MUSICALS, include humor, music, dancing and a story.
One of the reasons I love musicals, is the use of beautiful background scenery. Dancers seem to perform as if there is a live audience watching.
This is my version of DANCING WITH THE STARS.
Harry James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983), was an musician and bandleader. James was an instrumentalist of the swing era, employing a bravura playing style that made his trumpet work identifiable. He was one of the most popular bandleaders of the first half of the 1940s, and he continued to lead his band until just before his death, 40 years later.
Hollywood Hotel(1937). Directed by Busby Berkeley.Cast: Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane, and Ted Healy. Ronald Reagan, Benny Goodman and Harry James (a member of Goodman's band).
It is best remembered for the song "Hooray for Hollywood" by Johnny Mercer and Richard A. Whiting, sung in the film by Johnnie Davis and Frances Langford, accompanied by Benny Goodman and his orchestra. The song has become a standard part of the soundtrack to movie award ceremonies, including the Academy Awards.
Ronnie Bowers, a singer and saxophone player with Benny Goodman's orchestra wins a contract with All Star Pictures. They book him into the Hollywood Hotel, which is also the home of Mona Marshall. The afternoon before the premiere of her latest movie, Mona is interviewed by Louella Parsons, who breaks the news that Mona will not get the lead in a new film. Heartbroken, Mona decides not to go to the premiere and goes into hiding. Publicist Bernie Walton holds a casting call to find a woman who "looks like" Mona, to show up at the premiere and finds Virginia Stanton, who worked as Mona's stunt double. Worried that Mona's escort, Alexander Dupre, will know the difference, they ask Ronnie to be her date. The next day, Mona returns and demands that Ronnie and Virginia be fired. Ronnie confused by Mona's behavior until Bernie tells him what is going on. Virginia gets Ronnie a job as a car hop, where director Walter Kelton overhears his singing. Kelton offers Ronnie a job dubbing Dupre's voice in the new Mona Marshall movie. After the first screening the actor is invited by Louella Parsons to sing in her program "Hollywood Hotel". He accepts, but he doesn't know that Ronny Bowers does not want to lend him his voice again.
Some of the he best moments of the film are the Goodman's numbers which include a good look at vibraphonist Lional Hampton and drummer Gene Krupa, along with jazz trumpeter Harry James.
Fun Facts:
The actual "Hollywood Hotel" on which this movie is based, was a Hollywood institution. It was a sprawling building built at the turn of the century and had formal gardens, grand lobby, 2 towers and a ballroom. It was the hangout for many stars over the years. It was finally torn down in 1956. The site today is occupied by the new Hollywood-Highland shopping complex and Kodak Theater, where the Oscars are now presented every year.
The drive-in restaurant where Dick Powell's character works is called "Callahans" in the film. The actual coffee shop in Hollywood was called "Carpenter's" and was located at the southeast corner of Sunset and Vine Streets. It was one of the earliest "drive-in" restaurants in the U.S. The uniform worn is based on the actual uniforms the mostly male waiters wore. They were based on the uniforms that service station attendants wore. The reason for this new type of restaurant was to cater to the new younger movie star who wanted to be seen in their expensive automobiles. The restaurant was open all night.
Ginger Rogers was offered a leading role in this movie, but turned it down.
Louella Parsons (August 6, 1881 – December 9, 1972) was an American gossip columnist who, for many years, was an influential arbiter of Hollywood, often feared and hated by actors, whose careers she could negatively impact via her radio show and newspaper columns.
Parsons also appeared in numerous cameo spots in movies, including Hollywood Hotel (1937), Without Reservations (1946) and Starlift (1951).
Soundtracks:
"Dark Eyes"
(1937)
Hooray for Hollywood"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Johnnie Davis and Frances Langford
Performed by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
"California Here I Come "
(1924) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph Meyer
Performed by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
"I'm Like a Fish out of Water"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane
"Silhouetted in the Moonlight"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Rosemary Lane
Reprised by Jerry Cooper and Frances Langford
Performed by Raymond Paige and His Orchestra
"I've Got a Heartful of Music"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Performed by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
Reprised by Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa
"Let That Be a Lesson to You"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Johnnie Davis, Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane, Mabel Todd,
Ted Healy, Harrison Greene, Constantine Romanoff and chorus
Performed by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
"Sing, Sing, Sing"
(1936) (uncredited)
Music by Louis Prima
Performed by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
"I've Hitched My Wagon to a Star"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Dick Powell
Performed by Raymond Paige and His Orchestra
"Ochi Tchornya (Dark Eyes) (uncredited)
Traditional Russian folk tune
Arranged by Raymond Paige
Sung by a chorus and played by Raymond Paige and His Orchestra
"Sing, You Son of a Gun"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Dick Powell, Johnnie Davis, Rosemary Lane, Frances Langford,
Lola Lane, Jerry Cooper, Glenda Farrell, Ted Healy, Mabel Todd and chorus
Performed by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra and Raymond Paige and His Orchestra
"I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas"
(1928) (uncredited)
Written by Phil Baxter
"Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)"
(uncredited)
Music by Bernard Hanighen
Played after the premiere upon entering the Orchid Room
"Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?"
