WITHOUT RESERVATIONS

DIRECTED BY MERVYN LeROY
PRODUCED BY JESSE L. LASKEY/ WALTER MacEWEN
MUSIC BY ROY WEBB
RKO RADIO PICTURES

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/mp03293.jpg..http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c187/john-wayne/John%20Wayne/E3048A64-DB96-8599-FBC016420E066E50.jpg

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary
Kit Madden is traveling to Hollywood, where her best-selling novel is to be filmed.
Aboard the train, she encounters Marines Rusty and Dink, who don't know she is the author of the famous book,
and who don't think much of the ideas it proposes. She and Rusty are greatly attracted, but she doesn't know how to deal with his disdain for the book's author.
Summary written by Jim Beaver

Full Cast
Claudette Colbert .... Christopher 'Kit' Madden
John Wayne .... Rusty Thomas
Don DeFore .... 1st Lt. Dink Watson
Anne Triola .... Consuela 'Connie' Callaghan
Phil Brown .... Soldier
Frank Puglia .... Ortega
Thurston Hall .... Henry Baldwin
Dona Drake .... Dolores Ortega
Fernando Alvarado .... Mexican boy
Charles Arnt .... Salesman
Louella Parsons .... Herself (as Miss Louella Parsons)
Frank Wilcox .... Jack
Eric Alden .... Chauffeur (uncredited)
Jose Alvarado .... Mexican boy (uncredited)
Ernest Anderson .... Waiter (uncredited)
Robert Anderson .... Radio announcer (uncredited)
Lois Austin .... Congresswoman (uncredited)
Griff Barnett .... Train conductor (uncredited)
William 'Billy' Benedict .... Western Union Telegraph boy (uncredited)
Lee Bennett .... Soldier (uncredited)
Jack Benny .... Himself (uncredited)
John Bleifer .... Coal heaver (uncredited)
Lela Bliss .... Mrs. Bertha Randall (uncredited)
Marilyn Buferd .... WAC (uncredited)
Raymond Burr .... Paul Gill (uncredited)
William Challee .... Corporal (aviator advising train porter) (uncredited)
Tom Chatterton .... Pullman conductor (uncredited)
Fred Coby .... French officer (uncredited)
John Crawford .... Soldier (uncredited)
Roger Creed .... Marine (uncredited)
Frank Dae .... Man with book (uncredited)
Sid Davies .... Marine (uncredited)
Harold Davis .... Marine (uncredited)
Dick Dickerson .... Young sailor (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson .... Redcap (uncredited)
Tay Dunn .... Navy ensign (uncredited)
George Economides .... Mexican Boy (uncredited)
Michael Economides .... Mexican boy (uncredited)
Charles Elmergreen .... Marine (uncredited)
Herbert Espinosa .... Mexican boy (uncredited)
Charles Evans .... Philip Jerome (publisher) (uncredited)
Harry Evans .... Traveler (uncredited)
Joel Fluellen .... Waiter in club car (uncredited)
Jon Gilbreath .... Navy NCO (uncredited)
June Glory .... Girl (uncredited)
Lisa Golm .... Alma (Kit's maid) (uncredited)
Cary Grant .... Himself (uncredited)
Jesse Graves .... Porter (uncredited)
Paul Gustine .... Traveler (uncredited)
Thelma Gyrath .... WAC (uncredited)
Charlie Hall .... Window washer (uncredited)
Grayce Hampton .... Lois (uncredited)
