1970 Heinz - Great American Soup Commercial with Ann Miller and David Willock

Contrary to the Internet Myths, this wasn't the introduction of The Great American Soups, Heinz introduced the soups in 1967. This commercial is from 1970, was to try to boost sales.
1970 Heinz - Great American Soup Commercial with Ann Miller and David Willock
Produced by the H.J. Heinz Corporation to introduce it’s new line of Soups. In 1970, $154,000 dollars was spent to create this commercial. Heinz gave the Ad Agency an Unlimited Budget. It was the most expensive TV commercial produced for Television at the time. Today inflation Adjusted for 2023, that would equal over 1.2 million dollars., This original commercial is in the public domain and was released for Television. This video has been restored and compiles under Public Domain and Derivative Work Rules This is for educational and historical purposes only.
Restoration produced by OsbornTramain®
Wife & Dancer played by Ann Miller, her Husband played by David Willock
Restored version produced using a original 16mm Negative
Digital HD Scan and Transfer by Video & Film Solutions LLC
Ad Agency - Freberg LTD (but not vary)
Choreographer - Hermes Pan
Directed by Stan Freberg
"1970 Great American Soup Commercial with Ann Miller RESTORE VERSION"
All rights reserved for this revised and restored version
Copyright 2023 Francis Gerard Fay

[@maureengriffin7405]

Best commercial EVER!!! I saw Ann Miller tap dance on Broadway in “Sugar Babies” when she was 60, and I said, “I want to do that.” Almost 40 years later, I was still tap dancing in my 60s. Thank you, Ann, for being such a great role model!!

[@thomaslucia3059]

My cousin was in "Sugar Babies" and I was living in NYC at the time...I often saw the show and even used to help out in the hair dept. (we called it the "wig room"). I'll never forget: while backstage before the curtain went up, I heard the chorus girls warming up. The head hairdresser said, That's not the girls...that's Ann. It sounded like the whole group were tapping! - GREAT memories!

[@donaldmiller2306]

TV Guide for February 13, 1971, ran a 4-page feature on the making of this commercial that had color photos of the set, Ann Miller with Freberg, Billy May conducting a 24-piece orchestra on the scoring stage, Miss Miller in her red spangles resting on a slant board, the chorines donning their blonde wigs and posing for stills, choreographer Hermes Pan on top of the sunken soup can, and a glorious overhead shot of the entire sound stage 5 at the Goldwyn Studios during filming. Stan Freberg wrote, composed, and produced, Jack Poplin was art director, Fred Koenekamp was cinematographer, and the total cost of the production was reported to be $154,000.

[@billunderwood544]

What better way to sell the Great American Soup than an hommage to the great American musical. Love it! 😊❤

[@bychrischannel]

BEST. COMMERCIAL. EVER! I've loved Ann Miller ever since I was a little boy, and seeing this number made my day! Super Bowl sponsors, take notes.

[@hudsony777]

Finally, someone uploaded a clean copy of this wonderful bit of kitsch with the fabulous Ann Miller.

[@OsbornTramain]

I must admit, it took a very long time to find this.....I'm still looking for some of the other gems from Stan Freeberg. I've found two different negatives of the Gino Pizza Roll Lone Ranger commercials, but the quality was poor on both. No luck so far on more.

[@hudsony777]

@@OsbornTramain Ann Miller dancing on the GREAT...I'll say the GREAT...American Souuup, is enough for me. Thanks!

[@hudsony777]

For some reason, they never mentioned Heinz, the manufacturer.

[@DDumbrille]

@@OsbornTramain Yes, the copy is cleaner, but ruined by your tacky 'registered trademark' Osborn. REALLY TACKY...

[@hudsony777]

@@DDumbrille He deserves some credit DD.

[@billrtomison4440]

Whenever I see the “home” set sliding back together with Ann Miller twirling between the two halves, I can’t help but worry what would happen if the set was too fast or Miller was too slow.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Most likely they spent weeks rehearsing this number.. you'd have to to get every aspect of the timing just right.

