The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Director: Norman McLeod, Norman Z. McLeod Cast: David Raksin
David Raksin
, Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
, Virginia Mayo
Virginia Mayo
Norman McLeod
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Director: Norman McLeod, Norman Z. McLeod Cast: David Raksin
David Raksin
, Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
, Virginia Mayo
Virginia Mayo
Norman McLeod

DVD

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Overview

James Thurber wasn't too happy with the Sam Goldwyn film adaptation of his 1939 short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, but the Technicolor musical comedy proved to be a cash cow at the box office. Danny Kaye stars as Walter, a milquetoast proofreader for a magazine publishing firm. Walter is constitutionally incapable of standing up for himself, which is why his mother (Fay Bainter) has been able to arrange a frightful marriage between her son and the beautiful but overbearing Gertrude Griswold (Ann Rutherford). As he muses over the lurid covers of the magazines put out by his firm, Walter retreats into his fantasy world, where he is heroic, poised, self-assured, and the master of his fate. Glancing at the cover of a western periodical, Walter fancies himself the two-gun "Perth Amboy Kid"; a war magazine prompts Walter to envision himself as a fearless RAF pilot; and so on. Throughout all his imaginary adventures, a gorgeous mystery woman weaves in an out of the proceedings. Imagine Walter's surprise when his dream girl shows up in the flesh in the person of Rosalind van Horn (Virginia Mayo). The girl is being pursued by a gang of jewel thieves headed by Dr. Hugo Hollingshead (Boris Karloff), a clever psychiatrist who manages to convince Walter that he's simply imagining things again, and that Rosalind never existed. At long last, Walter vows to live his life in the "now" rather than in the recesses of his mind: he rescues Rosalind from the gang's clutches, tells his mother and Gertrude where to get off, and fast-talks his way into a better position with the publishing firm. Substituting the usual Danny Kaye zaniness for James Thurber's whimsy, Secret Life of Walter Mitty works best during the production numbers, especially Kaye's signature tune "Anatole of Paris."

Product Details

Release Date: 12/10/2013
UPC: 0883929326389
Original Release: 1947
Rating: NR
Source: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Presentation: [B&W]
Sound: [Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language: English
Time: 1:50:00
Sales rank: 7,622

Special Features

Interview with Virginia Mayo; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Danny Kaye Walter Mitty
Virginia Mayo Rosalind van Hoorn
Boris Karloff Dr. Hollingshead
Fay Bainter Mrs. Mitty
Ann Rutherford Gertrude Griswold
Thurston Hall Bruce Pierce
Konstantin Shayne Peter van Hoorn
Florence Bates Mrs. Griswold
Gordon Jones Tubby Wadsworth
Reginald Denny RAF Colonel
Henry Corden Hendrick
Doris Lloyd Mrs. Follinsbee,Wells Fargo Cowboy
Fritz Feld Anatole
Frank Reicher Maasdam
Milton Parsons Butler/Tyler
Mary Brewer Goldwyn Girl
Betty Carlyle Goldwyn Girl
Ernie Adams Actor,Flower Truck Driver
Lorraine DeRome Goldwyn Girl
Jackie Jordan Goldwyn Girl
Martha Montgomery Goldwyn Girl
Sue Casey Goldwyn Girl
Betty Cargyle Actor
Patricia Patrick Goldwyn Girl
Irene Vernon Goldwyn Girl
Karen X. Gaylord Goldwyn Girl
Mary Ellen Gleason Goldwyn Girl
Georgia Lane Goldwyn Girl
Michael Mauree Goldwyn Girl
Lynn Walker Goldwyn Girl
Bess Flowers Illustrator
Donna Dax Stenographer
George Magrill Wolfman
Joel Friedkin Grimsby
John Tyrrell Department Head
Raoul Freeman Department Head
Sam Ash Art Editor
Dorothy Granger Wrong Mr. and Mrs. Follinsbee
Harry Woods Wrong Mr. and Mrs. Follinsbee
Lumsden Hare Dr. Pritchard-Mitford
Hank Worden Western Character
Vernon Dent Bartender
John Hamilton Dr. Remington
Harry Harvey Jr. Office Boy
Henry Kolker Dr. Benbow
Brick Sullivan Cop
Charles Trowbridge Dr. Renshaw
Minerva Urecal Woman With Hat
Maude Eburne Fitter
George Chandler Mate
Vincent Pelletier Narrator for Dream Sequence
Harry Harvey Office Boy
Mary Anne Baird Model With Wolf Man
Jack Gargan Photographer
Harry Depp Director
Paul Newlan Actor,Truck Driver
Dick Earle Director
Broderick O'Farrell Director
Wilbur Mack Director
Ralph Dunn Policeman
Jack Cheatham Baggage Man
Mary Forbes Mrs. Pierce
Pierre Watkin Reverend
Syd Saylor Western Character
Billy Bletcher Western Character
Eddie Acuff Wells Fargo Cowboy
Wade Crosby Blacksmith
Dorothy Christy Store Official
Dick Rush Customs Official
William Haade Conductor
William 'Billy' Newell Taxi Cab Traffic Manager
Chris-Pin Martin Waiter
Robert Altman Man Drinking
Sam McDaniel Doorman
Betty Blythe Floor Manager
Mary Gordon Actor
Ethan Laidlaw Helmsman
Moy Ming Elderly Chinese
Beal Wong Headwaiter in Chinese Restaurant
Frank La Rue Conductor

Technical Credits
Norman Z. McLeod Director
Everett Freeman Screenwriter
Ken Englund Screenwriter
Samuel Goldwyn Producer
John P. Fulton Special Effects
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