With a Song in My Heart (1952)

With a Song in My Heart is a 1952 biographical film about actress and singer Jane Froman, who was in a airplane crash on February 22, 1943, when the Boeing 314 Pan American Clipper flying boat she was on crash landed in the Tagus River near Lisbon, Portugal, but was still able to entertain the troops in World War II. Cast: Susan Hayward (pictured above), Rory Calhoun, David Wayne, Thelma Ritter, Robert Wagner, Helen Westcott and Una Merkel. Froman herself was Hayward's singing voice.

The movie was written by Lamar Trotti and directed by Walter Lang.

It won the Academy Award for Original Music Score and was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Susan Hayward, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Thelma Ritter), Best Costume Design, Color and Best Sound, Recording.



Jane Froman (pictured to the left),was a singer and actress. During her thirty-year career, Froman performed on stage, radio and television, despite injuries that she received in a 1943 plane crash. She performed in the movies: Kissing Time (1933), Stars Over Broadway (1935) and Radio City Revels (1938). Froman's life story was the subject of the movie With a Song in My Heart (1952), starring Susan Hayward as Froman. Froman was deeply involved in the film's production: she supplied Hayward’s singing voice and was the film's technical advisor. The Capitol album of songs from the movie was the number one best-selling album of 1952. DRG recently issued the album on a compact disc along with the 1952 original cast album of Pal Joey. A CD called Jane Froman on Capitol is a collection of her Capitol Records singles and tracks from albums. She also performed on stage in Las Vegas.

Soundtracks:
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"WITH A SONG IN MY HEART"
Written by Richard Rodgers (1929)
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Sung offscreen by Jane Froman
Reprised by Susan Hayward (voice dubbed by Jane Froman) and Richard Allan

"HOE THAT CORN"
Written by Max Showalter and Jack Woodford
Performed by Max Showalter and David Wayne

"THAT OLD FEELING"
Written by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Lew Brown
Introduced in Vogues of 1938 (1937)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)

"JIM'S TOASTY PEANUTS"
Written by Ken Darby
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) and trio

"I'M THRU WITH LOVE"
Written by Fud Livingston and Matty Malneck (1931)
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)

"GET HAPPY"
Written by Harold Arlen (1930)
Lyrics by Ted Koehler
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)

"BLUE MOON"
Written by Richard Rodgers (1930)
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) and chorus

"ON THE GAY WHITE WAY"
Written by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Introduced in My Gal Sal (1942)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) with quartet

"THE RIGHT KIND"
Written by Alfred Newman
Lyrics by Don George and Charles Henderson
Introduced in Road House (1948)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman), danced with Richard Allan

"HOME ON THE RANGE"
Composition attributed to Daniel E. Kelly (1904)
Lyrics attributed to Brewster M. Higley (1873)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman), Leif Erickson,
Helen Westcott

"MONTPARNASSE"
Written by Alfred Newman
Lyrics by Eliot Daniel
Sung by David Wayne

"EMBRACEABLE YOU"
Written by George Gershwin (1930)
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) with Robert Wagner

"TEA FOR TWO"
Written by Vincent Youmans (1925)
Lyrics by Irving Caesar
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) with Robert Wagner

"IT'S A GOOD DAY"
Written by Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour (1947)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)

"THEY'RE EITHER TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD"
Written by Arthur Schwartz
Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Introduced in Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)

"I'LL WALK ALONE"
Written by Jule Styne (1944)
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) with Robert Wagner

"AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL"
Written by Samuel A. Ward
Lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) and chorus
Part of American Medley

"WONDERFUL HOME SWEET HOME"
Written by Ken Darby
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

"GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY"
Written by George M. Cohan (1904)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

"CHICAGO"
Written by Fred Fisher (1922)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) and chorus
Part of American Medley

"CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME"
Written by Joseph Meyer (1924)
Lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy G. DeSylva
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman) and chorus
Part of American Medley

"CARRY ME BACK TO OLD VIRGINNY"
Written by James Allen Bland (1878)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

"STEIN SONG"
(University of Maine)
Written by E.A. Fenstad (1901)
Lyrics by Lincoln Colcord (1910)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

"INDIANA"
Written by James F. Hanley (1917)
Lyrics by Ballard MacDonald
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

"ALABAMY BOUND"
Written by Ray Henderson (1925)
Lyrics by Bud Green and Buddy G. DeSylva
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

"DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS"
Written by Don Swander (1941)
Lyrics by June Hershey (1941)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

"DIXIE"
Written by Daniel Decatur Emmett (1859)
Performed by Susan Hayward (dubbed by Jane Froman)
Part of American Medley

Puttin' on the Ritz.

