Lizzie (1957 film)
Lizzie is a 1957 American film noir drama film directed by Hugo Haas. The film is based on the 1954 novel The Bird's Nest by Shirley Jackson and stars Eleanor Parker, Richard Boone and Joan Blondell. The popular songs "It's Not for Me to Say" and "Warm and Tender" were written for this film, and performed by Johnny Mathis, who played a piano player/singer in the film. (Both songs were subsequently included in Mathis' fifth album, Johnny's Greatest Hits). The film was produced by MGM Studios.
| Lizzie | |
|---|---|
 Film ad | |
| Directed by | Hugo Haas |
| Produced by | Jerry Bresler |
| Screenplay by | Mel Dinelli |
| Based on | The Bird's Nest 1954 novel by Shirley Jackson |
| Starring | Eleanor Parker Richard Boone Joan Blondell |
| Music by | Leith Stevens |
| Cinematography | Paul Ivano |
| Edited by | Leon Barsha |
| Color process | Black and white |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $361,000[1] |
| Box office | $555,000[1] |
Plot
Elizabeth (Eleanor Parker) has recurring headaches and is plagued with insomnia. She is receiving letters from a woman called Lizzie, but Elizabeth can't remember knowing anyone named Lizzie. When Elizabeth is under hypnosis, her psychiatrist, Dr. Wright (Richard Boone), discovers Elizabeth has three personalities: The shy Elizabeth, the Mr. Hyde-like Lizzie, and the kind, well-adjusted Beth, the woman she always should have been. It is up to Dr. Wright to help Elizabeth to become Beth completely.
Cast
- Eleanor Parker as Elizabeth Richmond
- Richard Boone as Dr. Neal Wright
- Joan Blondell as Aunt Morgan
- Hugo Haas as Walter Brenner
- Ric Roman as Johnny Valenzo
- Dorothy Arnold as Elizabeth's mother
- Marion Ross as Ruth Seaton
- Johnny Mathis as Piano Singer
Reception
According to MGM records the film earned $280,000 in the US and Canada and $275,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $154,000.[1]
Shirley Jackson, the author of the novel on which Lizzie was based, was reportedly unimpressed with the film, calling it "Abbott and Costello meet a multiple personality."[2]
See also
References
- The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- Franklin, Ruth (2017). Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life. New York: Liveright. p. 353. ISBN 978-1631493416. OCLC 971350477.
External links
- Lizzie on IMDb
- Lizzie at AllMovie
- Lizzie at the TCM Movie Database
- Lizzie at the American Film Institute Catalog