Athena
"Athena" (VHS)
Produced by	Joe Pasternak
Written by	William Ludwig Leonard Spigelgass
Starring	Jane Powell Edmund Purdom Debbie Reynolds Vic Damone Louis Calhern
Music by	Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	4 November 1954
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

Athena is a romantic musical comedy released on 4 November 1954 by MGM. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Joseph Pasternak (September 19, 1901 – September 13, 1991) was a Hungarian-born film director in Hollywood. ... American producer and screenwriter Leonard Spigelgass (1908 - 1985) got his start collaborating on the script of Erich Von Stroheims Hello Sister (1933). ... Jane Powell (born April 1, 1929) is an American singer, entertainer and actor. ... Edmund Purdom is an English actor and voice actor. ... Debbie Reynolds (born April 1, 1932) is an American actress, dancer and singer. ... Vic Damone (born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York) is an ItalianAmerican singer. ... Louis Calhern (February 19, 1895 - May 12, 1956) was an American stage and screen actor. ... Hugh Martin, born on August 11, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama is an American theatre and film composer. ... Ralph Blane (July 26, 1914 in Oklahoma — November 13, 1995) was a song writer best known for Meet Me in St. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... November 4 is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... MGM logo Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM, is a large media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of cinema and television programs. ...

Not a great success on its release, this Motion Picture has an unusual and somewhat campy appeal. The term camp—normally used as an adjective, even though earliest recorded uses employed it mainly as a verb—refers to the deliberate and sophisticated use of kitsch, mawkish or corny themes and styles in art, clothing or conversation. ...

The film tells the story of a passionate girl with an extended family who share her unconventional beliefs. She falls in love with an old-fashioned man who is engaged to another woman!

The film includes many joyful songs with clever choreography.

The writers appear to have had fun inventing characters whose beliefs are an odd mixture of assertiveness, natural health, bodybuilding and the supernatural. Assertiveness is a skill taught by many personal development experts and psychotherapists and the subject of many popular self-help books. ... In alternative medicine, natural health is an eclectic self-care system of natural therapies concerned with building and restoring health and wellness via prevention and healthy lifestyles. ... Professional Bodybuilder Gustavo Badell posing Bodybuilding is the process of developing muscle fibres through the combination of weight training, sufficient caloric intake, and rest. ... Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Synopsis

The film stars Jane Powell as the energetic and eccentric "Athena Mulvain", who as the name suggests is not Greek, but comes from a family who appears to have been zanily inspired by classical antiquity. The entire family are vegetarian, teetotallers, and into astrology and numerology. Jane Powell (born April 1, 1929) is an American singer, entertainer and actor. ... Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD...

Edmund Purdom plays the conservative lawyer "Adam Calhorn Shaw" who hopes to be elected to office like his father and his father's father, and who is, at the start of the film engaged to sophisticated society lady, Beth Hallson. Edmund Purdom is an English actor and voice actor. ...

Destiny or "the stars" dramatically begin to change the course of Adam's life when he meets Athena at a nursery. Athena, believing she has found her soul mate, follows Adam home where she meets Adam's fiance Beth, and begins mulching Adam's peach trees. She sings a song which captivates Adam and his Japanese butler Roy.

On her way home Athena meets an old ex-navy friend of Adam's who is now a successful crooner popular with the girls. Using numerology, Athena confidently introduces her sister "Minerva" (Debbie Reynolds) to this man Johnny Nyle (Vic Damone). Minerva is suspicious of Johnny's advertising of alcohol and meat products, however she believes Johnny might be alright "after some work with Grandpa". Debbie Reynolds (born April 1, 1932) is an American actress, dancer and singer. ... Vic Damone (born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York) is an ItalianAmerican singer. ...

Athena returns to Adam's house the next morning to the shock of Adam's fiance. Adam promises to tell off Athena, but finds she has left. He gets his legal secretary Miss Seely to search for her but to no avail. Eventually Johnny returns and tells Adam where Athena lives.

That night when Adam goes to the house, he meets the meditating Grandma Salome, Minerva and Athena's 5 other beautiful, singing and dancing sisters Niobe, Aphrodite, Calliope, Medea and Ceres. He is also surprised to find a number of scantily clad body builders wearing high-waisted 1950's swimshorts!

