One Touch of Venus (film)

One Touch of Venus
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWilliam A. Seiter
Screenplay byHarry Kurnitz
Frank Tashlin
Produced byWilliam A. Seiter
Lester Cowan
John Beck (associate)
StarringRobert Walker
Ava Gardner
Dick Haymes
CinematographyFranz Planer
Edited byOtto Ludwig
Music byAnn Ronell
Kurt Weill
Production
company
Artists Alliance
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • August 1948 (1948-08) (United States)
  • October 28, 1948 (1948-10-28) (New York City)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

One Touch of Venus is a 1948 American black-and-white romantic musical comedy film starring Robert Walker, Ava Gardner, Dick Haymes, and Eve Arden. Directed by William A. Seiter, the Universal-International release was based on the 1943 Broadway musical of the same name, book written by S. J. Perelman and Ogden Nash, with music composed by Kurt Weill (lyrics by Nash). However, the film omits most of Weill's music. The actors did their own singing, except for Ava Gardner (Venus) whose singing was dubbed by Eileen Wilson. The plot is from an original 1885 novella by Thomas Anstey Guthrie.

In 1945, Mary Pickford announced that she would produce a film version of this musical with the Broadway cast, including Mary Martin, filmed in Technicolor, directed by Gregory La Cava, and released by United Artists. However, Martin became pregnant and Pickford sold the rights to Lester Cowan at Universal in August 1947. Ann Ronell, Cowan's wife, wrote the additional music that replaced much of Weill's material. It was later loosely remade into Goddess of Love (1988).