Jammin the Blues Away.

Jammin' the Blues is a 1944 short film in which several jazz musicians got together for a jam session, featuring: Lester Young, Red Callender, Harry Edison, Marlowe Morris, Sid Catlett, Barney Kessel, Jo Jones, John Simmons, Illinois Jacquet, Marie Bryant, Archie Savage and Garland Finney.

Follow the Fleet (1936).

Follow the Fleet(1936). Musical/comedy. A film with a nautical theme and stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Harriet Hilliard, and Astrid Allwyn, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. Lucille Ball and Betty Grable also perform, in supporting roles. Director:Mark Sandrich with script by Allan Scott and Dwight Taylor based on the 1922 play Shore Leave by Hubert Osborne.The fifth (of ten) dancing partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.



FOLLOW THE FLEET (RKO Radio, 1936), directed by Mark Sandrich, marks the fifth pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and one of their top musicals with a wonderful score by Irving Berlin, also the composer of TOP HAT (1935). Reworking the formula from their earlier performance, ROBERTA (1935), Astaire and Rogers not only share screen time with another couple closer to their own age, but are characters already know each from the start. Unlike ROBERTA, Astaire and Rogers have equal status with the other couple played by Randolph Scott (of ROBERTA) and Harriet Hilliard (making her screen debut). Another change to the series is Astaire switching his elegant top hat, white tie and tails for a sailor's uniform.

The story begins with Bake Baker and Bilge Smith who are shipmates in the U.S. Navy who are looking forward to going on shore leave. Bake reunites with Sherry Martin, his former dancing partner now working at the Paradise Club. Sherry's sister, Connie, a schoolteacher, comes to visit her sister at the club, and gets a head to toe makeover. Soon after, Connie goes looking for Bilge, who had earlier ignored her on their first meeting. Now with with her new look, Bilge become interested in her. Once Connie mentions something about "wanting a husband at the helm," Bilge gets cold feet. while saying good by, he meets Iris Manning, a society girl who later takes him back to his ship, causing him to be late from leave. Connie, who has salvaged her late father's ship for Bilge soon finds out that he has moved on. Sherry has troubles of her own with Bake.

Of the musical numbers my favorite are, "Let's Face the Music and Dance". It's a production number in a Monte Carlo setting with their signature costumes, Rogers in elaborate dress with bell-type sleeves. Harriet Hilliard has two solos. "Where Are You?" is a beautiful love song.

Look closely for a young Tony Martin as one of the sailors, and Lucille Ball as a blond Kitty Collins.

Soundtracks:

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"We Saw the Sea"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Fred Astaire and chorus

"Let Yourself Go"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Ginger Rogers and chorus





"Get Thee Behind Me, Satan"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Harriet Hilliard

"Let Yourself Go"
(uncredited)
Instrumental Reprise
Dance performed by Ginger Rogers

"I'd Rather Lead a Band"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, chorus

"But Where Are You?"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Harriet Hilliard

"I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Song and dance performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

"Let's Face the Music and Dance"
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Chick Flicks At the Movies: Dancing Pirate (1936)

Dancing Pirate (1936). Musical. Director: Lloyd Corrigan. Cast: Steffi Duna, Charles Collins, Frank Morgan and Rita Hayworth(uncredited).

Jonathan Pride, a handsome dance instructor in 1820 Boston. on his way to visit relatives, is kidnapped by pirates and forced to work as a galley boy. When the pirate ship arrives at the port of Las Palomas, Jonathan, wearing pirates clothes, makes his escape. Everyone in Las Palomas, including Governor Alcalde and his daughter senorita Serafina, believes that Jonathan is a pirate, leading to a series of hilarious complications. Featured in the cast are the Dancing Cansinos, Rita Hayworth was just beginning her own screen career. I really enjoyed watching this movie's dance numbers, costumes , scenery and sword fighting. Charles Collins, is a wonderful dancer. I wonder why he never achieved fame the way Fred Astaire did?
Dancing Pirate Full Movie.

