Movie |
Musical | Pen Pals
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Best Written American Musical | 1950 | Frances
Budget 3,400,000 USD
Buster Keaton was working as a gag writer at MGM when this movie was made. The filmmakers approached him to devise a way for a violin to get broken that would be both comic and plausible. Keaton came up with an appropriate fall, and the filmmakers then realized he was the only one who would be able to execute it properly, so they cast him in the film. Keaton also devised the sequence in which Van Johnson inadvertently wrecks Judy Garland's hat, and coached Johnson intensively in how to perform the scene. This was the first MGM film Keaton appeared in since being fired from the studio in 1933.
Liza Minnelli appears in the final scene. She's the "Babe in Arms" held by Andrew Delby Larkin (portrayed by Van Johnson) and Veronica Fisher (portrayed by her mother, Judy Garland), as the credits start to roll, "The End; Made in Hollywood, U.S.A. by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer". It was Liza's (uncredited) film debut.
Marcia Van Dyke who played Louise Parkson was an accomplished violinist and did all her own playing in the film.
Charles Smith, who plays an uncredited role as a member of the barbershop quartet also played the role of Rudy in the The Shop Around the Corner (1940), an early version of the storyline for this movie.
The original story of anonymous romantic correspondence between antagonistic coworkers came from "Parfumerie," a 1937 play by Hungarian playwright Miklos Laszlo. Ernst Lubitsch loved the story and bought the rights to the play, eventually adapting it for the big screen as "The Shop Around the Corner" (1940) with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. The same story was then remade as the movie musical "In the Good Old Summertime" (1949) with Van Johnson and Judy Garland, and later as the contemporary rom-com "You've Got Mail" (1998) with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
"[last lines] Veronica Fisher: Psychologically, I'm very confused, but personally I feel just wonderful."
"Veronica Fisher: I wish you could read his letters. Then you could see he has such a lofty point of view. Andrew Delby Larkin: [sitting close and speaking in a low voice] Loft? Veronica Fisher: [starts to scoot away] And now to find out he's so materialistic. Andrew Delby Larkin: [putting his arm around her shoulders and drawing her close again] Materialistic, too? I'm sorry. I hate to think I've spoiled your Christmas. Veronica Fisher: Oh, no, you haven't. I supposed I really should be thanking you. Andrew Delby Larkin: [whispering] You don't have to do that, but you know what I wish you would do. I wish you would send this Newspickle about his business and concentrate on me instead. Veronica Fisher: [turing her back to him] I can't, you already have someone. Andrew Delby Larkin: [kissing her neck] Oh, no, not yet. Veronica Fisher: [stammering] Mr. Larkin... Andrew Delby Larkin: After all it is Christmas. Veronica Fisher: I know, but... Andrew Delby Larkin: [pulling her close] Oh, Veronica, I love you so! Won't you open box 237 and take me out of my envelope? Veronica Fisher: [turns to face] Box 23- box 237! You mean... You? Andrew Delby Larkin: Dear Friend. Are you disappointed? Veronica Fisher: Psychologically, I'm very confused, but personally I feel just wonderful."
