Lake Placid Serenade's primary photo
  • Lake Placid Serenade (1944)
  • Passed
    85 min | Music, Romance, Sport
Lake Placid Serenade (1944)
Passed
85 min | Music, Romance, Sport

On a peaceful, pre-war winter in Czechoslovakia, the genial godfather, Jaroslaw Haschek, of Vera Haschek, presents the young girl with her first pair of ice skates. Soon, she astonishes the warm-hearted people of her village with her skill...See moreOn a peaceful, pre-war winter in Czechoslovakia, the genial godfather, Jaroslaw Haschek, of Vera Haschek, presents the young girl with her first pair of ice skates. Soon, she astonishes the warm-hearted people of her village with her skill and she is acclaimed a marvel on ice. She wins the ice-skating championship of her country and is invited to skate at the fabulous Lake Placid Carnival in the United States. Vera receives an offer of a contract from eager showman, Carlton Webb, and his press agent Jiggers - but she turns them down. The financial backer for the two men is a wealthy, gabby, man-chasing woman called "Countess". Vera is a sensation at Lake Placid when she learns of Germany's move on Czechoslovakia, and she immediately attempts to abandon her career and rejoin her people. The trip cannot be arranged and, alone in a strange country, she seeks an uncle, Carl Cermack, who has become a prosperous American citizen. The uncle welcomes her to his sumptuous Long Island home, where he lives with his spoiled débutante daughters Irene and Susan. Vera learns that the two sisters are fighting it out over the same man, Paul Jordan, Cermack's junior partner, who isn't overwhelmed by either sister. Vera invites her uncle and cousins to join her at Lake Placid, where she is to appear in the dazzling New Year's Eve ballet. She is named "queen" of the ballet, and Roy Rogers, a visiting movie-star cowboy is named "king." Paul begins to pick up interest in Vera, and she agrees to sign a contract with Webb, provided she can use an assumed name in his shows. Jiggers suggests they call her "Cinderella," because she has lost one of her famous skates. When Vera opens at Madison Square Garden, Jiggers plants the story that she refuses to appear until her skate is returned. Aware that Paul has kept her skate as a souvenir, Cermack telephones his partner in Texas. On the night of the opening, Webb and Jiggers are driven to desperation since Vera has taken their publicity gag in earnest and refuses to go on unless her skate is returned. None of the phony "Prince Charmings" Jiggers has hired has the right skate, of course. The weary Vera doesn't even look at the last applicant - but the skate is hers. She stares down and recognizes her godfather, Jaroslav, who has been brought to America by her uncle. He explains that her skate was given to him by a young man. He beckons into the crowd and Paul emerges. Vera finds herself in the arms of her own Prince Charming. Written by Les Adams See less
Read more: Plot summary
Director
Writers
Dick Irving Hyland (screenplay) | Doris Gilbert (screenplay) | Frederick Kohner (original story)
Cinematographer
John Alton (photography)
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Dec 23, 1944

Release date
Dec 23, 1944 (United States)

Contacts

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Cast

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49 cast members
Name Known for
Vera Ralston
Vera Haschek (as Vera Hruba Ralston) Vera Haschek (as Vera Hruba Ralston)   See fewer
Eugene Pallette
Carl Cermak Carl Cermak   See fewer
Barbara Jo Allen
Countess (as Vera Vague) Countess (as Vera Vague)   See fewer
Robert Livingston
Paul Jordan Paul Jordan   See fewer
Stephanie Bachelor
Irene Cermak Irene Cermak   See fewer
Walter Catlett
Carlton Webb Carlton Webb   See fewer
Lloyd Corrigan
Jaroslaw 'Papa' Haschek Jaroslaw 'Papa' Haschek   See fewer
Ruth Terry
Susan Cermak Susan Cermak   See fewer
William Frawley
Jiggers Jiggers   See fewer
John Litel
Walter Benda Walter Benda   See fewer
Ludwig Stössel
Mayor of Lany Mayor of Lany   See fewer
Andrew Tombes
Skating Club Head Skating Club Head   See fewer
Ray Noble
Orchestra Leader Orchestra Leader   See fewer
Harry Owens
Orchestra Leader Orchestra Leader   See fewer
Ferdinand Munier
Kris Kringle Kris Kringle   See fewer
Twinkle Watts
Twinkle - Young Ice Skater Twinkle - Young Ice Skater   See fewer
The Merry Meisters
Speciality Act Speciality Act   See fewer
Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers Roy Rogers   See fewer
Trigger
Trigger Trigger   See fewer
Ernie Adams
Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited)   See fewer
Eric Alden
Candidate (uncredited) Candidate (uncredited)   See fewer
Demetrius Alexis
Tourist (uncredited) Tourist (uncredited)   See fewer
Stanley Andrews
Executive (uncredited) Executive (uncredited)   See fewer
Marietta Canty
Priscilla (uncredited) Priscilla (uncredited)   See fewer
Virginia Carroll
Receptionist (uncredited) Receptionist (uncredited)   See fewer
Chester Clute
Haines (uncredited) Haines (uncredited)   See fewer
John Dehner
Radio Announcer (uncredited) Radio Announcer (uncredited)   See fewer
Janna DeLoos
Friend at Lake (uncredited) Friend at Lake (uncredited)   See fewer
Janina Frostova
Specialty Dancer (uncredited) Specialty Dancer (uncredited)   See fewer
Pat Gleason
Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited)   See fewer
Stuart Hall
Candidate (uncredited) Candidate (uncredited)   See fewer
John Hamilton
Hopkins (uncredited) Hopkins (uncredited)   See fewer
Hans Herbert
Judge (uncredited) Judge (uncredited)   See fewer
Geoffrey Ingham
Good-Looking Young Man (uncredited) Good-Looking Young Man (uncredited)   See fewer
Eddie Kane
Desk Clerk (uncredited) Desk Clerk (uncredited)   See fewer
Ernö Király
Judge (uncredited) Judge (uncredited)   See fewer
Nora Lane
Benda's Secretary (uncredited) Benda's Secretary (uncredited)   See fewer
Craig Lawrence
Candidate (uncredited) Candidate (uncredited)   See fewer
Michael Macey
Judge (uncredited) Judge (uncredited)   See fewer
Everett Mack
McGowan & Mack (uncredited) McGowan & Mack (uncredited)   See fewer
Janet Martin
Specialty Singer (uncredited) Specialty Singer (uncredited)   See fewer
Frank Mayo
Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited)   See fewer
Ruth McGowan
McGowan & Mack (uncredited) McGowan & Mack (uncredited)   See fewer
Bert Moorhouse
Photographer (uncredited) Photographer (uncredited)   See fewer
Felix Sadovsky
Specialty Dancer (uncredited) Specialty Dancer (uncredited)   See fewer
Dick Scott
Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited)   See fewer
Sewell Shurtz
Apprentice Boy (uncredited) Apprentice Boy (uncredited)   See fewer
Ruth Warren
Cleaning Woman (uncredited) Cleaning Woman (uncredited)   See fewer
Charles Williams
Reporter (uncredited) Reporter (uncredited)   See fewer
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