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.
Demarest also had a great supporting role in the movie, “What Price Glory,” staring James Cagney, Dan Daily, and a young Robert Wagner.
One of my favorite movies.
I just finished watching “The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek.” What a great movie! “Screwball comedy” doesn’t begin to describe it. It had me in stitches throughout.
Demarest was great and true-to-form. The entire cast was great. I liked Trudy’s teen sister, Emmy (Diana Lynn). Wiki says that Lynn was considered a child prodigy. She began taking piano lessons at age 4, and by the age of 12 was playing with the Los Angeles Junior Symphony Orchestra. She was 18 when she co-starred as 14 year old Emmy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.