Henry Hastings .... Waiter (uncredited)
Joe Haworth .... Marine (uncredited)
Harry Hayden .... Harry Randall (Albuquerque hotel clerk) (uncredited)
Hirohito .... Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Harry Holman .... Gas station attendant (uncredited)
Esther Howard .... Sarah (Book Club member) (uncredited)
Ralph Hubbard .... Sailor (uncredited)
Tom Hubbard .... Marine (uncredited)
Brock Hunt .... Army lieutenant (uncredited)
J. Louis Johnson .... Car porter (uncredited)
Toshikazu Kase .... Himself (assists Shigemitsu) (archive footage) (uncredited)
John Kellogg .... Reporter (uncredited)
Cy Kendall .... Bail bondsman (uncredited)
Jean Koehler .... Western Union operator (uncredited)
Mervyn LeRoy .... Cameo appearance (dining with Kit) (uncredited)
Bruce Lester .... Army lieutenant (uncredited)
Rose Mary Lopez .... Mexican girl (uncredited)
Leona Maricle .... Baldwin's secretary (uncredited)
Junius Matthews .... Porter (uncredited)
Sam McDaniel .... Freddy (club car waiter) (uncredited)
Peter Michael .... Marine (uncredited)
Chef Milani .... Diner captain (uncredited)
Art Miles .... Truck driver (uncredited)
Marvin Miller .... Louella's radio announcer (uncredited)
Henry Mirelez .... Mexican boy (uncredited)
Charles R. Moore .... Redcap (uncredited)
Dolores Moran .... Herself (uncredited)
William O'Leary .... Candy Butcher (uncredited)
Oscar O'Shea .... Conductor (uncredited)
Jack Parker .... Soldier (uncredited)
Bob Pepper .... Man (uncredited)
Lorin Raker .... Mr. Klotch (uncredited)
Verne Richards .... Brakeman (uncredited)
Ruth Roman .... Girl in Negligee (uncredited)
Al Rosen .... Train mechanic (uncredited)
Erskine Sanford .... Timothy Helgelander (liquor store proprietor) (uncredited)
Wallace Scott .... Gas station attendant in Albuquerque (uncredited)
Bill Shannon .... Marine (uncredited)
Mamoru Shigemitsu .... Himself (with top hat, prepares to sign Japanese surrender) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Robin Short .... Reporter (uncredited)
Warren Smith .... Chauffeur (uncredited)
Houseley Stevenson .... The turnkey (uncredited)
Harry Strang .... Policeman (uncredited)
Miguel Tapia .... Mexican boy (uncredited)
Bill Udell .... Navy NCO (uncredited)
Minerva Urecal .... Sue (Book Club member) (uncredited)
Nanette Vallon .... Reporter (uncredited)
Blanca Vischer .... Mexican beauty (uncredited)
Henry Vroom .... Soldier (uncredited)
Bob Wallace .... Marine (uncredited)
Lee 'Lasses' White .... Marine (uncredited)
Russ Whiteman .... Sailor (uncredited)
Jane Wiley .... Manicurist (uncredited)
Charles Williams .... Louis Burt (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe .... Charlie Gibbs (reporter) (uncredited)
Jean Wong .... Reporter (uncredited)
Will Wright .... Pullman conductor (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Jane Allen novel Thanks, God! I'll Take It From Here
Mae Livingston novel Thanks, God! I'll Take It From Here
Andrew Solt

