The Girl From Jones Beach

Director: Peter Godfrey Peter Godfrey

Overview

Ronald Reagan plays a George Petty-type magazine illustrator who creates a "perfect girl" from a composite of the features of several models. While relaxing at the beach, Reagan meets a lovely young schoolteacher (Virginia Mayo) who is the living image of his imaginary girl. Sensing a terrific promotional angle, Reagan ingratiates himself with the girl and attempts to secure her services for a series of cheesecake poses. The film leads to a courtroom conclusion wherein Mayo must strut around in a bathing suit to win her case. Girl from Jones Beach is worth the admission price alone just to hear Ronald Reagan pose as a Czechoslovakian immigrant--complete with accent.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/30/2012
UPC:	0883316317037
Original Release:	1949
Source:	Warner Archives
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:18:00
Sales rank:	46,210

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Virginia Mayo	Ruth Wilson
Ronald Reagan	Bob Randolph/Robert Venerik
Eddie Bracken	Chuck Donovan
Dona Drake	Connie Martin
Henry Travers	Judge Bullfinch
Lois Wilson	Mrs. Wilson
Florence Bates	Miss Emma Shoemaker
Jerome Cowan	Mr. Graves
Helen Westcott	Miss Brooks
Paul Harvey	Jim Townsend
Lloyd Corrigan	Mr. Evergood
Myrna Dell	Lorraine Scott
William Forrest	Mr. Moody
Gary Gray	Woody Wilson
Mary Stuart	Hazel
Lennie Bremen	News Vendor
Buddy Roosevelt	Conductor
Chester Clute	Collection Agent
Richard Bartell	Man at Phone Booth
Billy Wayne	Mac the Bartender
Jeff Richards	Lifeguard
Dale Robertson	Lifeguard
Glen B. Gallagher	Actor
Guy Wilkerson	Janitor
Angi O. Poulos	Foreigner in Hallway
Antonio Filauri	Italian
Gregory Golubeff	Italian
Peter Camlin	Frenchman
Robert O'Neil	Irishman
Nancy Valentine	Margot
Lola Albright	Vickie
William Yetter	Mr. Schwarzholz
Glen Gallagher	Samba Team
Dolores Castle	Samba Team
Creighton Hale	Waiter
Jack Gargan	Guest
Tony Merrill	Guest
Henry Iblings	Guest
Cary Harrison	Guest
Broderick O'Farrell	Guest
Raymond Bailey	Guest
Kay Mansfield	Guest
William Yetter Jr.	Mr. Schwarzholz
Grayce Hampton	Guest
Joan Vohs	Model
Carol Brewster	Model
Betty Underwood	Model
Alice Wallace	Model
Joi Lansing	Model
Lorraine Crawford	Model
Vonne Lester	Model
Karen X. Gaylord	Model

Technical Credits

Peter Godfrey	Director
Edward DuPar	Special Effects
Alex Gottlieb	Producer
William McGann	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

The Girl from Jones Beach is a surprisingly agreeable little trifle. It's no great movie, but it's a pleasing bon bon that makes for a fine waste of 90 or so minutes. One of the things that makes Beach so amiable is the girl of the title, one Virginia Mayo. Is Mayo a great actress? No, although she is often very pleasant company in lightweight comedies such as this ' and occasionally can pull off a meatier assignment. Here, she's very much in her element, being called upon to display her very considerable beauty, yet also given the opportunity to show her way with a comic line and the very lovely manner in which she expresses indignation. It's no wonder that Ronald Reagan's character finds her the perfect girl. She looks the part, of course, but even in a film like this, beauty is only skin deep. Mayo effectively convinces that her real beauty comes from within; as corny as that sounds, it works. Reagan is also good, much better than one would expect from most of his film work. If Eddie Bracken is a bit much, Donna Drake, Henry Travers and Florence Bates are on hand to make up for his excesses. There are a few unexceptional songs, some nice costumes and serviceable direction from Peter Godfrey which helps to make one forget that the script is not exactly Shakespeare. Beach is lightweight, but breezily amusing.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler