Up in Central Park
Central Park
1948 · United States · 84 min
- Director
- William A. Seiter
- Screenplay
- Karl Tunberg
- Producer
- Karl Tunberg
- Music
- Johnny Green
- Cinematography
- Milton Krasner
- Production company
- Universal Pictures
- Based on
- Up in Central Park
Cast
What it is about
In 1870s New York, an illiterate Irish immigrant and his singing daughter arrive in the city hoping for a better life. They soon find themselves caught up in the electoral machine of Tammany Hall, run by Boss Tweed, while a young New York Times reporter tries to stand up to the powerful politician.
How it was made
Universal bought the rights to the Broadway musical as a vehicle for Deanna Durbin, and Fred Astaire was initially considered as director, although that plan never materialized. Karl Tunberg wrote the screenplay and ended up producing the film, changed the names of real figures to avoid legal trouble, and focused the story on two Irish immigrants. William A. Seiter directed a 52-day shoot that began in October 1947 and was ultimately filmed in black and white for reasons of cost.
Reception and legacy
Information about its critical and commercial reception is limited, so any general assessment should be treated with caution. It is remembered mainly as a studio musical of the late 1940s and as the screen debut of Albert Sharpe.
Stills
Trivia
A director who never arrived
Vincent Price recalled taking the role because Fred Astaire was going to direct, but Astaire quit on the first day of filming.
Screen debut
Albert Sharpe, who had appeared in Finian's Rainbow on Broadway and was loaned by RKO, made his film debut here.
From color to black and white
The project had been planned in Technicolor, but the new production head chose black and white for its lower cost and because of delays at the color laboratory.
More films by William A. Seiter
Sons of the Desert
Roberta
You Were Never Lovelier
The Little Princess
Room Service
If I Had a MillionOriginal Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.