Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Arthur O'Connell and Betty Field are all at the "Bus Stop," a 1956 film based on the play by William Inge and directed by Josh Logan. Murray plays a young, ill-mannered, uninhibited cowboy who's never been off the ranch, who comes to town to appear in a rodeo. When he sees Cherie (Monroe) performing at a club, he decides then and there to marry her - and he's so determined, he kidnaps her to get her to return to Montana with him. They're snowed in, however, and have to stop for the night at a restaurant on the route, run by Betty Field.
Logan seems to have directed this like a play, and Murray's performance through most of the film is very stagy - big and loud. Bo's character was written for the stage; I'm not certain in any hands it would have translated with ease to film. Today it seems overdone.
Marilyn Monroe is fantastic as Cherie, a role done on Broadway by Kim Stanley. She uses a very broad accent - but what she lacks in technique she makes up in charm, beauty and warmth. She creates a wonderful, vulnerable character here that the audience cares about. The other standout is Betty Field, who does an excellent job as the owner of the restaurant who has a little flirtation going with the bus driver. Hope Lange has a small part as a waitress; I assume this is where she met her husband, Don Murray. Arthur O'Connell is terrific as Bo's friend who tries to keep him in line.
A really good film with a strong cast and a very iconic role for Monroe.
Logan seems to have directed this like a play, and Murray's performance through most of the film is very stagy - big and loud. Bo's character was written for the stage; I'm not certain in any hands it would have translated with ease to film. Today it seems overdone.
Marilyn Monroe is fantastic as Cherie, a role done on Broadway by Kim Stanley. She uses a very broad accent - but what she lacks in technique she makes up in charm, beauty and warmth. She creates a wonderful, vulnerable character here that the audience cares about. The other standout is Betty Field, who does an excellent job as the owner of the restaurant who has a little flirtation going with the bus driver. Hope Lange has a small part as a waitress; I assume this is where she met her husband, Don Murray. Arthur O'Connell is terrific as Bo's friend who tries to keep him in line.
A really good film with a strong cast and a very iconic role for Monroe.