UP IN CENTRAL PARK

MOVIE INFORMATION:
Universal International – 1948
1 Hour, 28 Minutes
Black & White

MAIN CREDITS:
Producer…Karl Tunberg
Director…William Seiter
Screenplay…Karl Tunberg
Music…Johnny Green

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Rosie Moore…Deanna Durbin
John Matthews…Dick Haymes
William Tweed…Vincent Price
Timothy Moore…Albert Sharp
Rogan…Tom Powers
Mayor Oakley…Hobart Cavanaugh
Governor Motley…Thurston Hall
Myron Schultz…Howard Freeman

MOVIE SYNOPSIS:
Mayor Oakley is running for re-election in New York City, but Bill Tweed is the one who has most to gain because he is the one really in charge. Bill has broken the law many times to get to his position of power, but a young reporter named John Matthews is suspicious of his activities and is determined to expose him. Right in the middle of the election, Rosie Moore and her father, Timothy arrive fresh from Ireland with thoughts of starting a new life in America. As soon as they step off the boat, one of Bill’s men convinces Timothy to vote 23 times for Mayor Oakley for two dollars a vote. Also, Timothy is appointed superintendent of Central Park because he is so green he won’t suspect any corrupt activities. The Moores move into Central Park and enjoy their new life. Rosie likes to walk in the park and ride the carousel where she meets John who is very attracted to her. Later, while feeding the animals at the zoo, Timothy meets John who doesn’t let on that he is a newspaper reporter. Timothy innocently tells John that some of the animals are being raised for Bill’s dinner table. Soon there is a story in the newspaper about Bill eating the zoo animals, so Bill fires Timothy for talking to the press. When Rosie finds out that John wrote the story she goes to his office and slaps him. She also goes to Bills office and asks him to give her father a second chance. Bill takes the opportunity to invite Rosie to dinner and she accepts, but she doesn’t tell him she intends to invite her father. Together they agree to try to convince John that he is wrong about Bill, but the plan backfires. Rosie doesn’t know it, but her father is taking reading lessons and learns from his teacher that Bill is in fact a very corrupt man. Timothy then tells Rosie about Bill, but she refuses to listen and storms off to an opera audition arranged by him. Later, John and Timothy meet in Central Park and hatch a plan to break into City Hall to find evidence that will expose Bill. They get caught by the Mayor, but convince him that Bill is planning to run another candidate next election. The angry Mayor provides the records exposing Bill which are then printed in the newspaper. All of the corrupt officials run away and Rosie then realizes that John and her father were right about Bill. She apologises and they forgive her.

Rosie Moore (Deanna Durbin) sings Oh Say Can You See written by Sigmund Romberg & Dorothy Fields as she and her father, Timothy Moore (Albert Sharp) prepare to arrive in America.



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For John Matthews (Dick Haymes), it's love at first sight when he sees the beautiful Rosie.



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Rosie enjoys the ride and sings Carousel In The Park written by Sigmund Romberg & Dorothy Fields.



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Rosie is determined to see Boss Tweed to get her father's job back:

Boss Tweed entertains Rosie and Timothy:

After Rosie's amazing rendition of Pace, Pace, Mio Dio from Verdi's LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, Bill Tweed (Vincent Price) hosts a party to celebrate her success.



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Timothy and John forgive Rosie for doubting them in the very last scene of UP IN CENTRAL PARK.

Deanna Durbin and Vincent Price became great friends and would go out for dinner and dancing:



On 6 October, 1987, Deanna Durbin wrote this letter:



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UP IN CENTRAL PARK, based on the Mike Todd Show, starred Deanna Durbin with Dick Haymes and Vincent Price. It was to be directed by Fred Astaire and filmed in Technicolor, but when he and Universal could not come to terms, William Seiter took over. Most of the songs from the stage production were filmed and later deleted. Only Carousel In The Park and When She Walks In The Room remained from the original score. Dorothy Fields and Sigmund Romberg wrote one new number for Deanna, Oh, Say Can You See.

This scene never made it to the movie theatre:

Deanna Durbin checking out the costumes:

This is an obvious mistake in UP IN CENTRAL PARK:

When John and Timothy arrive at City Hall, there is not even a hint of snow on their clothes, even though heavy snow can be seen falling outside the window.

Deanna Durbin having a break during the production of UP IN CENTRAL PARK:

MEMORABLE LINES:

Bill says to Rosie, "I've always believed that if you were strong enough to take something then it ought to belong to you."

Deanna Durbin celebrating her 27th birthday during the production of UP IN CENTRAL PARK: