''Welcome Stranger'' is a 1947 film directed by Elliott Nugent and starring

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

Barry Fitzgerald William Joseph Shields (10 March 1888 – 14 January 1961), known professionally as Barry Fitzgerald, was an Irish stage, film and television actor. In a career spanning almost forty years, he appeared in such notable films as ''Bringing Up Ba ...

, and

Joan Caulfield Beatrice Joan Caulfield (June 1, 1922 – June 18, 1991) was an American actress and model. After being discovered by Broadway producers, she began a stage career in 1943 that eventually led to signing as an actress with Paramount Pictures. In th ...

. It was filmed in Hollywood with location shots at Munz Lakes during March to May 1946. Elliott Nugent appeared in one scene as a doctor sent to examine Barry Fitzgerald and that scene was directed by Billy Wilder.

Plot

Crusty Dr. McRory (

) of Fallbridge, Maine, hires a replacement for his vacation sight unseen. Alas, he and young singing doctor Jim Pearson (

) don't hit it off, but Pearson is delighted to stay, once he meets teacher Trudy Mason (

). The locals, taking their cue from McRory, cold-shoulder Pearson, especially Trudy's stuffy fiancée. But then, guess who needs an emergency appendectomy.

Cast

as Dr. James 'Jim' Pearson *

as Trudy Mason *

as Dr. Joseph McRory * Wanda Hendrix as Emily Walters * Frank Faylen as Bill Walters * Elizabeth Patterson as Mrs. Gilley * Robert Shayne as Roy Chesley * Percy Kilbride as Nat Dorkas * Clarence Muse as Clarence * Elliott Nugent as Dr. White

Release and reception

The film was given the biggest advertising campaign for a Paramount film since '' For Whom the Bell Tolls''. The New York premiere was held on August 6, 1947 at the Paramount and in its initial release period in the United States, the film took in $6.1 million in rentals, making it the highest-grossing film released in the United States during 1947. The reviewer for '' Variety'' had seen the film at the Los Angeles tradeshow in April and commented: "Welcome Stranger should find the boxoffice path easy treading. It's crammed with all the ingredients that make for popular entertainment. . . Crosby and Fitzgerald take obvious pleasure in their friendly antagonist roles as young and old doctors... '' The New York Times'' felt that that film did not compare favorably with the previous Crosby / Fitzgerald success '' Going My Way''. However they considered that both men "tower over the script through sheer personality, and especially is this true in Mr. Crosby's case, for Mr. Sheekman has not invested the character of Jim Pearson with much substance. Mr. Fitzgerald's Doc McRory is a more rounded individual, and he does have some quaintly flavorsome dialogue—"blatherskite" is one of his less endearing terms for the young assistant. Joan Caulfield is lovely and competent as the teacher...

Soundtrack

*"Smile Right Back at the Sun" *"Country Style (Square Dance)" *"My Heart Is a Hobo" *" As Long As I'm Dreaming" All of the songs were written by

Jimmy Van Heusen James Van Heusen (born Edward Chester Babcock; January 26, 1913 – February 6, 1990) was an American composer. He wrote songs for films, television and theater, and won an Emmy and four Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Life and care ...

(music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) and sung by Bing Crosby. Burke and Van Heusen also wrote "Smack in the Middle of Maine" for the film but it was not used. Crosby recorded all of the songs for

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

and these were issued on a 2-disc, 78 rpm album titled " Selections from Welcome Stranger". The songs were also included in the Bing's Hollywood series.

References

External links

* {{Elliott Nugent 1947 films 1947 comedy films American black-and-white films American comedy films Films directed by Elliott Nugent Films produced by Sol C. Siegel Films scored by Robert Emmett Dolan Films set in Maine Medical-themed films Paramount Pictures films 1940s American films