Next he runs into Grandpa (Louis Calhern), the charismatic head of the family who believes in exercise and "the direct approach". He also meets Grandpa's hopes for the title of Mr Universe, Ed Perkins and possible runner-up Bill Nichols. Louis Calhern (February 19, 1895 - May 12, 1956) was an American stage and screen actor. ... The Universe Championships is an annual bodybuilding event organised by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA). ...

Despite the bizarre ways of the family, and although Adam initially tries to resist Athena, he eventually succumbs to her charms, and breaks up with Beth. Just when all is looking rosy, Grandma foresees difficult times ahead. Athena's sisters advise Athena to break up with Adam, however Athena chooses to push ahead with the relationship, knowing that "love can change the stars".

Adam invites Athena to a formal reception at the home of Adam's influential family friend, Mr Grenville. Also present are Adam's law firm partner Mr Griswalde and Adam's campaign manager for election to congress Mr Tremaine. Athena at first charms the party with her pleasant nature and an off-the-cuff rendition of an aria from a Donizetti Opera. However she loses her temper when Beth presents Athena with a buffet dinner where all of the vegetables are stuffed with various meats.

More difficulties arise when Adam humiliates Ed Perkins and Grandpa on television at the "Mr Universe" final.

Despite the requisite conflict, harmony is restored and all of the main players gather around for a Mulvain-style feast.

Songs

The film features several songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane including "Athena" (Chorus), "The girl next door" (Johnny Nyle), "Vocalize" (Athena Mulvain) which is reprised later in a choral arrangement as "Harmonize" (Athena Mulvain, Ulysses Mulvain, Chorus), "Imagine" (Minerva Mulvain, Johnny Nyle), "Love can change the Stars" (Athena Mulvain, Athena's sisters, Johnny Nyle), "I never felt better" (Minerva Mulvain, Athena Mulvain, sisters), and "Venezia" (Johnny Nyle). Hugh Martin, born on August 11, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama is an American theatre and film composer. ... Ralph Blane (July 26, 1914 in Oklahoma — November 13, 1995) was a song writer best known for Meet Me in St. ...

A poetic verse from the main song includes the words:

"When two hearts are entwined,
Venus dances with Mars,
Hand in hand we will find,
Love can change the Stars."

Jane Powell also performs Donizetti's "Charcun le sait" from "Daughter of the Regiment".

During the Mr Universe final, the body builders 'pose-off' to the popular and stirring "Tango Jalousie" by Jacob Gade from 1925. The music enhances the dramatic moment when Grandma realises Ed has drawn the unlucky number 13. Soon Ed's jealousy becomes apparent. The Universe Championships is an annual bodybuilding event organised by the National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA). ... Jacob Gade (1879 - 1963) was a Danish violinist and composer, mostly of orchestral popular music. ...

Players

Starring
Jane Powell as Athena Mulvain
Edmund Purdom as Adam Calhorn Shaw
Debbie Reynolds as Minerva Mulvain
Vic Damone as Johnny Nyle
Louis Calhern as Ulysses Mulvain

With
Linda Christian as Beth Hallson
Evelyn Varden as Salome Mulvain
Ray Collins as Mr Tremaine
Carl Benton Reid as Mr Griswalde
Howard Wendell as Mr Grenville
Virginia Gibson as Niobe
Henry Nakamura as Roy

