The 1952 American fantasy comedy film “It Grows on Trees” featured a stellar cast that brought this whimsical story to life on the big screen. Though it may not be as well-remembered today as other comedies of the era, “It Grows on Trees” was an enjoyable film that gave viewers a welcome respite from their everyday lives. Let’s take a closer look at the talented actors and actresses who starred in this production.
Irene Dunne Takes the Lead
The top-billed star of “It Grows on Trees” was Irene Dunne, portraying the role of Polly Baxter. Dunne was already a revered actress by this point in her career, having received five Academy Award nominations. Her witty and charming performance as Polly anchored the zany plot of a family discovering money growing on trees in their backyard. This would prove to be Dunne’s final feature film before she shifted her focus to television and the stage.
Dean Jagger Plays the Skeptical Husband
As Polly’s husband Phil Baxter, Dean Jagger offered a nice counterpoint to Irene Dunne’s character. While Polly embraces the fantastical concept of money growing on trees, Phil takes a more skeptical stance. Jagger portrays Phil as a caring but practical man who tries to be the voice of reason. Jagger was known for many supporting roles in his career, so it was a fitting choice to cast him as the husband opposite a giant star like Dunne.
Rising Star Joan Evans Portrays the Baxter’s Daughter
In the role of the Baxter’s daughter Diane, the filmmakers chose the up-and-coming actress Joan Evans. Though only 20 years old at the time, Evans held her own against veteran stars like Dunne and Jagger. Diane becomes swept up in her parent’s conflicting attitudes about the mysterious trees, and Evans’ performance captures that youthful sense of excitement. This appearance in “It Grows on Trees” was one of Evans’ first major film roles, and she would go on to establish herself as a popular leading lady of 1950s cinema.
Richard Crenna Plays Young Suitor Ralph Bowen
As Diane’s potential love interest Ralph Bowen, Richard Crenna made one of his earliest credited big-screen appearances. Though the romance between Diane and Ralph takes a backseat to the film’s broader comedic plot, Crenna brings charm and appeal to the young suitor role. Of course, Crenna would make a name for himself decades later on television in the long-running series “The Real McCoys” and “Rambo”. But “It Grows on Trees” provided an early showcase for his talents.
Supporting Cast Fills Out the Comedy
The supporting cast of “It Grows on Trees” includes many character actors who provide humorous moments and drive the plot forward These include Edith Meiser as the snooty Mrs Pryor, Les Tremayne as suspicious financier Finlay Murchison, and Frank Ferguson as bemused neighbor John Letherby. Malcolm Lee Beggs, Bob Sweeney, and others take on smaller supporting roles of government officials and townspeople who get embroiled in the unfolding money tree caper. The depth of this supporting cast helps make the comedic escalation of the story even more effective.
Behind the Scenes Talent Pulls It All Together
While the cast is essential, it takes great talent behind the scenes as well to put together a quality feature film Director Arthur Lubin was an experienced comedy veteran who helmed classics like “Abbott and Costello” movies He maintains a brisk pace and light tone perfect for the material. Writers Leonard Praskins and Barney Slater adapted the screenplay from their own short story. And veteran cinematographer Maury Gertsman, editor Milton Carruth, composer Frank Skinner, and other production personnel gave the film a polished and cohesive feel.
More than seven decades after its release, “It Grows on Trees” remains a funny and imaginative film. Its talented cast takes viewers on an enjoyable escapist journey. Tracking down this comedy gem is a worthwhile endeavor for fans of classic Hollywood cinema.
Film Details Also Known As There’s Nothing Like Money Genre Comedy Fantasy Release Date Nov 1952 Premiere Information New York opening: 28 Nov 1952 Production Company Universal-International Pictures Co., Inc. Distribution Company Universal Pictures Co., Inc. Country United States Screenplay Information Based on the short story “It Grows on Trees,” by Leonard Praskins and Barney Slater in
Brief Synopsis Read More The Baxters are a typical happy American family trying to live on too little money. Mrs. Polly Baxter acquires two mysterious trees that got into a nursery shipment by mistake. Guess what: they turn out to be money trees! After initial problems, Polly decides to spend the money. But there’s one logical consequence of money grown on trees that no one’s considered.
