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How to Be Very, Very Popular

  • 19551955
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
239
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Betty Grable and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
  • Comedy
Two girls on the lam hide out in a college fraternity.Two girls on the lam hide out in a college fraternity.Two girls on the lam hide out in a college fraternity.
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
239
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Nunnally Johnson
  • Writers
    • Edward Hope(novel)
    • Nunnally Johnson
    • Howard Lindsay(play)
  • Stars
    • Betty Grable
    • Sheree North
    • Robert Cummings
Top credits
  • Director
    • Nunnally Johnson
  • Writers
    • Edward Hope(novel)
    • Nunnally Johnson
    • Howard Lindsay(play)
  • Stars
    • Betty Grable
    • Sheree North
    • Robert Cummings
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Orson Bean, Tommy Noonan, and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Betty Grable, Janice Carroll, and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Betty Grable, Robert Cummings, and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Betty Grable and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Betty Grable and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Betty Grable, Orson Bean, Robert Cummings, and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
    Betty Grable and Sheree North in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Betty Grable
    Betty Grable
    • Stormy Tornadoas Stormy Tornado
    Sheree North
    Sheree North
    • Curly Flaggas Curly Flagg
    Robert Cummings
    Robert Cummings
    • Fillmore 'Wedge' Wedgewoodas Fillmore 'Wedge' Wedgewood
    Charles Coburn
    Charles Coburn
    • Dr. Tweedas Dr. Tweed
    Tommy Noonan
    Tommy Noonan
    • Eddie Jonesas Eddie Jones
    Orson Bean
    Orson Bean
    • Toby Marshallas Toby Marshall
    Fred Clark
    Fred Clark
    • B.J. Marshallas B.J. Marshall
    Charlotte Austin
    Charlotte Austin
    • Midgeas Midge
    Alice Pearce
    Alice Pearce
    • Miss 'Syl' Sylvesteras Miss 'Syl' Sylvester
    Rhys Williams
    Rhys Williams
    • Cedric Flaggas Cedric Flagg
    Andrew Tombes
    Andrew Tombes
    • Police Sgt. Moonas Police Sgt. Moon
    Noel Toy
    • Cherry Blossom Wangas Cherry Blossom Wang
    Emory Parnell
    Emory Parnell
    • Chief of Policeas Chief of Police
    Harry Carter
    Harry Carter
    • Bus Driveras Bus Driver
    Jesslyn Fax
    Jesslyn Fax
    • Music Teacheras Music Teacher
    Jack Mather
    • 1st Police Detectiveas 1st Police Detective
    Mike Lally
    • 2nd Police Detectiveas 2nd Police Detective
    • (as Michael Lally)
    Milton Parsons
    Milton Parsons
    • Mr. X - Bald Barberas Mr. X - Bald Barber
    • Director
      • Nunnally Johnson
    • Writers
      • Edward Hope(novel)
      • Nunnally Johnson
      • Howard Lindsay(play)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Song-and-dance girls Curly and Stormy Tornado hide out with the guys at Bristol College when they know they can identify the killer of a fellow performer at their San Francisco cabaret. But they rather stand out in their stage costumes and soon all sorts of trouble is heading their way. The fact that Curly has been hypnotised doesn't help. —Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
    • remake
    • college
    • san francisco california
    • stripper
    • based on novel
    • 16 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • They worked their way through college ... and brother how they worked !
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The part of Curly was adapted by Nunnally Johnson for Marilyn Monroe, who was placed on suspension by Twentieth Century-Fox for refusing the assignment. During the next year Monroe would live in Manhattan, studying with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. When she and Fox came to terms, she returned to Hollywood to star as fame-obsessed Cherie in Bus Stop (1956).
    • Quotes

      Stormy: Hey Curly!

      Wedgewood: Not so loud... do you wanna get me expelled? Curly...

      Curly: Yeah?

      Wedgewood: Do you think you can get in here without being seen?

      Curly: For what purpose?

      Stormy: Don't argue the man's got a fried chicken in here.

      Curly: Hold him.

    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood Uncensored (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      How to Be Very, Very Popular
      Music by Jule Styne

      Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

      Sung by off-screen vocalists during the opening credits

      Played occasionally in the score

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    2/10
    How To Be Very, Very Lousy
    This film is sadly embarrassing for many reasons, perhaps the most glaring, initially, is its complete disrespect and misuse of Betty Grable whose scenes really are few and far between. Both Grable and the terrific Sheree North are wearing raincoats for most of the film, the latter only coming to life (she is hypnotized for most of the 'epic') during one sex-sational dance number. Grable's legs are seen once or twice, but there is no song, no number for her to do...YET, amidst the rubble, Grable's growing craft as a comedienne are visible momentarily. The culprits in this disaster are the inept writers and, of all people, director Nunnally Johnson (didn't he know any better?). The dialog is a blithering mess... and the plot meanders across a landmine of sloppy character developments and plot machinations. Robert Cummings and Tommy Noonan are pretty awful in dreadfully written parts. Orson Bean and Alice Pearce occasionally show a bit of humor. Sheree North, a fine dancer and, later in her career, one of the most under-appreciated and excellent actresses ('No Down Payment' as an example) can merely show her adorable self. The plot plods along with no sense, and has an ending that is disgracefully sloppy for a professional unit. (Whatever plot came from Howard Lindsay's play is missing). Had Johnson tried an out-and-out farce, it might have been a little funny, because the cast understands comedy. But this entire 'romp' thumps down to a disastrous level. Pity the talented two blonde stars. One merit - you can see, briefly, the lovely Charlotte Austin who went on to a very slight film career.
    helpful•11
    6
    • churei
    • Jan 10, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 6, 1956 (Belgium)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Şöhret yolu
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 4, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,565,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

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