Collins made his Broadway debut in 1927 in Harry Aksts Artists and Models (1927). He went on to star in several Broadway productions during the 1930s, including Ripples (1930), Smiling Faces (1932), Say When (1935), Conjur Man Dies (1936), Macbeth(1936), and Sea Legs (1937). During this time he also began to perform in Hollywood musical films beginning with Shave It with Music in 1932. His other film roles during this decade included the roles of Baxter in Paree, Paree (1934) and Jonathan Pride in Dancing Pirate (1936). He also recorded music for the 1934 film Those Were the Days. Collins performed in two more films during the 1940s: Syncopation (1942) and Swing Hostess (1944). He recorded the song "Don't Dilly Dally on the Way" for the 1946 film London Town. He returned to Broadway in 1945 to portray Boris Kolenkhov in You Can't Take It with You, and again in 1947 to portray Gaston in The Red Mill. In 1951 he made his first television appearance as a guest star on the Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok program. He appeared in small parts in three more films during the 1950s, Confidence Girl (1952), The Steel Trap (1952), and A Blueprint for Murder(1953), after which his career considerably slowed down. After a more than 25 year absence from Broadway, Collins returned to New York in the 1973 for his final Broadway appearance in the musical Shelter. He later served as the stage manager for the Broadway musical Platinum. Info From : IMDb database.

Dance the "Continental" with a: Gay Divorcee (1934).

The Gay Divorcee (1934) Based on the musical play Gay Divorce. Written by Dwight Taylor, Kenneth S. Webb, Samuel Hoffenstein. Screenplay by George Marion Jr., Dorothy Yost and Edward Kaufman, from an unproduced play by J. Hartley Manners. Director: Mark Sandrich. The movie is a  musical/comedy. This was the second of the Rogers and Astaire musicals; Flying Down to Rio (1933) was the first. It included the popular dance team of Fred Astaire and a 23-year-old Ginger Rogers, and also starred Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore and Erik Rhodes. It is the first of the series to feature Ginger and Fred as the main attraction.

Famous dancer Guy Holden and his best friend, lawyer Egbert Fitzgerald, are in London continuing their vacation. While waiting on the dock, Guy sees Mimi having problems with her dress, which is caught in one of her aunt Hortense's trunks, and offers his help. Unfortunately, Guy pulls too hard and tears her dress. Mimi accepts his coat and his card, angry about her dress runs away without telling him her name or address. Mimi returns the coat anonymously through a hotel bellboy, hurting guys feelings, who is now in love with her. Guy drives the streets of London in search of Mimi and by chance crashes into her car. Mimi takes off, but Guy in hot pursuit catches up with her. After he proposes to her, Mimi tells Guy she cannot see him again, but accepts his telephone number and promises to call.

Later, Hortense, who was once engaged to Egbert, brings Mimi to Egbert's law offices to discuss divorce proceedings. Informing him that Mimi's husband is a neglectful geologist, has refused to grant Mimi a divorce, Egbert advises that a professional co-respondent be hired. Unaware that Mimi is the love of Guy's life, Egbert convinces his friend to join him at the seaside resort, Brightbourne, where the co-respondent is to meet with Mimi. In Brightbourne, Egbert meets Rodolfo Tonetti, a weird Italian co-respondent, and tells him that his "password" with Mimi will be "Chance is the fool's name for fate," a line spoken earlier by Guy. That night, while Tonetti searches the hotel for Mimi, whom he has never seen, Guy spots Mimi in the hotel restaurant and immediately picks up where he left off. However, when Guy says the line about fate, Mimi assumes that he is her co-respondent and grows instantly cold toward him.

The story then goes into a wonderful song and dance number."The Continental", a twenty-two minute production number.



Over the weekend I added the Astaire and Rodgers DVD Collection to my DVD Collection. The first movie I watched was The Gay Divorcee. I thought this movie was beautiful . I do not think there is a more perfect dance than "Night and Day"....or a more beautiful song to dance to. I do not think I have seen Erik Rhodes perform in a film before. He is hilarious as the paid correspondent. Edward Everett Horton is wonderful as the sidekick and his dance with a very young Betty Grable is fun to watch. The art deco sets and great 30's clothes are wonderful and made me wish for a time when everybody wore evening dresses.

FUN FACTS:

The musical number "The Continental" lasts 17 1/2 minutes, the longest number ever in a musical until Gene Kelly's 18 1/2-minute ballet at the end of An American in Paris (1951) 17 years later.


The jumpsuit that Betty Grable wears in the "Let's Knock Knees" dance number was a garment previously worn by Dolores del Rio in Flying Down to Rio (1933).


