Friday, March 19, 2010

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

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