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Once Upon a Time poster
6.0 / 10(17 votes)IMDbNR19441h 29mUnited States of America

Once Upon a Time

“it's CHUCKLESOME!”

Synopsis

Broadway producer Jerry Flynn is anxious to recapture the magic and reclaim the crowds after a set of costly flops. Outside his theater one night, Flynn meets a young boy who just might save the day. Inside a small box the boy shows Flynn his pride and joy: a caterpillar named Curly that dances to Yes Sir, That's My Baby. Word quickly spreads about the amazingly talented hoofer, and the caterpillar becomes a symbol of hope for wartime America. Soon, offers are pouring in to capitalize on this sensational insect.

Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

Once Upon A Time (1944) Clip

Type: Clip • Published 2014-10-24

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

June 29, 1944

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Alexander Hall
Screenplay & Story
Lewis Meltzer, Oscar Saul
Original Score
Friedrich Hollaender
Original Title
Once Upon a Time
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 29m
Production Studios
Columbia Pictures

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Alexander Hall

Screenplay & Story

Lewis Meltzer, Oscar Saul, Irving Fineman, Lucille Fletcher, Norman Corwin

Original Score & Music

Friedrich Hollaender

Director of Photography

Franz Planer

Film Editing

Gene Havlick

Producers

Louis F. Edelman

Department Leadership Roster

Lewis Meltzer

Lewis Meltzer

Screenplay

Oscar Saul

Screenplay

Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall

Director

Franz Planer

Director of Photography

Friedrich Hollaender

Friedrich Hollaender

Original Music Composer

Louis F. Edelman

Producer

Gene Havlick

Editor

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: NR

NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

United States (MPAA)NR

Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Once Upon a Time.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Once Upon a Time.

2026 movies watched playlist

Here is the list of how many hours of movies that I watched in 2026 movie list here so far.

719 titles

MovieLens[40K:50K]

9753 titles

My DVDs

900 titles

More Stars Than There Are In The Heavens: Cary Grant

29 titles

my movies 1940s

100 titles

Cary Grant Movies

73 titles

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Frequently Asked Questions About Once Upon a Time

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Once Upon a Time about?

Broadway producer Jerry Flynn is anxious to recapture the magic and reclaim the crowds after a set of costly flops. Outside his theater one night, Flynn meets a young boy who just might save the day. Inside a small box the boy shows Flynn his pride and joy: a caterpillar named Curly that dances to Yes Sir, That's My Baby. Word quickly spreads about the amazingly talented hoofer, and the caterpillar becomes a symbol of hope for wartime America. Soon, offers are pouring in to capitalize on this sensational insect.

Who directed Once Upon a Time?

Once Upon a Time was directed by Alexander Hall.

Who stars in Once Upon a Time?

The principal cast of Once Upon a Time includes Cary Grant, Janet Blair, James Gleason, Ted Donaldson, William Demarest.

When was Once Upon a Time released and how long is it?

Once Upon a Time was released in 1944 with a total runtime of 1h 29m.

Who composed the musical score for Once Upon a Time?

The original motion picture soundtrack for Once Upon a Time was composed by Friedrich Hollaender.

What is the age rating and content advisory for Once Upon a Time?

Once Upon a Time holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).