The second (of ten) dancing partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Soundtracks:

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"Don't Let It Bother You"
Written by Harry Revel (music), Mack Gordon (lyrics)
Song performed by chorus
Dance performed by Fred Astaire

"A Needle in a Haystack"
Written by Con Conrad (music), Herb Magidson (lyrics)
Song and dance performed by Fred Astaire

Let's K-nock K-neez"
Written by Harry Revel (music), Mack Gordon (lyrics)
Song performed by Betty Grable and Edward Everett Horton
Dance performed by Betty Grable, Edward Everett Horton, chorus

"Night and Day"
Written by Cole Porter
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers

"The Continental"
Written by Con Conrad (music), Herb Magidson (lyrics)
Song performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Erik Rhodes, Lillian Miles
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, chorus

"The Continental"
Written by Con Conrad (music)
Instrumental reprise
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers

Jane Russell

Lookin For Trouble. This costume was inspired by the burlesque dancer Betty Rowland, who was also the inspiration behind the character in the movie Ball of Fire

Ann Margret- Singing and Dance Video

DOWN TO EARTH (1947)

Down to Earth (1947). Musical/comedy. Cast: Rita Hayworth and Larry Parks. Director Alexander Hall. It is a sequel to the film Here Comes Mr. Jordan(1941), also directed by Hall. Edward Everett Horton and James Gleason reprise their roles from the earlier film, but Roland Culver replaces Claude Rains as Mr. Jordan.

Hayworth performs as the Muse Terpsichore who is not happy that Broadway producer Danny Miller is putting on a show which portrays the Muses as man-crazy women fighting over a couple of Air Force pilots who crashed on Mount Parnassus . She asks Mr. Jordan if she can to go to Earth and fix the play. After Jordan agrees Terpsichore uses the name Kitty Pendleton and hires agent Max Corkle, who gets her a part in the show. Kitty takes every opportunity she gets to tell Danny that his ideas of Muses are wrong. Danny, who is in love with Kitty, is persuaded to change the play from a musical comedy to a ballet . The revised play is a complete flop. Danny, who owes a lot of money to a group of gangsters who will kill him if the show isn't a success goes back to his original script. Kitty is ready to leave when Mr. Jordan shows up and explains the situation. What will Kitty decide to do?

I think it is worth watching mostly because of the dance numbers. Rita looked lovely in all her beautiful gowns.

FUN FACT;

In the newspaper montage, the third item in the Lyons Den column reads: "Save up your gas money and go over to Danny McGuire's place in Brooklyn. You'll see the Vanity cover." This is the plot for Cover Girl (1944), Rita Hayworths previous movie, so the characters of Kitty Pendleton and Rusty Parker are playing at the same time.

Soundtracks:

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"Let's Stay Young Forever"
Music by Doris Fisher
Lyrics by Allan Roberts
Sung by Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Anita Ellis)


"This Can't Be Legal"
Music by Doris Fisher
Lyrics by Allan Roberts
Sung and Danced by Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Anita Ellis), Marc Platt and Larry Parks (dubbed by Hal Derwin)

"They Can't Convince Me"
Music by Doris Fisher
Lyrics by Allan Roberts
Sung by Larry Parks (dubbed by Hal Derwin)

"People Have More Fun Than Anyone"
Music by Doris Fisher
Lyrics by Allan Roberts
Sung by Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Anita Ellis)

"Kiss of the Muse"
Sung and Danced by Adele Jergens (dubbed by Kay Starr) and the muses
Also danced by Marc Platt

"Greek Ballet"
Music by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Danced by Marc Platt, Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Anita Ellis) and company

"The Muses Come To Earth"
(show finale)
Danced by Marc Platt, Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Anita Ellis) and company

Marlene Dietrich Movie Clip.

 BLONDE VENUS (Josef von Sternberg, 1932) "Hot Voodoo" Music by Ralph Rainger Lyrics by Sam Coslow Played by the orchestra at O'Connor's Sung by Marlene Dietrich and danced to by the chorus.

SHALL WE DANCE (1937)

Shall We Dance (1937). Is the seventh of the ten Astaire-Rogers musical comedy films. The idea for this film began in the studio's desire to showcase the successful film created by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart with their 1936 Broadway hit On Your Toes, which featured an American dancer getting involved with a touring Russian ballet company and which featured the famous "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" ballet created by the Russian choreographer George Balanchine.

The story begins when Pete P. Peters, develops a crush on a ballet dancer Linda Keene, who is living in Paris and promises to his friend Jeffrey Baird, that he will marry her some day. When Pete arrives at Linda's apartment, he overhears her talking to her producer, Arthur Miller, that she wants out of show business.

With a Russian accent, Pete introduces himself as Petrov, a ballet star and pretends to be unimpressed by Linda. Then, to be near her Pete tricks Jeffrey into getting tickets for him on the same New York boat that Linda is sailing on the next day.

