ONE TOUCH OF VENUS

Year Published: 1940s

Creator: Ralph Du Bois

Description: Shot by amateur filmmaker Ralph Du Bois, this incredible silent film from sometime between 1943-45 takes us behind the scenes of the Broadway production of "One Touch Venus". One Touch of Venus is a 1943 musical with music written by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash, and book by S. J. Perelman and Nash, based on the 1885 novella The Tinted Venus by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, and very loosely spoofing the Pygmalion myth. The show satirizes contemporary American suburban values, artistic fads and romantic and sexual mores. Weill had been in America for eight years by the time he wrote this musical, and his music, though retaining his early haunting power, had evolved into a very different Broadway style. The original Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on October 7, 1943 and closed on February 10, 1945 after 567 performances. It was directed by Elia Kazan, featured choreography by Agnes de Mille, and was co-produced by John Wildberg and Cheryl Crawford. It starred Mary Martin, Kenny Baker and Paula Laurence. At :27 the film starts with the cover of Life Magazine in 1938, introducing actress Mary Martin in an photo spread. At :49, live footage of a Martin performance. At 1:13, Martin is shown putting on makeup at the Imperial Theater, with Du Bois visible in a mirror behind her. At 1:44, a magazine is shown with star John Boles, and he is shown in his dressing room getting ready. At 2:14, informal footage Kenny Baker is shown, followed by American dancer and actress Sono Osato. At 2:37, footage of the stage from the wings and then back to more footage of Mary Martin getting ready. At 2:56, more footage (possibly a rehearsal?) of the musical. At 3:40, Martin seems to be performing and/or interacting with the audience, followed by various footage shot from the wings of a performance. At 4:43, a title card "Foolish Heart" precedes footage of Martin performing the song by Gerard Schwarz. At 6:27, a title card reads "Between the Acts" and "Kenny Baker at Camera", and shows cast members eating and sipping coffee. At 6:45, a performance of "That's Him". At 7:31 footage of the ballet "Venus in Ozone Heights". At 8:34, "Venus Returns to Olympus" and cast making a final bow as the curtain closes. The End.

Complete Record: Shot by amateur filmmaker Ralph Du Bois, this incredible silent film from sometime between 1943-45 takes us behind the scenes of the Broadway production of "One Touch Venus". One Touch of Venus is a 1943 musical with music written by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash, and book by S. J. Perelman and Nash, based on the 1885 novella The Tinted Venus by Thomas Anstey Guthrie, and very loosely spoofing the Pygmalion myth. The show satirizes contemporary American suburban values, artistic fads and romantic and sexual mores. Weill had been in America for eight years by the time he wrote this musical, and his music, though retaining his early haunting power, had evolved into a very different Broadway style. The original Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on October 7, 1943 and closed on February 10, 1945 after 567 performances. It was directed by Elia Kazan, featured choreography by Agnes de Mille, and was co-produced by John Wildberg and Cheryl Crawford. It starred Mary Martin, Kenny Baker and Paula Laurence. At :27 the film starts with the cover of Life Magazine in 1938, introducing actress Mary Martin in an photo spread. At :49, live footage of a Martin performance. At 1:13, Martin is shown putting on makeup at the Imperial Theater, with Du Bois visible in a mirror behind her. At 1:44, a magazine is shown with star John Boles, and he is shown in his dressing room getting ready. At 2:14, informal footage Kenny Baker is shown, followed by American dancer and actress Sono Osato. At 2:37, footage of the stage from the wings and then back to more footage of Mary Martin getting ready. At 2:56, more footage (possibly a rehearsal?) of the musical. At 3:40, Martin seems to be performing and/or interacting with the audience, followed by various footage shot from the wings of a performance. At 4:43, a title card "Foolish Heart" precedes footage of Martin performing the song by Gerard Schwarz. At 6:27, a title card reads "Between the Acts" and "Kenny Baker at Camera", and shows cast members eating and sipping coffee. At 6:45, a performance of "That's Him". At 7:31 footage of the ballet "Venus in Ozone Heights". At 8:34, "Venus Returns to Olympus" and cast making a final bow as the curtain closes. The End.