CONFIDENTIALLY CONNIE

US, 1953, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Louis Calhern, Janet Leigh, Van Johnson, Walter Slezak, Gene Lockhart.
Directed by Edward Buzzell.

Confidentially Connie is a bright second feature of the early '50s, done with M.G.M. style and stars. (one of the co-authors of the original story is Herman Wouk - Caine Mutiny, War and Remembrance, Winds of War.) The stars are in good form, the film echoes small town American life of the '50s and '50s values. Direction is by Edward Buzzell, director of many comedies and musicals at MGM.

1. Pleasant second feature M.G.M. comedy?

2. M.G.M. production values, the American town, Texas? Songs and echoes of traditional songs?

3. The '50s, colleges and families, neighbours, Texas and the production of cattle and meat?

4. MCs, salaries, the preoccupation about food and meat, domestic concerns?

5. Texas, big, cattle, production of meat? Opie and his workers? His visiting, interfering with the family, setting up the price war, warning the dean not to employ Joe, his changing attitudes to teachers, his giving the endowment to the college?

5. Joe and his teaching, meetings, sports, Shakespeare, his job and dedication, love for Connie, hurt by his father, sense of vocation, his philosophy of teaching and his explanation to his father, the Constitution, etc? The presentation of the book of Shakespeare from the students?

7. Connie, pregnant, love for Joe, the discussions about food, the butcher, ambitions, Opic and conniving with him, the barbecue, the price war, the birth of the baby, going to see Grandpa?

2. Spangenberg, as the butcher, the meting, his election as president, the price war and the other butchers, his ruin? Opie fixing everything up?

9. Magruder, his being greedy at meals, his wife? Pressure?

in. The staff, at meals, barbecues? The students and their style?

11. A pleasant comedy - but revealing the U.S. lifestyle of the '50s and, concerns?