Lake Placid Serenade
Cast & Crew
Steve Sekely
Vera Ralston
Eugene Pallette
Vera Vague
Robert Livingston
Stephanie Bachelor
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Ice skater Vera Haschek lives with her godfather, Jaroslav "Papa" Haschek, in a small Czechoslovakian village, where she diligantly practices for the country's championship skating match. The night before the competition, superstitious Papa presents Vera with a pair of silver skates that he has made for her by hand. Vera triumphs at the match and is crowned the Czechoslovakian champion, thereby drawing the attention of three visiting Americans who are seeking a star for their new ice show. The group consists of the rich Countess, impressario Carlton Webb and press agent Jiggers. Before they can approach Vera, however, she receives an invitation to appear at the Lake Placid Ice Carnival as a special guest. Papa and the other villagers bid Vera farewell at the train station, and one friend gives her a porcelein doll, which is supposed to summon the love of Vera's life. During the journey, Vera resists attempts by the Countess, Webb and Jiggers to sign her to a contract, and in Lake Placid, Vera is a hit in the show. Vera's happiness is destroyed though, by the news that Germany is about to invade Czechoslovakia. Vera rushes to New York, where she meets with Walter Benda, the Czech consul. Benda informs her that he has not been able to contact her godfather and advises her to find her uncle, Carl Cermak, who moved to the United States many years previously. Carl is now a successful businessman, and although they have never met before, he welcomes her to his home. There, Vera gets a mixed reception from Carl's daughters. Susan is friendly, but snobbish Irene is annoyed by her cousin's simple clothes and manners. In order to escape Irene, Vera practices skating on the backyard ice pond, and falls down just as Paul Jordan, Carl's junior partner, passes by. Vera, believing that Paul is the man sent by her porcelein doll, is immediately smitten, as is Paul with her. Paul promises to give her a skating lesson on Christmas Eve but must leave before learning her name or telling her his. Unknown to Vera, Irene is infatuated with Paul and calls him her fiancé, even though he has not proposed. Time passes as Carl grows more attached to Vera, who awaits the return of her mysterious suitor. On Christmas Eve, the family opens their presents, and Irene states that she is giving an expensive pipe to her fiancé. Vera then waits by the ice pond where Paul, who has returned from his business trip, arrives and greets her enthusiastically. The couple begins to skate, but when Vera sees the pipe fall from Paul's pocket, she realizes who he is and runs off without an explanation. Vera returns to Lake Placid, and there she and cowboy star Roy Rogers are crowned the queen and king of the winter carnival. Susan, who has deduced that Vera and Paul have fallen in love, arranges for them to meet, but when Paul declares his affection, Vera again disappears, although she accidentally leaves one of her handmade skates. Vera agrees to sign with the Countess and Webb, but only if her real name is not advertised, so Jiggers devises a campaign whereby she is billed as "The Cinderella Girl." After a number of successful shows, Jiggers engineers a publicity stunt whereby dozens of young men with skates will go to Madison Square Gardens during Vera's appearance there. Carl sees the newspaper ad for the show, which includes a photograph of Vera, and arranges for the attendance of Paul and Papa, who has been located and sent for by Carl. Vera is thrilled to see Papa, and after her show, Papa reveals that Paul is the one who found her skate. Irene apologizes for her earlier jealousy, and the happy Paul and Vera embrace.
Director
Steve Sekely
Cast
Vera Ralston
Eugene Pallette
Vera Vague
Robert Livingston
Stephanie Bachelor
Walter Catlett
Lloyd Corrigan
Ruth Terry
William Frawley
John Litel
Ludwig Stossel
Andrew Tombes
Ray Noble
Harry Owens
Mcgowan And Mack
Twinkle Watts
The Merry Meisters
Roy Rogers
Marietta Canty
Janina Frostova
Felix Sadovsky
Janet Martin
Jo Ann Mcgowan
Mike Macy
Erno Kiraly
Hans Herbert
Sewall Shurtz
Janna De Loos
Demetrius Alexis
Ferdinand Munier
Nora Lane
John Dehner
Frank Mayo
Pat Gleason
Dick Scott
Ernie Adams
Charles Williams
Ruth Warren
Bert Moorehouse
Eric Alden
Stewart Hall
Craig Lawrence
Geoffrey Ingham
Eddie Kane
John Hamilton
Chester Clute
Stanley Andrews
Virginia Carroll
Crew
John Alton
E. E. Bagley
Felix Bernard
Walter Blaufuss
Jack Crosby
Peter Derose
Riccardo Drigo
Doris Gilbert
L. Wolfe Gilbert
Harry Grey
Ed Haley
Dick Irving Hyland
Robert A. Keiser
Al Keller
Russell Kimball
Harry Knight
Frederick Kohner
Howard Lydecker
Theodore Lydecker
Lewis F. Muir
Jacques Offenbach
Harry Owens
Adele Palmer
Joseph Popkin
Heinz Provost
Arthur Roberts
Gordon C. Schaefer
Walter Scharf
Bedrich Smetana
Richard Smith
John Stransky Jr.
Dick Tyler
Arthur Vitarelli
Howard Wilson
Earl Wooden
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was Lake Placid. According to a March 1944 Hollywood Reporter news item, George Sherman was set to direct the picture, and a August 4, 1944 Los Angeles Examiner item reported that Brad Taylor was set for the lead. Although Taylor is listed on Hollywood Reporter production charts, he was replaced by Robert Livingston. Production charts also include Laurie Haile in the cast, but her participation in the completed film has not been confirmed. Copyright materials noted that twelve-year-old Jo Ann McGowan, was the daughter of ice skaters Everett McGowan and Ruth Mack. Background scenes were shot on location at Lake Placid, NY, according to Hollywood Reporter, which also noted that Vera Hruba Ralston and Roy Rogers were to be crowned King and Queen of Winter during Lake Placid's annual winter carnival, after the film's release there on December 28, 1944. In 1953, the picture was re-edited and re-released as Winter Serenade.