While sailing to New York, Pete takes her little dog on his walks and wins her over. However, rumors are started about Pete's "secret marriage" which begin to spread around the boat. Linda's attentions to Pete lead to everyone believing that she is Pete's wife.

When Linda hears from Jeffrey that Pete used her to avoid a past girl friend, she grabs the next mail airplane to New York. After Linda assures her fiancee, Jim Montgomery, that she is still single, Arthur throws a party for the couple. During the party, Arthur tricks her into performing a spur of the moment dance with Pete, then comes up with a plan to have a sleeping Pete photographed with a mannequin of Linda. The photo ends up on the front page of the newspaper, which is now to believed proof of Pete and Linda's marriage. Now, they actually have to get married to keep the story going. Of course you have to watch to see what happens next..There's a special place in my heart for the films of Astaire and Rogers. There is always charm, humor and wonderful music.



Soundtracks:

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"Slap That Bass"
(1937)
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Ensemble in engine room
Sung also by Dudley Dickerson

"Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"
(1937)
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
Sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers on roller skates

"They Can't Take That Away from Me"
(1937)
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
Sung by Fred Astaire

"Shall We Dance"
(1937)
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Danced by Fred Astaire and Harriet Hoctor in the ballet sequence opening this number
Sung by Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the closing sequence

"They All Laughed"
(1937)
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Sung by Ginger Rogers
Danced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Sung a cappella also by Jerome Cowan and Sam Wren

"Beginner's Luck"
(1937)
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Sung by Fred Astaire

"Walking the Dog - Promenade"
(1937)
Music by George Gershwin
Played during the dog-walking sequence

"Rhapsody in Blue"
(1924) (uncredited)
Music by George Gershwin
In the score when Gershwin's name is displayed during the opening credits

"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung a cappella on shipboard by people in a bar

"The Sidewalks of New York"
(1894) (uncredited)
Music by Charles Lawlor and James W. Blake
In the score when New York City is shown

TOP HAT (1933)

Top Hat was the most successful picture of Astaire and Rogers' partnership and Astaire's second most successful picture after Easter Parade. While some dance critics believe that Swing Time had better dance routines,Top Hat still to this day, the pair best-known work.

Wardrobe: The "feathers" incident

Although Bernard Newman was in charge of dressing the stars, Rogers was very interested in dress design and make-up. For the "Cheek to Cheek" dance routine, she wanted to use her own creation. Astaire who normally approved his partner's gowns and suggested modifications if necessary during rehearsals saw the dress for the first time on the day of the shoot, and was horrified at the way it shed, recalling later: "It was like a chicken attacked by a coyote, I never saw so many feathers in my life." Astaire lost his temper and yelled at Rogers, who burst into tears, where her mother,"came charging at him like a mother rhinoceros protecting her young. "An additional night's work by seamstresses fixed the problem. Later, Astaire presented Rogers with a gold feather for her charm bracelet, and serenaded her with a parodying Berlin's tune:

Feathers — I hate feathers

And I hate them so that I can hardly speak

And I never find the happiness I seek

With those chicken feathers dancing

Cheek to Cheek.

Astaire nicknamed Rogers "Feathers".

Soundtracks:

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"No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)"
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Song and Dance performed by Fred Astaire

"Isn't This a Lovely Day (to Be Caught in the Rain)?"
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers

"Top Hat, White Tie and Tails"
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, mens chorus

"Cheek to Cheek"
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Fred Astaire
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers

"The Piccolino"
Words and Music by Irving Berlin
Song performed by Ginger Rogers, chorus
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, chorus

"The Piccolino"
Instrumental reprise
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers

ROBERTA (1933)

A very charming musical comedy, with exquisite dancing, beautiful clothes, elegant sets, witty dialogue  and one of my favorite Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers films,   Roberta (1935). Musical. Cast: Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Randolph Scott. It was an adaptation of a 1933 Broadway theatre musical of the same name, which was based on the novel Gowns by Roberta by Alice Duer Miller.

The film kept songs "Yesterdays" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" from the play, along with a third song, "I'll Be Hard to Handle". But it replaced three others ("The Touch of Your Hand", "Something Had To Happen" and "You're Devastating") with Jerome Kern's "I Won't Dance" and "Lovely to Look At", both were nominated for the Best Song Oscar.

Roberta is the third Astaire-Rogers film, and the only one to be remade with other actors. MGM did so in 1952, entitling the new Technicolor version Lovely to Look At.

Alexander Voyda, the owner of the Cafe Russe in Paris, not knowing what to expect does not show up to his appointment with the Wabash Indianians, a jazz band led by Huck Haines.