Produced
Jesse L. Lasky .... producer
Walter MacEwen .... producer

Original Music
Roy Webb

Cinematography
Milton R. Krasner

Trivia
The opening shot shows "Arrowhead" Pictures motion picture studio. This is the actual RKO Pictures Studio Building at 780 Gower Street in Hollywood, retouched with "Arrowhead" replacing the RKO signs on the building. It remains a historic structure on the corner to this day.

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on August 26, 1946 with Claudette Colbert reprising her film role.

Goofs
# Continuity: Just before Louella Parsons is seen in the radio studio, an exterior shot shows a building with the name NBC. But when Parsons is at the mic, it is marked ABC.

# Revealing mistakes: The "newsreel" shows a man in a hole in the sidewalk with a shovel clearly too big for him to have used to dig the hole.

Filming Locations
RKO Studios

Hi,
Released in 1946, this frothy, little comedy, certainly does not rank
as one of Duke's better films,but reviewers liked it, for all its flaws.
It was not well scripted, but it captured the atmosphere,
of the energy and joy, of America returning to peace.
Duke was to get better at comedic roles, but in this one, it wasn't quite there..
There was very little chemistry between he and Claudette Colbert.
Duke seemed to lack timing in his delivery, and at times seemed wooden.
Neither one of them wanted to make the movie, but were swayed by the choice of
Mervyn Le Roy, as director.
LeRoy, began a friendship with Duke from this point, the movie came across as a heavy-handed imitation of IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT , Colberts, Oscar winning, big hit, of 1934.
Author: Wayne Malin, from United States.From IMDb
Cute comedy about a novelist (Claudette Colbert) who meets a soldier (John Wayne) and realizes she loves him. There's more to it than that, but that's the bare bones of the plot. The movie moves quickly, is VERY funny and who knew John Wayne could do comedy so well? Colbert beautiful and charming (as always).*
There's also a few appearances from stars of that era. Bright, breezy...well worth seeing.
Well from the above, at least one fan, thought it funny.
Duke made a fortune out of the film, but it proved mediocre as a movie.
Inexpensive to make, it made the VARIETY list of top grossing films, finishing that year in 43rd. place, and made an outstanding profit for RKO .
It was a film, that everyone, wanted to finish and move on.
Rating 5/10

This title is available from Amazon, for a price! Starting at $34.99, for supposedly a used VHS copy! I suspect it might be out on DVD within a year or less, for less money.

Over at Bygone Video, it seems to be available for $16.95 plus shipping.

I haven't seen this movie myself, but would like to someday.

Chester :newyear:

The UK DVD release is in fact a region 0 (no region coding) so anyone can order this from Europe. I know Amazon.co.uk claims t's a region 2 movie but this information is wrong. The DVD is marked region 0 and I have also verified this with software.

The price is 10 £, but I bet you can find it for less on some web sites if you do a search.

Regards
Popol Vuh

Hi all,
I bought the Pal VHS at e-bay at very low price. I like this movie and can't agree with Keith.
It is something strange with the memorable qoutes.
Regards,
Vera

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Feb 18 2006, 12:19 PM
Memorable Quotes

Dinkey Hooley: Where's this cousin of yours at?
Dare Rudd: Wyoming
Dinkey Hooley: Where do your figure Wyoming's at?
Dare Rudd: Right over yonder beyond that hill... unless somebody's moved it.

Fallon: Get out of here! The Sheriff's comin'!
Dinkey Hooley: I think we're on the wrong side.
Dare Rudd: This is no time to think!

Tom Fillmore: Why don't you get married and settle down? Why, you're running around like a maverick without a brand on.
Dare Rudd: Well, I don't like branding. It hurts in the wrong place.

Dinkey Hooley: Too bad to waste such good food on just ordinary cowboys. Why, this kind of food is fittin' for human beings.
Cowboy: Well, I ain't human and that ain't fittin'!
Dinkey Hooley: Sink your teeth into those biscuits.
Cowboy: Last time I did, two of 'em stayed there!

INFORMATION IMDb
27460

Keith,
These are from the "Born to the West" aka Hell Town :headbonk:
You dislike Without Reservations that much?
Regards,
Vera

Hi Vera,

Thanks, I put it in the wrong review,
anyway, it's now in it's rightful place.

No I didn't like the film that much,
I thought it was contrived and weak,
and the chemistry was non-existent.

Did you click on the nice photo, now in the Biog?

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Feb 23 2006, 11:18 PM

Did you click on the nice photo, now in the Biog?
27832


In the BIog? You mean the beginning of the topic - yes. It is really very nice! :rolleyes:

Hi Keith,
And is there some memorable quotes from this movie? I like the dialoge in it.
Regards,
Vera

Hi Vera,

Yes, the Photo, or little caption links
are placed at the beginning of the Biographies.
and indeed 'Pals of the Saddle's'
Strangely, there no quotes, in print,
but I am sure, between us all, we'll come up with some!

Remember one, but not sure about right spelling

- No pilot get that tired

:D :rolleyes:

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Feb 24 2006, 12:41 PM
Hi Vera,

Yes, the Photo, or little caption links
are placed at the beginning of the Biographies.
and indeed 'Pals of the Saddle's'
Strangely, there no quotes, in print,
but I am sure, between us all, we'll come up with some!
27866


Hi Keith,
you got these photos from IMDB or from your own sources. I looked throw some others and found that the photo from Sands of Iwo Jima is also very good, with some other goes the covers of DVD and VHS boxes. May be some members could add to the films topics some exellent photos if they have them? Just a suggestion.
Regards,
Vera :rolleyes:

Movie Review of the Week

This is our current, review,
any more views or comments on this film?

