Posted on 10/29/2025 7:08:35 PM PDT by simpson96
A small-town girl, Trudy Kockenlocker (Betty Hutton), attends a party – against the wishes of her father (William Demarest) – held to entertain soldiers on leave. After a night of dancing and carousing, she remembers little, but later discovers she is pregnant. Her adoring childhood friend, Norval Jones (Eddie Bracken), agrees to marry her. Her wisecracking teen sister, Emmy (Diana Lynn), is her only other ally.
It has always been considered amazing that Sturges was able to produce a mainstream studio movie in Hollywood about “pre-marital” pregnancy during a period when a tight Production Code was being heavily enforced.
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek was a massive success on its initial release, and became Paramount’s highest-grossing film of 1944. Sturges’ script was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. The National Board of Review nominated it for Best Picture of 1944, while Betty Hutton was named Best Actress.
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*ping*
Miracle of Morgan's Creek is a totally pro-life movie. 10 stars for pro-life!
Thanks for making that great point, about it being a pro-life movie. Indeed it was.
Thanks! I’m looking for something to watch.
“Paramount’s highest-grossing film of 1944”
In ‘44, people wanted light-hearted fare to take their mind off the war. I can’t imagine a teen pregnancy movie being something the public would want to watch in ‘44.
I’m watching Season 6 of “Tales of Wells Fargo.” William Demarest plays the ranch foreman of Jim Hardie’s horse farm in California. Seasons 1-5 were 30 minutes, in black & white, and had tight scripts. In Season 6, the classic and formulaic TV western was dying and western ranch soap opera (think “Bonanza”) was taking over. They rebooted ToWF in Season 6 by going to a one hour format in color. It did not make teh transition very well from rough and tumble frontier oat opera to the domesticated ranch life soap opera.
Demarest was introduced in S6 as the stereotypical and cantankerous “old coot” who is always grumping and carrying on about something. That schtick gets real tiresome. I look forward to seeing him in this movie filmed 14 years before ToWF S6.
He was very good as Trudy’s quick-to-anger, protective father.
Great flick! Sturges was a genius.
Another movie that Preston Sturges wrote and directed the same year, "Hail the Conquering Hero," is even funnier. Eddie Bracken was the master of the double-take. I still sing "We Want Woodrow for Our Mayor" in the shower.
Williamm Demarest is in just about every Prreston Sturges flick.
I watched that years ago and laughed all the time.....;)
Also featuring... William Demarest!
And she has triplets!
I’ve watched about half of the movie. Demarest is the same crotchety old character he plays in ToWF S6.
I hadn’t seen him in years until now.
The name “McGinty” showed up briefly in the beginning of “The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek.” I can’t[ remember where it showed up. A sly reference!
I read this thread, and then I watched the movie. I just finished it .Amazing subject matter for 1943! Great performances by everyone.
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