Kings Row (Warner 1942, Ronald Reagan, Ann Sheridan)

Published

6 years ago

September 16, 2018

Kings Row offered up the highest expression of the soap-opera device of tearing the facade from small-town life to discover the seething pit of rivalries, petty jealousies, and squalid affairs that lie beneath.

In pre-WWI mid-America, two young men (Ronald Reagan and Robert Cummings) grow tangled roots in a small town touched by madness and murder. Considered to be Reagan’s best screen performance.

Cinematographer James Wong Howe gave production designer William Cameron Menzies full credit for the look of Kings Row: ‘He did the sketches for the shots; he’d tell you how high the camera should be. I simply followed orders.’

production details
USA | Warner Bros. | 127 minutes | 1942

Director: Sam Wood
Script: Casey Robinson, Henry Bellamann,

cast
Ronald Reagan as Drake McHugh
Claude Rains as Dr. Alexander Tower
Charles Coburn as Dr. Henry Gordon
Ludwig Stössel as Professor Berdorff
Harry Davenport as Colonel Skeffington
Ann Sheridan as Randy Monaghan
Robert Cummings as Parris Mitchell
Betty Field as Cassandra Tower
Judith Anderson as Mrs. Harriet Gordon
Nancy Coleman as Louise Gordon
Kaaren Verne as Elise Sandor
Maria Ouspenskaya as Madame von Eln
Ernest Cossart as Pa Monaghan
Ilka Grüning as Anna
Pat Moriarity as Tod Monaghan
Minor Watson as Sam Winters
Erwin Kalser as Mr. Sandor
Egon Brecher as Dr. Candell
Ann Todd as Randy Monaghan – as a Girl
Scotty Beckett as Parris Mitchell – as a Boy
Douglas Croft as Drake McHugh – as a Boy
Mary Thomas as Cassandra Tower – as a Girl
Julie Warren as Poppy Ross
Mary Scott as Jinny Ross
Bertha Powell as Esther (uncredited)

X (Twitter)Facebook Reddit

Up Next

Artists and Models (Paramount 1937, Ida Lupino, Jack Benny)

Don't Miss

To Have and Have Not (Warner 1945, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall)

Alastair James

Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.