With no work, the band follows John Kent, a college football star who is traveling with them, to Roberta's, a fancy boutique run by John's aunt, Minnie. There John meets Stephanie, an exiled Russian princess, while Huck runs into Lizzie Gatz, who thinks she is now a cabaret performer, Comtesse "Tanka" Scharwenka.

To buy Huck's silence, Lizzie arranges for the Wabash Indianian's to audition at the Russe Cafe, not knowing that Voyda has already rejected them. Even though the band gave a wonderful audition, Voyda still refuses to hire them until Lizzie threatens to sing at a rival club.

John's fiancee, Sophie Teale, broke off their engagement because of his simple country ways, is given a "make over" by Stephanie and Minnie.

Soon after, Minnie dies of a heart attack, and John inherits Roberta's.

John knows nothing about woman's fashion, but.. sparks begin to fly when he tries to learn how to run a company.

Besides the wonderful dance numbers, I really enjoyed the costume designs and beautiful art deco sets. This glamorous movie has it all: shopping at a elegant salon, serenading to balalaikas, Russian princes, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" sung by the very talented Irene Dunne, Old Russian restaurant and fashion show with Astaire and Rogers dancing.




FUN FACTS:

Lucille Ball, appears uncredited as a model in a fashion show. She wears a large feather cape, and her hair is bleached platinum blonde.

The third (of ten) dancing partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Soundtracks:

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"(Back Home Again In) Indiana"
(uncredited)
Music by James F. Hanley
Lyrics by Ballard MacDonald
Performed by The Wabash Indianians

"Let's Begin"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Additional lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Song performed by Fred Astaire and Candy Candido
Dance performed by Fred Astaire, Candy Candido, Gene Sheldon and Ginger Rogers

"Russian Lullaby"
Written by Jerome Kern
Performed by Irene Dunne

"I'll Be Hard to Handle"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Additional lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Song performed by Ginger Rogers
Dance performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

"Yesterdays"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Performed by Irene Dunne

"I Won't Dance"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Additional lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Song performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Dance performed by Fred Astaire

"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Performed by Irene Dunne

"Lovely to Look At"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern and Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Performed by Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
(uncredited)
Instrumental reprise
Dance performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

"I Won't Dance"
(uncredited)
Instrumental reprise
Dance performed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

MEET ME IN LAS VEGAS (1956)

Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956). Musical/comedy. Producer: Joe Pasternack. Director: Roy Rowland. Cast: Cyd Charisse, Dan Dailey, Agnes Moorehead, Lili Darvas, Jim Backus, Oscar Karlweis, Liliane Montevecchi, and Cara Williams. Guest stars appearing in the film are Jerry Colonna, Paul Henreid, Lena Horne, Frankie Laine, and Mitsuko Sawamara. Cameo appearances include: Frank Sinatra, Debbie Reynolds, Pier Angeli, Peter Lorre, and Tony Martin (who was married to Charisse until her death in 2008). The screenplay is by Isobel Lennart. Cinematography: Robert Bronner. Music direction: George Stoll. Choreography: Hermes Pan and Eugene Loring.

Chuck Rodwell returns to the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas every year in hopes to make it rich . One day in the casino, as ballerina Maria Corvier is in a mad rush out of rehearsal, she passes by Chuck who grabs her hand for good luck and wins. When Chuck wins a slot machine jackpot as he takes Maria's hand, he believes his winning is because of her. Now in her room, Maria makes a call to her manager, to break her Las Vegas show, but learns she can not get out of it. Maria's chaperon, tells Maria that love helped her through her dancing career, but.. Maria believes that her only love is dancing. After a losing streak at the gambling tables, Chuck goes to Maria's room, where he tells her that she is his good-luck charm. Maria is surprised when they win the jackpot two times in row and agrees to a game at a casino roulette table, where they also win. But their luck soon changes when they begin to fall in love. This is the first time I have seen Meet Me in Las Vagas. One of my favorite scenes is when a drunken Maria, who is jealous of one of the dancers, stumbles onto the stage and joins the chorus girls in high kicks and sexy hip movements. Also, it was fun to see Anges Moorhead performing in a mother role.

