All the Fine Young Cannibals is a 1960 American drama film directed by Michael Anderson, starring Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood, Susan Kohner, George Hamilton, and Pearl Bailey. Hamilton said that the film "combined Southern Gothic with a biopic of jazzman Chet Baker." It was loosely based on The Bixby Girls, a 1957 novel by Rosamond Marshall that was set in the World War I era.
Contents
Plot
Two young people in love, musician Chad Bixby and Sarah "Salome" Davis, are forced apart despite the latter's pregnancy. They marry others, but are brought back together by chance. A downtrodden blues singer mothers Bixby while guiding his career.
Cast
Robert Wagner as Chad Bixby
Natalie Wood as Sarah "Salome" Davis
Susan Kohner as Catherine McDowall
George Hamilton as Tony McDowall
Pearl Bailey as Ruby
Jack Mullaney as Putney Tinker
Onslow Stevens as Joshua Davis
Anne Seymour as Mrs. Bixby
Virginia Gregg as Ada Davis
Mabel Albertson as Mrs. McDowall
Louise Beavers as Rose
Production
All the Fine Young Cannibals was the first film that Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood made together. George Hamilton says that director Vincente Minnelli shot some scenes when Michael Anderson was unavailable, including an ending for the film that was not used.
Wagner's character is loosely based on the jazz trumpeter Chet Baker.
Reception
Box office
According to MGM records, the film earned $950,000 in the U.S. and Canada, and $860,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $1,108,000.
Critical
Filmink argued "it’s not a very good movie – director Michael Anderson seems ill at ease with the material, which needed a Douglas Sirk, and the talented cast are allowed to over act. "
Influence
The film's title was later taken by the English band Fine Young Cannibals.