Our Town Overview:

Our Town (1940) was a Drama - Black-and-white Film directed by Sam Wood and produced by Sol Lesser.

Academy Awards 1940 --- Ceremony Number 13 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActressMartha ScottNominated
Best Art DirectionLewis J. RachmilNominated
Best Music - ScoringAaron CoplandNominated
Best Music - ScoringAaron CoplandNominated
Best PictureSol Lesser (production company)Nominated
.

BlogHub Articles:

Our Town (Sam Wood, 1940)

By Judy on Apr 16, 2016 From Movie Classics

This is my contribution to the Golden Boy Blogathon hosted by Virginie at The Wonderful World of Cinema. Please visit and read the other postings, about a wide range of films starring William Holden. One of William Holden’s earliest roles was as George Gibbs in a poignant screen adaptation of ... Read full article


Our Town (1940)

By Beatrice on May 10, 2014 From Flickers in Time

Our Town Directed by Sam Wood Written by Thornton Wilder, Frank Craven and Harry Chandlee from the play by Thornton Wilder 1940/USA Sol Lesser Productions First viewing/Streaming on Netflix?Watch Instantly I’m glad I finally caught up with this one. A narrator (Frank Craven) gives a detached... Read full article


Our Town

By Alyson on Mar 23, 2010 From The Best Picture Project

This film is the most welcoming breath of fresh air to open the 1940?s.? Based on the play by Thornton Wilder, it?s so charming that the narrator even welcomes you in and shows you around town. The film is broken into three parts: The Daily Life, Love and Marriage, and (though our narrator didn?t na... Read full article


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Quotes from

Mrs. Julia Hersey Gibbs: It seems to me, once in your life, before you die, you ought to see a country where they don't speak any English and they don't even want to.


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Facts about

Because the play was performed on nearly a bare stage and the main character dies in the end, the production was delayed several months due to the difficulty in translating it to the screen. Thornton Wilder and producer Sol Lesser worked together closely to modify the play. No changes were made without Wilder's permission.
Thornton Wilder won the Pulitzer Prize for the play the film is based on. The score for the film is by another Pulitzer Prize winner: Aaron Copland.
Martha Scott was not considered for the role of "Emily" at first, because of her poor screen test for the role of "Melanie" in Gone with the Wind, but she was chosen after much auditioning of other actresses.
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