Thanks

Here is one movie that certainly ranks at the bottom of John Wayne's films for me. All three main actors were at least 10 - 15 years older than the characters they were suppose to be playing. The 'aeroplane' scene on the train, where Miss Klotz is drunk is pain-inducing to watch. The jokes are forced, and the direction is sloppy. My rating of this one would be a 2/10...

We don't seem to own this title, so have not seen it, but it seems it has been well discussed on this board in the past.

In any case, in this day and age, we generally prefer not to buy movies in a VHS format, but made an exception (especially it doesn't seem to be available anywhere on DVD :D ).

So we will have to chime in on this conversation a little later, after receiving and viewing the movie.

Chester :newyear:

Originally posted by chester7777@Feb 25 2006, 05:54 AM
. . . it seems it has been well discussed on this board in the past.
27922
Well, perhaps not well discussed, but a few people had good things to say about it -

post by AEC23 (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=239&view=findpost&p=1755)

another mention by AEC23 in "most underrated Duke movies" ('http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=169&view=findpost&p=1939')

some interest and discussion in The Trading Post, from 2003 (http://www.dukewayne.com/showthread.php?t=318)

Chester :newyear:

Hi all,
It seems there was opposite opinions about this movie. I think it is more womans movie. And it is funny to see how literary minded woman imagine the ideal man to herself and when meet the one - Duke of course and find some things very different. I like many lines from the movie, but I had it on VHS (without subtitels), so afraid to post it to avoid mistakes.
Regards,
Vera :rolleyes:

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Feb 23 2006, 12:18 PM
. . . I thought . . . the chemistry was non-existent.27832
I think there was a chemistry there, but it got turned on and off like a water faucet, and we particularly didn't care for the way Duke's character was so easily swayed by "a new skirt" - that was disheartening.

Originally posted by falc04@Feb 25 2006, 04:16 AM
The 'aeroplane' scene on the train, where Miss Klotz is drunk is pain-inducing to watch.27921
I would have to agree, this particular scene was wildly contrived, but I guess she had to do something to get in trouble and thrown off the train.

Overall, we enjoyed the movie. It would probably rank a 6 out of 10 in our book.

Chester :newyear:

The first poster is like the one posted in Keith's introductory post, and the second is a 1953 reissue poster.

Haven't seen all of it, but Jack Benny is in it and I am a Benny fan as well.

Not a movie that to my knowledge I have seen. If it appears on TV I must watch.


Mike

Hi


it's a good film with a cast list that is like a who's who making guest appearances.

First, let me start off by saying I have always disliked this film. The plot is beyond juvenile and the lead actors were much too old to be playing the poorly written characters they were portraying in the story.

Seeing as I just received the new Warner box set, and that this film was included, I decided to see if time away from it had somehow made it a better movie. And do you know what I found...it's still a turkey! You know a movie is bad, when you keep checking the time to see how much longer it'll be before it ends. Claudette Colbert's every line delivery has a wine to it, that just gets under your skin (ooooohhhhhhh, Russssttttttty). And when was the last time an author of a book was treated like Queen Elizabeth. The film just goes on-and-on-and-on-and-on, and nothing ever happens.

This one is so bad, I can't ever imagine another time when I'll look thru all my Duke DVDs, and want to watch this one again.

First, let me start off by saying I have always disliked this film. The plot is beyond juvenile and the lead actors were much too old to be playing the poorly written characters they were portraying in the story.

Seeing as I just received the new Warner box set, and that this film was included, I decided to see if time away from it had somehow made it a better movie. And do you know what I found...it's still a turkey! You know a movie is bad, when you keep checking the time to see how much longer it'll be before it ends. Claudette Colbert's every line delivery has a wine to it, that just gets under your skin (ooooohhhhhhh, Russssttttttty). And when was the last time an author of a book was treated like Queen Elizabeth. The film just goes on-and-on-and-on-and-on, and nothing ever happens.