Additional Actors listed in the Closing Credits:
Nancy Kilgas as Aphrodite
Dolores Starr as Calliope
Jane Fischer as Medea
Cecile Rogers as Ceres
Kathleen Freeman as Miss Seely
Steve Reeves as Ed Perkins
Richard Sabre as Bill Nichols
Jane Powell (born April 1, 1929) is an American singer, entertainer and actor. ... Edmund Purdom is an English actor and voice actor. ... Debbie Reynolds (born April 1, 1932) is an American actress, dancer and singer. ... Vic Damone (born June 12, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York) is an ItalianAmerican singer. ... Louis Calhern (February 19, 1895 - May 12, 1956) was an American stage and screen actor. ... Linda Christian as Valerie Mathis in Casino Royale (1954 TV film) Linda Christian (born Blanca Rosa Welter on November 13, 1924 (some sources cite 1923) in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico) is a Hollywood movie actress whose career reached its peak in the 1940s and 1950s. ... Evelyn Varden (b. ... Collins in The Racket (1951) Ray Collins (December 10, 1889 – July 11, 1965) was an American actor in film, stage, radio, and television. ... Carl Benton Reid ( born 14 August 1893 in Lansing, Michigan – 16 March 1973 in Hollywood, California) was an American actor. ... Virginia Gibson and Gordon MacRae Virginia Gibson (Virginia Gorski) (St. ... Kathleen Freeman (February 17, 1919 - August 23, 2001) was an American film, television, and stage character actress. ... Stephen L. Reeves (January 21, 1926 – May 5, 2000), was a bodybuilder, actor, and author. ...

Trivia

• Early in the film, Athena believes that Adam is unsuitable for her because according to numerology, "he is a 4 man, born in a 3 month with a 9 car". However Athena soon realises her mistake when she says, "Mr Benvenuchi told me you had 5 peach trees, which syphons you out and makes your system fluid... You're really Neuter - isn't that heaven."

• In Athena's quote above, she mispronounces Mr Benevuchi's name. Adam pronounces it better in an earlier scene.

• One line in the song "Imagine" appears to be out of character for Minerva when she sings

Imagine you're a weevil - an old Boll Weevil,
suppose a field of cotton is me,
if you came along and settled down in it -
fetch the DDT
Binomial name Anthonomus grandis Boheman, 1843 Wikispecies has information related to: Boll weevil The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters (¼ inch). ...

and she sprays insecticide around the "Mulvain's Health Foods" shop.

• The sign at the front of the Mulvain residence says:

For the traveller in want
For the traveller in pain
Take this rocky road
to the house of Mulvain

• Grandpa Ulysses Mulvain is 78 but looks like he is in his 50's. Louis Calhern was 59 when he played the role, but sadly died 2 years later.

• Grandma Salome Mulvain says "I love you, let us be friends" in a mystery language that sounds like "Num mirray gon gopawl". Is this a mantra invented for the film? Grandma also finds solace or gains insight by "communing with Narda", a mythological being perhaps also invented for "Athena".

• At the start of the film Miss Seely is eating chocolates. Later when Adam's 3 gentlemen advisors are concerned about Athena, Miss Seely appears at the end of the scene crunching on a carrot.

• Grandma Salome Mulvain instructs Mr Grenville to "Open your eyes. Look up at the sun. Don't be afraid... Pretend you're a tulip." While most doctors advise not to look at the sun, William H Bates (1860 - 1931) taught that glasses were bad for eyesight and magnifying sunlight into the whites of the eyes was beneficial!!

• Both Minerva and Grandma advise the boys to "Hold the good thought". This appears to be a reference to the New Thought Movement, which teaches that you attract what you think about, good or bad.

• Steve Reeves and John Grimek were tied in the 1948 Mr Universe competition. Despite Steve Reeves superior physique, John Grimek won because he could lift more weight.

• Steve Reeves went on from this film to play Hercules and several other characters in various Sword and Sandal films.

• Edmund Purdon married Linda Christian in 1962, 8 years after "Athena" was made. However their marriage did not last long.

• The original film had a aspect ratio of 1.75 which is very well suited to DVD widescreen (16:9). However the film has not yet been restored and only a low quality version based on the VHS version has been made available on DVD in Australia.

Louis Calhern (February 19, 1895 - May 12, 1956) was an American stage and screen actor. ... In Tibet, many Buddhists carve mantras into rocks as a form of devotion. ... William Horatio Bates (December 23, 1860 - July 10, 1931) was an American physician who developed what is now known as the Bates Method of eye exercises. ... The New Thought Movement describes a set of religious developments that originated in the United States during the late 19th century, inspired by the philosophy of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby from Belfast, Maine. ... Steve Reeves as Hercules Hercules was the name of the English release of the 1958 Italian film Le Fatiche di Ercole starring the bodybuilder Steve Reeves. ... D. W. Griffith set out to depict the splendor of ancient Babylon in Intolerance. ...

External links

• Athena at the Internet Movie Database