The Miracle of Morgan's Creek [1944, Preston Sturges screwball comedy - Betty Hutton, William Demarest]

Youtube ^ | 10/29/2025 | YouTube Movies & TV

[simpson96]

*ping*

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Great Movie. Betty Hutton was a real firecracker. She devoted the last decades of her life to charity and religious work. She practically fell off the map.

Miracle of Morgan's Creek is a totally pro-life movie. 10 stars for pro-life!

[simpson96]

Thanks for making that great point, about it being a pro-life movie. Indeed it was.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

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.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

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.

[simpson96]

He was very good as Trudy’s quick-to-anger, protective father.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

LOL...State Governor at 2:50 -- "This is the biggest thing to happen to our state since we stole it from the Indians." How's that for being PC?

[Rummyfan]

Great flick! Sturges was a genius.

[Publius]

The movie had problems with the censors of the era, and you can easily see why.

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.

[Rummyfan]

William Demarest plays the ranch foreman of Jim Hardie’s horse farm in California.

Williamm Demarest is in just about every Prreston Sturges flick.

[Rummyfan]

The state governor is played by Brian Donlevy, who played the same character in Sturges' earlier The Great McGinty.

[Dawgreg]

I watched that years ago and laughed all the time.....;)

[Rummyfan]

Another movie that Preston Sturges wrote and directed the same year, "Hail the Conquering Hero," is even funnier.

Also featuring... William Demarest!

[Rummyfan]

And she has triplets!

[Publius]

On "My Three Sons," Fred MacMurray had producer Don Fedderson fire William Frawley for his alcohol issues, his volatile temper and his inability to come to the set prepared. He had the producer replace him with William Demarest. Demarest died in 1983 at the age of 91.

[Rummyfan]

Demarest was great in the Bogart flick All Through the Night too.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

The thing about Demarest in the movies is that he is barely acting. He's actually playing himself. Where could you find someone today to play Demarest? Couldn't be done.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

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!

[telescope115]

I read this thread, and then I watched the movie. I just finished it .Amazing subject matter for 1943! Great performances by everyone.