[@tbec3011]

Most likely on casters slid by stage handlers - not a meat grinder. Lol

[@wnychevy09]

Remember seeing this on TV's greatest commercials back in 1982 on NBC

[@troynov1965]

LOL every time i see Ann Miller I think of Molly Shannon doing her on the SNL Leg Up skits

[@edwardpate6128]

Ann Miller, what a looker!

[@tigre7739]

When commercials were truly entertaining!!🤩

[@blafferdist]

Where's the entertainment? It was scant and pointless.

[@tigre7739]

LOL much like your comment

[@HHH-ye1ro]

She was 47 there. Still looking and dancing great!!

[@brianbalyeat3577]

WOW! Osborne that was awesome. Thank you so much. We all need a little golden age of Hollywood right about now!

[@OsbornTramain]

This is an iconic commercial, I felt so lucky to find a negative. I couldn't pass it up. It's not auto related but again, I like to upload commercials that are special even if they aren't auto related

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

@@OsbornTramain You did an EXCELLENT job with this one!! Would like to see more fabulous commercials of this type, if possible, added to your already incredible video collection!

[@ClaytonBelcher]

"hey mister have you tried the soup that's good enough to eat"

[@jamesclarke2207]

Nobody gives that exit line enough credit. It just put the cherry on top!

[@tholmes2169]

Great commercial. Thanks for sharing! Love that Heinz tried to take on the King of canned soups with a fun commercial even if the product ended up as a flop.

[@DavidBugea]

The best quality video transfer I’ve seen of this incredible ad! Too bad this ad didn’t translate into success for Heinz.

[@OsbornTramain]

Freberg felt, contrary to most Advertising Experts, that humor would sell product. Most experts feel that humor will be remembered but the product won't be. My recollection at the time was that the Great American Soup didn't need water added. It was easier to make or prepare, but that being said, Campbell's was iconic

[@OsbornTramain]

Yep, and very proud here to say I agree with you on the quality, it's the best of any example out here on youtube. I try to only have the best quality examples of commercials, my claim to fame.

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

And then you ruin them by putting a watermark on them. Shame on you.

[@michaelwitas9482]

I remember those Great American soups which my mother used to buy. They tasted much better than typical canned soups.

[@AnthonyWilliams-li5mz]

I actually remember that commercial it’s was early I think 1968 Wow I’m old🥲🥲

[@cliffchristie5865]

Best looking version of this I've seen online - the restoration efforts paid off. As I recall, according to Freberg, after they filmed this and screened it, the sponsor arbitrarily decided that they didn't want the soup can label to read "Chicken Gumbo" and wanted it changed. Rather than spend the extra money Freberg re-edited it so that you don't clearly see that part of the label. They cut away, then back again before and after it's revealed. Thereafter Ann Miller is center stage covering it.

[@JohnShinn1960]

I wonder how much it cost and did the resulting sales cover the expense. 🤔 Keep em coming and stayin tuned! 😃👍

[@R32R38]

The soup brand was a complete flop, with low sales, and Heinz discontinued it within a few years.

[@OsbornTramain]

Oh, it was a big money loser, it failed badly, Campbell's really was the king and Heinz's attempt didn't work

[@LoneLee2022]

At the time that was the most expensive commercial ever made.

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

@@LoneLee2022 Great commercial, but (unfortunately) bad soup . . . .

[@goodiesguy]

This looks amazing. I'd only seen a very dark black and white print of it on The Kenny Everett Video Show.

[@dylanakent]

Happy National Dance Day! Ann - what a set of pins!

[@AnnLippert1]

Dave Willock was also Baby Jane Hudson's dad!!!!

[@Juliaflo]

A legendary and bankable character actor.