Soundtracks:
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"Rehearsal Ballet"
Music by Johnny Green
Choreographed by Eugene Loring
Danced by Cyd Charisse and Ensemble

"Sleeping Beauty Ballet"
(excerpt)
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreographed by Eugene Loring
Danced by Cyd Charisse and Ensemble

"I Refuse to Rock and Roll"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Cara Williams

"Hell Hath No Fury"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Frankie Laine


"Frankie and Johnny"
Traditional
Special lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Sammy Davis Jr.
Danced by Cyd Charisse and Ensemble

"Meet Me in Las Vegas"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung off screen by The Four Aces

"If You Can Dream"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Lena Horne
Also sung off screen by The Four Aces

"The Gal with the Yaller Shoes"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung and danced by Dan Dailey, joined by Cyd Charisse, Agnes Moorehead and Chorus Boys
Also partially sung off screen by The Four Aces

"My Lucky Charm"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung and danced by Dan Dailey and Mitsuko Sawamura
Also sung by Jerry Colonna
Danced by Cyd Charisse and Chorus Girls

BAND WAGON POSTER AND MOVIE TRAILER.

The Band Wagon is a 1953 musical comedy film that many critics rank (along with Singin' in the Rain) as the finest of the MGM musicals.

BAND WAGON(1953)- Dance Clip.

BAND WAGON (1953)

The Band Wagon (1953) Musical /comedy. Music written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz ,originally for the 1931 Broadway musical, also called The Band Wagon, with a book by George S. Kaufman. Cast: Fred Astaire and his sister Adele. Another song orchestrated by Conrad Salinger, "Dancing in the Dark". The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, Color, Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay. In 1995, The Band Wagon was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2006, this film ranked #17 on the American Film Institutes list of best musicals.

Tony Hunter's movie career is in a slump, so he decides to return to New York to meet with writers Lester and Lily Marton. The Martons inform Tony that they have written a new show to be staged by director Jeffrey Cordova. Tony joins the Martons to the Broadway theater and after watching the play is not sure that Cordova's can direct a musical comedy. The Martons are taken back when Cordova announces that he sees the show as a modern version of Faust , and casts himself in the devil role. Cordova then casts the famous ballerina Gabrielle Gerard in the female lead. Tony and the Martons go to the ballet to watch Gaby perform, and Tony is worried about her height and her classical training.

My favorite scene of the film is when Tony and Gabrielle, take a carriage ride through Central Park to try to get to know each other. As they drive, they come to an outdoor dance floor, with an orchestra playing "Dancing in the Dark" ( music matched the mood perfectly). Tony and Gabrielle get out and begin to walk together in rhythm, gradually trying out a few dance steps. Eventually, they dance wonderfully together. It is one of my favorite Astaire or Charisse's moments.



FUN FACTS:

Many of the props, sets, and costumes for the huge production number that goes wrong in rehearsal in Boston are from Lovely to Look at (1952), Ziegfeld Follies (1945) and An American in Paris (1951).

The movie reflects two real-life situations. In the movie Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire) is washed up. In real life Astaire's career was at a standstill. In the movie much is made of whether Cyd Charisse's character is too tall for Fred's character. This was also true in real life. Whenever Cyd and Fred are together she is in shoes with low heels.

Soundtracks:

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"By Myself"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Fred Astaire

"A Shine on Your Shoes"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Fred Astaire and Leroy Daniels

"That's Entertainment"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant and Fred Astaire
Performed also by Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant, Cyd Charisse (dubbed by India Adams) and Fred Astaire

"The Beggars Waltz"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Danced by Cyd Charisse, James Mitchell and corps de ballet

"Dancing in the Dark"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Danced by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse

"You and the Night and the Music"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Sung by chorus
Danced by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse

"Something to Remember You By"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed chorus

"High and Low"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by chorus

"I Love Louisa"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Fred Astaire, Oscar Levant, Nanette Fabray and chorus

"New Sun in the Sky"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Cyd Charisse (dubbed by India Adams)

"I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan

"Louisiana Hayride"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Nanette Fabray and chorus

"Triplets"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Performed by Fred Astaire, Nanette Fabray and Jack Buchanan

"The Girl Hunt"
(uncredited)
Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
Danced by corps de ballet
Danced by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse

MARGE CHAMPION

Marge Champion was the daughter of Hollywood dance director Ernest Belcher and Gladys Lee Baskette. She was a ballet instructor at her father's studio by age twelve. She was hired by Disney as a dance model for their film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She later modeled for the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio and the Dancing Hippo in Fantasia. She became a Hollywood legend with second husband Gower Champion (1921-1980) as a dancing team during MGM's Golden Age of the 1940s and 50s. MGM wanted them to remake Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films, but only one, Roberta (1935), remade as Lovely to Look At (1952). They performed in the 1951 version of Show Boat and their own show, Everything I Have Is Yours. Champion first married Art Babbitt (1907–1992), a Walt Disney's top animator. She married Gower Champion in 1947. They divorced in 1973 and had two sons, Blake and actor Gregg Champion. Her third marriage was to Boris Sagal, father of actress Katey Sagal. Since retiring, Marge Champion works as a dance teacher and choreographer in New York City. In 1982, she made a rare television acting appearance on the dramatic series Fame, playing a ballet teacher.