Polly Baxter runs an efficient, happy household for her husband Philip and their children, Diane, Flip and Midge. Phil’s low wages are the only thing that bothers them about living in the suburbs; he is saving them up to start his own accounting business. A five-dollar bill blows in through an open window one morning. Polly wants them to use the money to buy shoes for Midge, while Phil thinks they should look for its owner. That night, Phil scolds his wife for buying two new trees for ten dollars. They then notice that the cat is playing with a ten-dollar bill. Polly thinks that they got the money they needed to fix up their house because they needed it. The next day, though, they find Midge playing with $35 she found outside. Phil won’t give it back to the police, even though Diane needs to buy a dress for her college dance. A few days later, the police show up and tell Phil that Polly has claimed the money as her own. He yells at her. As she sobs that they can’t pay for Midge’s tonsillectomy, they see five- and ten-dollar bills lying around the lawn. Phil calls the airport because he thinks a plane might have dropped the money. Meanwhile, Polly sees more bills on her new trees and, when she takes the buds off, finds money in each one. She asks him in secret if it is legal for money to grow on trees because she doesn’t want to tell Phil. He tells her to ask the Secretary of the Treasury. When Finlay Murchison, the treasurer’s assistant, gets her letter, he, John Letherby, an executive with the Internal Revenue Service, and Henry Carrollman, the secretary of agriculture, write her a joke reply saying she can use the money as long as it follows all the rules. Thrilled by the letter, Polly proceeds to secretly hoard cash. Polly plans a big wedding for Diane when she gets engaged to Ralph Bower, a bank teller, at the same time that Phil says he has to go on a one-month business trip. But while Phil is away, she fixes up the house and pays off the mortgage, which makes her dishonest neighbor, Mrs. Pryor, who sneaks into the Baxter kitchen one day. She finds all the money there and steals it, but she hides the letter from the Treasury in the wrong place. When Phil gets back from his business trip, he finds out that he was jailed for passing fake money. When he tried to pay for dinner with it, it fell apart like dry leaves. Ralph, who took Polly’s mortgage payment at the bank, is soon demoted because he won’t tell the manager that he paid a mortgage with bills that are now not coming in and are falling apart. Later that night, Diane tells Phil in tears that Ralph said Polly was forgery, and Polly has to say where the money came from. But when she takes Phil outside, the trees are bare, and she can’t find the money or the letter. Phil thinks she is losing her mind. The policemen also question her sanity after Ralph is jailed and Polly tries to get him out. A newspaperman named McGuire hears her story, though, and after finding the Treasury letter in her coffee canister by accident, calls in right away to report that the government allowed the use of home-grown money. Soon, the story spreads and the Baxter home overflows with curious tourists. Murchison, Letherby and Carrollman arrive with a horticulturist, Dr. Burroughs, but when they see that the tree has stopped growing for the winter, they tell Polly she has to take back what she said, which is illegal. Then Burroughs says that the tree has a bud, and everyone in the country waits for days while it grows. A cold spell almost kills the bud, but Burroughs keeps it alive until it gives birth to a tiny ten-dollar bill. After Congress erupts, the government officials pay Polly for her trees, which die anyway because of the cold. Polly says the world is full of wonder if only people would believe it. Phil tells her that wonder and real life don’t mix, which makes Polly feel better. He leaves for work while Polly gets her newest bargain: a lamp that gives off a strange smoke when rubbed, which means there is a genie inside.
It Grows on Trees 1952 – comedy, classic, full movie, Irene Dunne, Dean Jagger
FAQ
What is the name of the plant that grows on trees?