[@highfiveanimations]

I believe this was the inspiration for a very familiar theme song… It seems today That all you see Is violence in movies And sex on TV

[@oldradiosnphonographs]

A little more higher budgeted than the typical commercial of that time period

[@krisstarring]

Directed and developed by the late, great comedian and media polymath Stan Freberg, this 1970 ad for Heinz's Great American Soups was the grandaddy to the outlandish and often humorous advertising we see today most prominently during the Super Bowl. Though, at the time this ad first hit TV screens, the Big Game was only 4 years old and hadn't "matured" to warrant top advertising dollar Nonetheless, this Great American Soups spot was the most expensive commercial ever made at the time. Imagine that, all of that cash thrown in to promote of all things, canned soup!

[@johnnyballenatl]

Yeah, $1 million of (Kraft) Heinz’s money was wasted on all this (while other commercials were produced for thousands of dollars)!

[@seaspinster3246]

We used to be a proper country. Why is there no more glamour in our soup advertisements?

[@hudsony777]

No more GA soup?

[@RichardGallagher-vw5xr]

😂

[@GataZGinkgo]

What was the restoration process? The results are certainly gorgeous

[@OsbornTramain]

16mm original negative, restored and colorized and then turned into HD from a video production company I use. I don't technically do it myself, but as I understand it, the machine used is a Million Dollar piece of equipment.....

[@ericrivera8410]

That soup must be off the hook

[@sandradaniels7662]

What a commercial! I don't know why the soup didn't catch on.

[@OsbornTramain]

The brand of soup was made for a good many years...this also wasn't the introduction commercial of the soup as claimed by so many people....just a myth......it was created as a produce in 1968, 2 years before this commercial aired.

[@kurtkauffman4326]

The Stage Dancing Girls are Exotic in the Commercial.

[@firstnamelastname9631]

Can't wait to see what she does for dessert.

[@SinisterChronicles674]

All I can hear when Dave talks is " ... and here comes the Anthill Mob"

[@OsbornTramain]

oh wow! I didn't realize he did voices for Cartoons........I can hear his voice saying the exact same thing!!!

[@SinisterChronicles674]

@@OsbornTramain Yep, Wacky Races :)

[@TranspositionMedia]

Interesting repeating minor phases shift....

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Since you do not own the copyright to this ad, you have no business watermarking it. That is like desecration.

[@OsbornTramain]

Sadly, you are mistaken. You clearly don't have a clue what a copyright is and what a trademark is. You need to educate yourself. I'm allowed to promote my broadcast channel, like NBC or CBS or ABC with my own Trademark. It's registered in the US office of patents and trademarks. It has absolutely nothing to do with the status of this film in terms of a copyright. They are two different things and entirely different and mutually exclusive of each other. You need to get a clue. Everything I broadcast on my channel, like NBC or ABC or CBS gets my watermark. That's how it works buddy. You don't like it, then don't come to my channel. Watch a lower quality version of this commercial on somebody else's Channel. One final comment, before you get on line and make directives and opinion, get some facts straight. There is no copyright on this commercial, nobody owns a copyright, it's in the public domain. I own the copyright of the restored version uploaded here with the opening, credits and leader included.

[@stanleycostello9610]

Ethel Merman doing a commercial for Texaco. That was a great ad, too.

[@kurtkauffman4326]

The Stage Dancing Girls are wearing Bodysuits & Panty Hose.

[@petestaint8312]

How corny! Glad they don't do that anymore.

[@hudsony777]

Of course it's corny, that's the point. And fun.

[@SunsetBoulevard111]

I wish they would do them again like this. This was 1970 and not corny. It was a reflection of the times. You are comparing this commercial with today's era and should not be. It stood on its own back then and this was an awesome commercial with the best female dancer ever. And beautiful as well!

[@williamf4544]

I wish they would do fun commercials like this again - Of course half of the dancers would have to be a mix of black and oriental with a few trans people thrown in to keep everyone happy or else the soup would be boycoted - Because thats the world we live in now

[@petestaint8312]

@@williamf4544 sad but true.