MEET ME AFTER THE SHOW(1951)

This is a song and dance number performed by Betty Grable, the Condos Brothers and other cast members from the 1951 film, Meet Me After The Show. Choreography for this film was by Jack Cole. Costumes by William Travilla.

ANN MILLER

Ann Miller was the daughter of Clara Emma and John Alfred Collier, a criminal lawyer who represented the Barrow Gang, Machine Gun Kelly, and Baby Face Nelson. Miller danced to exercise her legs to help her rickets. In an interview she said that Eleanor Powell was her inspiration. At the age of 13 Miller had been hired as a dancer in the "Black Cat Club" in San Francisco (she had told them she was 18). it was there she was discovered by Lucille Ball. This led Miller to be given a contract with RKO in 1936 at the age of 13 (she had also told them she was 18). Soon Miller was offered a contract at Columbia Pictures. She is best known for her roles in MGM musicals such as Kiss Me Kate, Easter Parade, and On the Town.

Ann Miller became famous for her speed in tap dancing. Studio publicists claimed she could tap 500 times per minute, but really the sound of ultra-fast "500" taps was put in later. Because the stage floors were slippery, she danced in shoes with rubber soles. Later she would add the sound of the taps while watching the film and actually dancing on a "tap board" to match her steps in the film.

In 1970, Stan Freberg, who is best known for his commercials, used Miller and her tap-dancing skills in a commercial for "Great American Soups." Miller plays a housewife asked by her "husband" what she's prepared for dinner. She throws off her house frock to show a sequined dance outfit, and the kitchen set splits open to reveal a huge Hollywood stage, showcasing a giant can of soup, which Miller sings and dances, accompanied by a chorus line. At the end of the commercial, she returns to the kitchen set, where the husband character says, "Why do you have to make such a big production out of everything?"

FUN FACTS:

Devoutly spiritual, she dabbles in psychic phenomena and astrology. She believes she was once Queen Hathshepsut of Egypt.


At the end of her MGM contract she flew overseas to Morocco to entertain on the Timex TV Hour for Bob Hope. She sang and danced "Too Darn Hot" in 120-degree heat, entertaining 5000 soldiers.

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (1936)

Pennies from Heaven (1936) Musical/comedy. Based on the novel The Peacock Feather by Katherine Leslie Moore. Columbia hired Jo Swerling to adapt into the script Pennies from Heaven (1936). (Swerling would later write Leave Her to Heaven, 1945, and It's a Wonderful Life, 1946.) Cast: Bing Crosby, Madge Evans, Edith Fellows, Louis Armstrong and Donald Meek.

The story begins when, Crosby's character is asked by a condemned prisoner, to take a letter to his little girl when he gets out of jail, and to move her and her grandfather into the old family home. Which they believe to be haunted. Crosby comes up with the idea to turn the house into a restaurant/nightclub called the Haunted House Cafe.

Susan Sprague works for the county welfare department and it is her job to see that Patsy goes to school or she have will go to an orphanage. Larry tries to help Gramps out with Patsy to save her from the orphanage. To make the money needed for a restaurant license, Larry takes a job at the circus, but is injured and ends up in the hospital. When Gramps comes to let him know that the county has taken Patsy. Larry believes Susan went behind his back and placed Patsy in the orphanage. You will have to watch to see what happens to Patsy's future.

FUN FACT:

Louis Armstrong was hired for this movie at Bing Crosby's insistence. Crosby also insisted that Armstrong receive prominent billing, the first time a black actor shared top billing with white actors in a major release film.

Soundtracks:

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"Pennies From Heaven"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Played during the opening credits and often as background music
Sung by Bing Crosby

"Skeleton in the Closet"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Louis Armstrong with Louis Armstrong and His Band

"So Do I"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Bing Crosby and
Danced by Edith Fellows
Reprised by Crosby at the orphanage and in the New York City montage

"One Two Button Your Shoe"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Bing Crosby at the orphanage
Reprised by a marching band

"Let's Call a Heart a Heart"
(1936)
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Bing Crosby with Louis Armstrong and His Band
Played also as background music

"Old MacDonald Had a Farm"
(uncredited)
Traditional children's song
Sung by Bing Crosby, Edith Fellows and Donald Meek on the hay wagon