (1938).
Plot
New York City advertising executive Gwen Harkinson is a widow with a son, Timmy, who lives full-time in an upstate boarding school. She sends art director Rick Todd in that direction to try to rehire Mike Wyman, a former creative talent for the ad agency who has given up that life to become a sculptor.
At school, Timmy has been lying to classmates that his father is not only alive but a famous big-game hunter and explorer. Many doubt him. Timmy compounds his tall tale by insisting his father's on his way for a visit this very minute. When he sees Rick arrive in town, he pretends that's his Dad.
Rick ignores him until his assistant Larry Tripps meets the boy and accuses Rick of abandoning his own child. A puzzled Rick confronts young Timmy and insists he reveal the truth, but at the last minute, Rick can't bring himself to see the kid humiliated.
Mike not only refuses to return to advertising but inspires aspiring painter Rick to follow in his footsteps. Rick also goes camping with the students and pretends to be a great outdoorsman. Gwen visits and goes into a panic when told by the Fusenots, who run the school, that Timmy's off with his "father."
Once the confusion is worked out, Rick announces his intention to quit. Gwen, however, suddenly realizes that right in front of her eyes all along has been a perfect husband for her and father for her son.
Cast
*
Laraine Day
Laraine Day (born La Raine Johnson, October 13, 1920 – November 10, 2007) was an American actress, radio and television commentator, and former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) contract star. As a leading lady, she was paired opposite major film sta ...
as Gwen
*
Jeff Chandler
Jeff Chandler (born Ira Grossel; yi, יראַ גראָססעל; December 15, 1918 – June 17, 1961) was an American actor, film producer, and singer, best remembered for playing Cochise in '' Broken Arrow'' (1950), for which he was no ...
as Rick
*
Tim Hovey
Tim Hovey (June 19, 1945 – September 9, 1989) was a former American child actor during the 1950s. He later became a musician, road manager and an audio engineer for rock bands.
Acting career
Born in Los Angeles, California, Hovey was di ...
as Timmy
*
Richard Haydn
Richard Haydn (born George Richard Haydon, 10 March 1905 – 25 April 1985) was a British-American comedy actor. Some of his better known performances include his roles as Professor Oddley in '' Ball of Fire'' (1941), Roger in '' No Time for Lo ...
as John Fusenot
*
Cecil Kellaway
Cecil Lauriston Kellaway (22 August 1890 – 28 February 1973) was a South African character actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice, for '' The Luck of the Irish'' (1948) and '' Guess Who's Coming to Dinner ...
as James Fusenot
*
Judson Pratt
Judson Pratt (December 6, 1916 – February 9, 2002) was an American film, television and theatre actor. He was known for playing Billy Kinkaid in the American western television series ''Union Pacific''.
Early life
Pratt was born in Hingh ...
as Mike
*
David Janssen
David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer) (March 27, 1931February 13, 1980) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Richard Kimble in the television series '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967). Janssen also ...
as Larry
Production
Filming started 15 November 1955.
See also
*
List of American films of 1956
A list of American films released in 1956
''Around the World in 80 Days'' won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
A-B
C-D
E-I
J-M
N-R
S-Z
See also
* 1956 in the United States
Sources Footnotes
References
*
*
External links
19 ...
References
External links
*
*
Review of filmat ''Variety''
1956 films
1956 comedy films
American comedy films
Films directed by Jerry Hopper
Remakes of American films
Universal Pictures films
1950s English-language films
1950s American films
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