An American Romance
| An American Romance | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | King Vidor |
| Produced by | King Vidor |
| Written by |
Louis Adamic (uncredited) |
| Screenplay by | Herbert Dalmas William Ludwig |
| Story by | King Vidor |
| Starring |
Brian Donlevy Ann Richards |
| Narrated by | Horace McNally |
| Music by |
Louis Gruenberg Nathaniel Shilkret (uncredited) |
| Cinematography | Harold Rosson |
| Edited by | Conrad A. Nervig |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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121 minutes (Turner library print) 151 minutes (copyright length) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.4 million |
An American Romance is a 1944 American epic drama film directed and produced by King Vidor who also wrote the screen story. Shot in Technicolor, the film stars Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards and is narrated by Horace McNally.
European immigrant Stefan Dubechek (Brian Donlevy) arrives in America in the 1890s and becomes involved in the steel industry. He eventually becomes an automobile manufacturer. And then, in World War II, a plane manufacturer.
The film was part of a trilogy directed and produced by King Vidor consisting of war, wheat and steel. His films on war and wheat were The Big Parade (1925) and Our Daily Bread (1934). This was to be his steel industry epic film. Vidor came up with the story which he proposed to Eddie Mannix. Vidor then sent a telegram to author Louis Adamic, who wrote on the topic of immigration and labor. Adamic wrote the first draft of the script but did not receive a screen credit. The screenplay was written by Herbert Dalmas and William Ludwig. The film's working titles were America, This Is America, An American Story, American Miracle and The Magic Land.
Vidor initially wanted to cast Spencer Tracy as Steve Dangos, Ingrid Bergman as Anna and Joseph Cotten as the lead character's friend Howard Clinton. All three were unavailable so Brian Donlevy as Dangos and Walter Abel as Howard Clinton. Vidor later said that he felt that Donlevy was miscast as Steve Dangos because he was known for playing "blunt and blustering" characters.Frances Gifford and Ann Sothern were reportedly considered for the role of Anna but Australian actress Ann Richards was cast after principal photography began in April 1943.
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