Lucy Gallant | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | Robert Parrish |
Produced by |
William H. Pine William C. Thomas |
Screenplay by |
John Lee Mahin Winston Miller |
Starring |
Jane Wyman Charlton Heston Claire Trevor Thelma Ritter William Demarest Wallace Ford |
Music by | Nathan Van Cleave |
Cinematography | Lionel Lindon |
Edited by | Howard A. Smith |
Production
company |
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Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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104 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Lucy Gallant is a 1955 American drama film directed by Robert Parrish and written by John Lee Mahin and Winston Miller. The film stars Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, Thelma Ritter, William Demarest and Wallace Ford. The film was released on October 20, 1955, by Paramount Pictures. The story is based on a novella, "The Life of Lucy Gallant," by Texas-born author Margaret Cousins (1905-1996), published in Good Housekeeping magazine in May 1953.
While traveling from New York City to Mexico, the stylish Lucy Gallant is stranded by a storm in fictitious New City, Texas, where rancher Casey Cole helps find her suitable lodging. The public reaction to her fashions persuades Lucy to sell the contents of her trousseau, and she decides to stay and open a dress shop.
Lucy lives at Molly Basserman's boarding house and runs her store out of Lady "Mac" MacBeth's brothel, called the Red Derrick. She obtains a loan from banker Charlie Madden. She is courted by Casey, who learns that Lucy was jilted at the altar when her fiance found out about her father's dishonest business practices.
Casey insists that she give up her business. They quarrel, and after joining the United States Army during World War II, he becomes engaged to a fashion model in Paris. But Casey soon returns to Texas to save Lucy from banker Madden's underhanded business dealings. He also salvages their romance.