The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
| The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Henry Levin |
| Produced by | Charles Brackett |
| Written by | Walter Reisch |
| Based on |
The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker 1953 play by Liam O'Brien |
| Starring |
Clifton Webb Dorothy McGuire Charles Coburn Jill St. John |
| Music by | Leigh Harline |
| Cinematography | Milton R. Krasner |
| Edited by | William Mace |
| Distributed by | 20th Century-Fox |
|
Release date
|
1959 |
|
Running time
|
87 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,475,000 |
| Box office | $1.3 million (est. US/ Canada rentals) |
The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker is a 1959 DeLuxe Color film starring Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire directed by Henry Levin in CinemaScope. The film is based on the 1953 Broadway play of the same, which ran for 221 performances. Burgess Meredith starred as Horace Pennypacker and Martha Scott as 'Ma' Pennypacker.
At the turn of the century, Horace Pennypacker, Jr. has two families: one wife and eight children in Harrisburg, PA, and nine children (by a deceased wife) in Philadelphia, PA. During the course of events, his ruse is undone and he struggles to find a way to maintain the status quo.
In turn-of-the-century Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, young Wilbur Fielding, the son of the Rev. Dr. Fielding, learns that he has been appointed vicar of a small Rhode Island parish. Wilbur's new position means that he can finally propose to his sweetheart, Kate Pennypacker, but as he must leave for his new post in one week, Kate impulsively suggests that they marry immediately rather than endure an extended engagement as required by convention. Kate's father, Pa Horace Pennypacker, the proprietor of the Pennypacker sausage factory, divides his business life between his factories in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, spending alternate months in each city, and because he is currently residing in Philadelphia, he is summoned home to Harrisburg for the wedding. As soon as Pa receives his wife, Emily's telegram regarding Kate's engagement, he jumps into his automobile and motors to Harrisburg, narrowly missing the Philadelphia sheriff who has come to issue him a summons for promoting a book about Darwinism that prominently depicts the police chief as a monkey.
Back in Harrisburg, Pa's blustery father, Grampa protests the impropriety of Kate's hasty marriage. Unknown to Grampa, Emily and the eight Pennypacker children, Pa has a second family of nine children who reside in Philadelphia. When Horace III, Pa's eldest Philadelphia son, learns of the summons, he hurries unsuspecting to Harrisburg to warn his father. Horace beats Pa to Harrisburg, and when he appears on the Pennypacker doorstep and introduces himself he inadvertently exposes Pa’s unknown life in Philadelphia. Soon after, Pa arrives home and is struck dumb at the sight of Horace. As Emily questions Horace about his secret life, Wilbur and his father arrive to discuss the wedding. This follows with Grampa announcing that his son is a bigamist. As Grampa leaves the house, the sheriff stops him and serves him with the summons that is meant for Pa. After Grampa strikes the sheriff with his cane, the sheriff arrests him and takes him to jail. As Kate sobs, heartbroken, Emily resolves that her daughter will be happily married. After Horace returns to Philadelphia, Pa defends his behavior to Rev. Dr. Fielding and argues that morality is simply a matter of geography and that he is doing mankind a great service by propagating the species. Regardless, Kate declares that she cannot marry Wilbur because it would ruin his reputation.
...
Wikipedia