Four Girls in Town

This Hollywood drama begins with a world-wide search for an actress to play the title role in an upcoming epic "The Story of Esther", since Manning Studios is having issues with their temperamental star Rita Holloway (Helene Stanton). Four are finally chosen: an Austrian (Marianne Cook (Koch)), an Italian (Elsa Martinelli), a Frenchwoman (Gia Scala) and an American (Julie Adams), all brunette beauties. There's some fascinating backstage, back-lot sequences, all shot on the Universal-International sets. Some of the women find love after some trials and tribulations. The men include George Nader, John Gavin, Sydney Chaplin, Grant Williams, Maurice Marsac. There's also an unexpected denouement at the end. The story receives tremendous boost by being photographed in color and Cinemascope (although I haven't seen it in widescreen). The day and night beach scenes are striking, the music by Alex North is fascinating, costumes by Rosemary Odell beautiful. The supporting cast is filled with familiar faces, all excellent, with Mabel Albertson in particular a standout as Adams' pushy stage mother.

Actor Judson Pratt IS credited.

Art Direction by Alexander Golitzen and "Haworth". It can be assumed this is Ted Haworth.

Music Supervision by Joseph Gershenson; "Rhapsody for Four Girls" composed by Alex North

Assistant Director: Dick Maybery (one "r")

CinemaScope/Technicolor.

Credits above are from the film print itself.

Also, I have tried MANY times to get this credit added - to no avail: Jose Ferrer appears UNCREDITED as a movie director in this film.

This is a true sleeper of a "B" film. It is a film about Hoillywood filmmakers by Hollywood filmmakers--when there was still a "Hollywood"--comprised of studios and people who tried, on whatever level of ideas--to be professional about participating in a marketplace of a sort relating to talents, scripts, films, advertising and selling of these to ticket buyers. There are several strands of story at work in this narrative. A studio sexpot, "friend" of a producer, wants a part in a classic drama for which she unsuited; she balks at her assignment, so the studio's heads then decide to conduct a talent search, inviting four actresses to test for the part a la Gone With the Wing, to generate publicity. . A young studio functionary directs their visit and screen tests, one who want to be allowed to direct eventually. And we learn about the four hopefuls and get to see their progress and their reactions to Hollywood. George Nader plays Mike, the young director; the four girls are Julie Adams, Marianne Koch, Elsa Martinelli and Gia Scala. The men in their lives are Syndey Chaplin, Grant Williams, and John Gavin, as well as Nader. Jack Sher was both writer and director of this well- made Universal Studios' effort. Others in the large and interesting cast included Herbert Anderson, Hy Averback, Ainslie Pryor, Dave Barry, James Bell, Mabel Albertson, Maurice Marsac, Helene Stanto, Irene Corlett and Eugene Mazzola. Alexander North did the excellent music, Julia Heron the set decorations and Rosemary O'Dell the challenging costumes. The film is fascinatingly different, bright, and well-paced. The young cast is unusually-sincere and some such as Marianne Koch and Chaplin surprisingly good. The climax of course comes when the four aspirants face the studio heads' choice of a leading lady; some have already made life-choices before the announcement is made, others are paired off with the gentlemen; but the choice comes as a shock to all concerned--and life in a Hollywood of minds committing professional suicide through lack of clear definitions goes another step toward TV-hastened oblivion. This is a not a stylish nor a pretentious film; it is however intensely interesting as an "insider" film about Hollywood; and it is very entertaining as a presentation of characters and filmland types. recommended.

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Rita Holloway, the temperamental actor, always seen from behind wants a 50% cut for being the lead in a film made by a film studio. The film is being made by Universal Studios in the mid-1950's and the producers fight against her wishes and look for a woman to replace her. End of logic. The studio travels around Europe bringing Marianne Koch from Austria; Elsa Martinelli from Italy; Gia Scala from France and only Julie Adams from America. Why they go so far afield is never really explained and George Nader has to find the right actor for the part. The casting couch is hilariously not mentioned despite the fact that each woman has an ardent admirer. One of the failed choices goes off to Las Vegas for the fun of it with Grant Williams an actor in reality who was being gently pushed out of Universal Studios himself. No more spoilers. ' Four Girls in Town ' starts with a great film score composed by Alex North, and it sets off the momentum which does not let up. This is a ' lost ' film to be found on YouTube and it is not in its original Cinemascope. Despite the sad fact that few people know much about these actors in 2024 it should be restored. In its own way it is examining Hollywood practices of the time and most of the acting is very good. Sydney Chaplin and Marianne Koch are exceptionally fine in their roles, and Elsa Martinelli is a joy to watch. Even the words ' The End ' are hilariously placed, and when it comes down to it it is all about Rita Holloway. A fun film with serious aspects; not least the loss in Hollywood of most of its actors.

If only the life of a starlet in the 50s was this bland. No Hollywood wolves, no casting couch, etc.

The film is still boring with a plot stretched thin. There are no good lines. This film is so dull it doesn't even have camp value.

It does give jobs to Universal contract players. It got Julie Adams out of the Black Lagoon. It was a start for John Gavin who went on to become Universal's male beauty for the next seven years. Grant Williams was soon dropped after this picture.

Others along for this sleepwalk are the three European actresses and body builder turned wooden actor George Nader.

YouTube saved this film from total oblivion.