Sitting Pretty
Encyclopedia
Sitting Pretty is a 1948 American comedy film
which tells the story of a family who hires a man with a mysterious past to babysit their children. It stars Robert Young
, Maureen O'Hara
and Clifton Webb
. The movie was adapted by F. Hugh Herbert
from the comic novel Belvedere (1947) by Gwen Davenport. It was directed by Walter Lang
.
Webb was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor
for the role of Lynn Belvedere. The character proved so popular, Webb reprised his role in two more movies: Mr. Belvedere Goes to College
(1949) and Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell
(1951).
. They hire Lynn Belvedere sight unseen, only to find out that Lynn is a man (Webb), one with many skills and achievements. Despite their misgivings, the Kings reluctantly agree to a trial period. Belvedere quickly wins over the children, although his superior attitude annoys Harry.
As a result of a couple of misinterpreted incidents, nosy neighbor Clarence Appleton (Richard Haydn
) starts to spread scandalous rumors linking Belvedere and Tacey romantically. Eventually, Harry asks Belvedere to leave.
Then a tell-all book about the neighborhood written by Belvedere is published. The embarrassed residents are upset by the scandalous secrets revealed in it.
visited the set to photograph the filming for Life Magazine and photographed Clifton Webb together with still unknown actresses Laurette Luez
and Marilyn Monroe
, who do not appear in the film.
on February 14, 1949. The film also inspired a television series, Mr. Belvedere
, starring Christopher Hewett
, which first aired in 1985
.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
which tells the story of a family who hires a man with a mysterious past to babysit their children. It stars Robert Young
Robert Young (actor)
Robert George Young was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. .-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young was the son of an Irish immigrant father...
, Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara is an Irish film actress and singer. The famously red-headed O'Hara has been noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne...
and Clifton Webb
Clifton Webb
Clifton Webb was an American actor, dancer, and singer known for his Oscar-nominated roles in such films as Laura, The Razor's Edge, and Sitting Pretty...
. The movie was adapted by F. Hugh Herbert
F. Hugh Herbert
Frederick Hugh Herbert was a playwright, screenwriter, novelist, short story writer, and infrequent film director....
from the comic novel Belvedere (1947) by Gwen Davenport. It was directed by Walter Lang
Walter Lang
Walter Lang was an American film director.-Early life:Walter Lang was born in Memphis, Tennessee. As a young man he went to New York City where he found clerical work at a film production company. The business piqued his artistic instincts and he began learning the various facets of filmmaking...
.
Webb was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor
Academy Award for Best Actor
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
for the role of Lynn Belvedere. The character proved so popular, Webb reprised his role in two more movies: Mr. Belvedere Goes to College
Mr. Belvedere Goes to College
Mr. Belvedere Goes to College is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Elliott Nugent. The screenplay written by Mary Loos, Mary C. McCall, Jr., and Richard Sale was based on characters created by Gwen Davenport...
(1949) and Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell
Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell
Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell is a 1951 comedy film, the third and final one starring Clifton Webb as Lynn Belvedere. Mr. Belvedere lies about his age and lives in a senior citizens home to determine if there was any point in growing old...
(1951).
Plot summary
Harry (Young) and Tacey King (O'Hara) have their hands full with their three young boys, so they advertise for a live-in nannyNanny
A nanny, childminder or child care provider, is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service...
. They hire Lynn Belvedere sight unseen, only to find out that Lynn is a man (Webb), one with many skills and achievements. Despite their misgivings, the Kings reluctantly agree to a trial period. Belvedere quickly wins over the children, although his superior attitude annoys Harry.
As a result of a couple of misinterpreted incidents, nosy neighbor Clarence Appleton (Richard Haydn
Richard Haydn
Richard Haydn was an English comic actor in radio, films and television.-Early life and career:Born George Richard Haydon in London, he was known for playing eccentric characters, such as Edwin Carp, Claud Curdle, Richard Rancyd and Stanley Stayle. Much of his stage delivery was done in a...
) starts to spread scandalous rumors linking Belvedere and Tacey romantically. Eventually, Harry asks Belvedere to leave.
Then a tell-all book about the neighborhood written by Belvedere is published. The embarrassed residents are upset by the scandalous secrets revealed in it.
Production
Photographer Loomis DeanLoomis Dean
Loomis Dean was a veteran Life Magazine photographer who shot pictures of circus clowns, crown princes, Hollywood stars, Madagascar lemurs and SS Andrea Doria survivors in a five-decade long career...
visited the set to photograph the filming for Life Magazine and photographed Clifton Webb together with still unknown actresses Laurette Luez
Laurette Luez
Laurette Luez was a United States supporting actor and successful commercial model who appeared in films and on television during a 20 year career. She was a widely known Hollywood celebrity during the 1950s, owing much to publicity about her social life...
and Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
, who do not appear in the film.
Adaptions
A radio adaptation was presented by Lux Radio TheaterLux Radio Theater
Lux Radio Theater, a long-run classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network ; CBS and NBC . Initially, the series adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films. These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences...
on February 14, 1949. The film also inspired a television series, Mr. Belvedere
Mr. Belvedere
Mr. Belvedere is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from March 15, 1985, until July 8, 1990. The series was based on the Lynn Aloysius Belvedere character created by Gwen Davenport for her 1947 novel Belvedere, which was later adapted into the 1948 film Sitting Pretty...
, starring Christopher Hewett
Christopher Hewett
Christopher Michael Hewett was an English actor and theatre director best known for his role as Lynn Belvedere on the ABC sitcom Mr. Belvedere.-Career:...
, which first aired in 1985
1985 in television
The year 1985 involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1985.For the American TV schedule, see: 1985-86 United States network television schedule.-Events:*January 1 – VH1 launches in the United States....
.
External links
- Lux Radio Theater broadcast at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...