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An American Romance

  • 19441944
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
539
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards in An American Romance (1944)
  • Drama
Stefan Dangos immigrates to America and works his way up from the iron mines and steel mills to become a great American success story as an industrialist.Stefan Dangos immigrates to America and works his way up from the iron mines and steel mills to become a great American success story as an industrialist.Stefan Dangos immigrates to America and works his way up from the iron mines and steel mills to become a great American success story as an industrialist.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
539
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • King Vidor
  • Writers
    • King Vidor(story)
    • Herbert Dalmas(screenplay)
    • William Ludwig(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Brian Donlevy
    • Ann Richards
    • Walter Abel
Top credits
  • Director
    • King Vidor
  • Writers
    • King Vidor(story)
    • Herbert Dalmas(screenplay)
    • William Ludwig(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Brian Donlevy
    • Ann Richards
    • Walter Abel
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos16

    Brian Donlevy and Bob Lowell in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy, Walter Abel, Erville Alderson, J.M. Kerrigan, and John Qualen in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy, Walter Abel, Erville Alderson, Arthur Belasco, Bill Borzage, Edmund Breon, George Bunny, Harry Cording, Jack Deery, Jimmie Dodd, Larry Grenier, Edward Hearn, Charles Irwin, J.M. Kerrigan, Ethan Laidlaw, Harold Landon, Mitchell Lewis, George Magrill, John Merton, Robert Emmett O'Connor, John Qualen, Harry Semels, and Duke York in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy, Joseph Crehan, James Carlisle, Tom Chatterton, Jimmie Dodd, Earle Hodgins, Bert Howard, Nolan Leary, Edmund Mortimer, Pat O'Malley, and Elliott Sullivan in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy, Fred Aldrich, Harry Semels, and Jimmy Griffin in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy, Paul Porcasi, and Ann Richards in An American Romance (1944)
    Brian Donlevy and Charles Bates in An American Romance (1944)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brian Donlevy
    Brian Donlevy
    • Stefan Dubechek aka Steve Dangosas Stefan Dubechek aka Steve Dangos
    Ann Richards
    Ann Richards
    • Anna O'Rourke Dangosas Anna O'Rourke Dangos
    Walter Abel
    Walter Abel
    • Howard Clintonas Howard Clinton
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Anton Dubechekas Anton Dubechek
    Stephen McNally
    Stephen McNally
    • Teddy Roosevelt Dangosas Teddy Roosevelt Dangos
    • (as Horace McNally)
    • …
    Mary McLeod
    • Katina 'Tina' Dangosas Katina 'Tina' Dangos
    Bob Lowell
    • George Washington Dangosas George Washington Dangos
    Ernie Adams
    Ernie Adams
    • Man and Dog Actas Man and Dog Act
    • (uncredited)
    Erville Alderson
    Erville Alderson
    • Olson - Detroit Auto Works Technicianas Olson - Detroit Auto Works Technician
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Aldrich
    Fred Aldrich
    • Assembly Line Workeras Assembly Line Worker
    • (uncredited)
    Axel Anderson
    • Immigrantas Immigrant
    • (uncredited)
    King Baggot
    King Baggot
    • Graduation Ceremony Attendeeas Graduation Ceremony Attendee
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Bates
    Charles Bates
    • Teddy Roosevelt Dangos - Age 8as Teddy Roosevelt Dangos - Age 8
    • (uncredited)
    Barbara Bedford
    Barbara Bedford
    • Hospitable Farm Womanas Hospitable Farm Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur Belasco
    • Drowsy Mineras Drowsy Miner
    • (uncredited)
    Leon Belasco
    Leon Belasco
    • Cigar Store Proprietoras Cigar Store Proprietor
    • (uncredited)
    Art Berry Sr.
    • Customs Manas Customs Man
    • (uncredited)
    Anna Marie Biggs
    • Girl Sopranoas Girl Soprano
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • King Vidor
    • Writers
      • King Vidor(story)
      • Herbert Dalmas(screenplay)
      • William Ludwig(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Stefan Dangos immigrates to America and works his way up from the iron mines and steel mills to become a great American success story as an industrialist. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • bare chested male
    • hairy chest
    • speeding ticket
    • car roll over
    • children born
    • 58 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • OUT OF THE HOPE AND COURAGE OF A MAN ...THE LOVE AND DEVOTION OF A WOMAN! (original print ad - all caps)
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During World War II, there were no passenger car assembly lines in operation. As a result, Vidor had to borrow cars from Chrysler, take them apart, and reassemble them in a simulated assembly line. What we see emerging from the factory are 1942 Plymouths with a Danton insignia and hubcaps. These were the last passenger cars manufactured by Chrysler before the World War II shutdown.
    • Goofs
      As Steve Dangos closes his front door (after arriving home from the board meeting), a hand and lower arm can also be seen closing the door from the outside.
    • Alternate versions
      Original version premiered at 151 minutes; later cut to 122 minutes.
    • Soundtracks
      America, My Country Tis of Thee
      (1832) (uncredited)

      Music by Lowell Mason, based on the Music by Henry Carey from "God Save the King" (1744)

      Played during the opening credits

      Reprised at the end

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    am immigrant's story
    "An American Romance" from 1944 is partly propaganda and partly about immigrants who came to this country and went for the American dream. Originally, the stars were to be Spencer Tracy and Ingrid Bergman instead of Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards, which would have made it seem like a much bigger film. King Vidor thought he had an agreement that Tracy and Bergman would star; apparently MGM heard something else. As it is, the film is done in color and had a good budget.

    The version I saw is 121 minutes; originally the film was 150 minutes and the studio ordered 30 minutes cut. There are long scenes of factory work as iron, steel, cars, and airplanes are produced, and Vidor thought the 30 minutes would come from those scenes, which are wonderful but plentiful. Instead dramatic portions were cut. The film ends abruptly.

    Need I add, this was the last film King Vidor did for MGM.

    The story concerns a Czech, Stefan Dangos, who emigrates to America, intending to get a job in the iron mines with his cousin. That happens, and he works his way up, along the way marrying his English tutor (Ann Richards). He graduates to steel, and finally goes into business making cars.

    This is truly a story about achieving the American dream, with a lot of patriotism thrown in, as the film spans from the 1890s into World War II and America's entry into it.

    The factory scenes and the scenes in the iron mines are fascinating. Of note, during World War II, there were no passenger car assembly lines in operation. As a result, Vidor had to borrow cars from Chrysler, take them apart, and reassemble them in a simulated assembly line.

    Brian Donlevy, who usually plays the heavy, does a fine job here. He's no Spencer Tracy, but I liked him in the role. He's rough around the edges and very believable and likable. Ann Richards is lovely as his wife - I assume if Ingrid Bergman had done this role, it would have been built up quite a bit. Stephen McNally and Walter Abel are also featured; McNally, as one of Stefan's son, is the narrator.

    Good, not great, but certainly an interesting film.
    helpful•6
    0
    • blanche-2
    • Mar 24, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 16, 1945 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • America
    • Filming locations
      • Douglas Aircraft, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 31 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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