Holiday for Sinners * (1952, Gig Young, Keenan Wynn, Janice Rule, Richard Anderson, William Campbell) – Classic Movie Review 12,506

MGM’s well-meaning 1952 drama film Holiday for Sinners is produced by John Houseman, and stars Gig Young, Keenan Wynn and Janice Rule. 

Director Gerald Mayer’s well-meaning 1952 MGM American drama film Holiday for Sinners is produced by John Houseman, is written by A I Bezzerides, based on a novel by Hamilton Basso, and stars Gig Young, Keenan Wynn, Janice Rule, Richard Anderson, and William Campbell.

Gig Young, Janice Rule, Richard Anderson and William Campbell play four young people brought up in New Orleans and on holiday at Mardi Gras. The three men all face various crises on the last weekend of Mardi Gras.

The very decent actors try hard with the earnest and sincere, but lukewarm script from the 1939 novel Days Before Lent by Hamilton Basso. But, even with help from more experienced Keenan Wynn and Porter Hall, it doesn’t provide much of a show.

Also in the cast are Michael Chekhov, Edith Barrett, Ralph Dumke, Jack Raine, and Sandro Giglio.

It flopped. Costing $767,000, it took just $383,000 globally at the box office, resulting in a $562,000 loss to MGM.

Release date: July 25, 1952.

Running time: 72 minutes.

Gerald Mayer was born on 5 June 1919, the nephew of MGM studios owner Louis B Mayer and the son of studio manager Jerry Mayer.

He directed The Violent Hour, Inside Straight, The Sellout, Holiday for Sinners, The Marauders and Diamond Safari before a long, busy TV career.

The cast are Gig Young as Dr Jason Kent, Keenan Wynn as Joe Piavi, Janice Rule as Susan Corvier, William Campbell as Danny Farber, Richard Anderson as Father Victor Carducci, Michael Chekhov as Dr Konndorff, Sandro Giglio as Nick Muto, Edith Barrett as Mrs Corvier, Porter Hall as Louie, Ralph Dumke as Mike Hennighan, Jack Raine as Dr. Surtees, Frank de Kova as the Wiry Man, and Will Wright as the Man with a Cigar.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,506

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