This one is so bad, I can't ever imagine another time when I'll look thru all my Duke DVDs, and want to watch this one again.
Hi Falc,
That you totally dislike this movie I understand quite well - my opinion is totally opposite, so it is nothing to descuss. What interests me - is DVD version is worth buying (I have this movie at VHS) and are there any features in this collection?
Regards,
Senta

Hi Falc,
That you totally dislike this movie I understand quite well - my opinion is totally opposite, so it is nothing to descuss. What interests me - is DVD version is worth buying (I have this movie at VHS) and are there any features in this collection?
Regards,
Senta

Hi Senta,

The DVD does have some minor extras, but nothing in connection with the film. For what it's worth, the transfer is fairly sharp, so if your a fan of the film (which it appears you are), then I do not believe you'd be disappointed with purchasing it.

And let me say, out of all the films Duke made during his long career, I could count the number of unwatchable ones on one hand. This just happens to be one of them (along with Reunion In France and Lady For A Night).

Hi Falc,
Thank you for the information. I'm planning to buy the whole collection - two of the titels I never seen (Trouble along the Way and Reunion in France), others I have mostly on VHS.
May be I shall like Reunion in France too?
Regards,
Senta

After watching this movie I realize why I only watched it one other time so long ago on VHS. It was a weak movie that was cute but had no substance. I'm not sure if it would get better, and I thought that Duke did his best to make it work, but the script and story line was not good. It is obvious that the cameos from Cary Grant and Jack Benny was put in to give it a little strength, but it just didn't take off. It is almost like Planes, Trains & Automobiles but worse. I know that most of you would say to Duke back then to stick with westerns and war movies.

I will watch this movie again, but it may be a long time when I forget about it. This is a part of the collection that came out last month.

Cheers :cool:

Hi Mike


1946 I would imagine it was around about this time that Duke was finally emerging from his spell of being the beefcake for the female stars like Joan Crawford and Claudette Colbert two years later he was starring in his own right.


Regards

Arthur

We just received the DVD also, not one of our favorites.

Chester :newyear:

I have not seen this film but, fro the sounds of it, it sounds like looking at the poster artwork is much more satisfying? ;-D

There were times when this film worked for me and others when the script did Ms Colbert no favors IMO. I have owned it for many years and only watched it three times. That sums it up for me.

This title is available from Amazon, for a price! Starting at $34.99, for supposedly a used VHS copy! I suspect it might be out on DVD within a year or less, for less money.

Over at Bygone Video, it seems to be available for $16.95 plus shipping
Quite a bit of time has transpired since I posted the above information. If you've read through this thread, you can see Without Reservations is available as part of a boxed set, and also on its own in DVD, from Amazon, for $11.49.

Chester :newyear:

I only recently bought this DVD and quite liked it. Can't say it's one of my top favourite films but enjoyable. It reminded me a little of It Happend One Night but that didn't bother me. The only time my eyebrow went up was after Rusty had as much confessed to be in love with Kit and he forgot all about her when that Mexican girl came in sight. All in all it gave me a few good chuckles and I definately will watch it again.

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Without Reservations (1946), starring Claudette Colbert and John Wayne, will air on TCM on Friday, August 12, at 4:15 p.m. EST. August 12 is Claudette Colbert day on TCM. August is "Summer Under the Stars" month where each day is dedicated to the films of one actor.

TCM description: "A woman writer falls for a war hero who's a perfect match for the hero of her latest novel."

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I actually enjoyed this movie quite a bit, I thought it was mildly entertaining with a few good laughs. John Wayne was very funny at times, with good timing in his delivery. I also liked Colbert in the role of the author, she was great and I felt some chemistry beween the two.

A cosy little film I won't mind revisiting every now and then.

This film, along with Reunion In France, are the only two films in John Wayne's long career, that I can never bring myself to watch again. All three leads were just too old to play the parts of such juvenile characters. This was painful obvious during the meeting with the Mexican family. The good news...the end of this film would mark the start of probably his greatest 10-year stretch of his moviemaking career.

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