(1937)
Music by Richard A. Whiting (as Dick Whiting)
Played at the Orchid Room when Virginia asks Ronnie to dance
"Sonny Boy"
(1928) (uncredited)
Music by Ray Henderson
Lyrics by Al Jolson, Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown
Sung by Ted Healy at the casting window
"Old Black Joe"
(1860) (uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Performed by unidentified singers during the "Love & Glory" number
"Blue Moon"
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Richard Rodgers
Performed by Raymond Paige and His Orchestra at the beginning of the radio broadcast
"You Oughta Be in Pictures"
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Dana Suesse
Played during the radio broadcast when Louella Parsons is introduced
"Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)"
(1851) (uncredited)
Written by Stephen Foster
Played during the radio broadcast of "Love & Glory"
"Satan's Holiday"
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Joe Venuti
Arranged by Benny Goodman
If I'm Lucky (1946). Cast: Vivian Blaine, Perry Como, Harry James, Carmen Miranda, Phil Silvers, Edgar Buchanan, Reed Hadley, Harry James and His Music Makers.
Band agent Wally Jones, sends telegrams to members of a band he manages, all who have other jobs, band leader Earl Gordon is blowing bugle at a race track, singer Linda Farrell is selling tickets at a movie theater, harpist Michelle O'Toole is working as a hat-check girl and other band members are playing golf. The telegram tell them to meet at Centerville, where Wally has arranged for them to audition for the Titan Tire Company, who is looking for a band to perform in his company's radio show. When the band arrives in Centerville, they find that Gillingwater has hired Benny Goodman instead. Broke, they decide to perform for a free meal of hot dogs at a "Magonnagle for Governor" political rally. Magonnagle hires the band to accompany him on the rest of his campaign tour. Magonnagle is running with the slogan, "A Vote for Magonnagle Is a Vote for the Common Man," but has little hope of beating the corrupt, Governor Quilby. The candidate is really a stooge for the corrupt political party, which discovers the band's handsome and singer would make a better candidate. Meanwhile, romance begins between the band's singers. When election day approaches, the band's singer wants out of the campaign, but the men that are backing Governor Quilby, threaten to ruin him and his band if he quits.
Vivian Blaine, age 25, has the lead role in this musical, which also stars Perry Como, and both of them perform their musical numbers perfectly. I would have loved to have seen Carmen Miranda's production number in color. If coarse I have to give a "shout out", to one of my favorite performers, Harry James, who has a speaking part, portraying the band leader. He also performs vocally in some of the songs. If you like fluffy 20th Century Fox musicals of the 1940s' you will also like this musical.:)
Two Girls and a Sailor(1944). Has a host of celebrity performances including, Jimmy Durante doing his hallmark "Inka Dinka Doo", Gracie Allen, and Lena Horne. Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Harry James as himself. Cast: June Allyson, Gloria DeHaven, Van Johnson and Tom Drake .
Sisters Patsy and Jean Deyo grow up watching their parents sing and dance on the vaudeville stage. Before long they start an act of their own.
Patsy is constantly warning her sister, to save herself for a "good" man. Jean, wanting to marry a rich man, receives orchids from an admirer who signs the card as "Somebody," she and Patsy try figure out who it is during one of their nightclub performances. Later that night, Jean and Patsy host a "private canteen," inviting many sailors and soldiers to their apartment, and both sisters are attracted to a sailor named Johnny. Johnny is attracted to Jean and Sgt. Frank Miller's is also attracted to Jean, but spends the evening with Patsy. Jean points out to Johnny an abandoned warehouse near their apartment and tells him that she and Patsy want to convert the old building into a canteen. The next day, Mr. Nizby tells the sisters that "Somebody" has purchased the warehouse for them and is paying to have it renovated.
Patsy and Jean find the warehouse used to be a theatrical warehouse and Billy Kipp, a popular vaudevillian whom they used to know, has been secretly living there.
After the building is completely finished, the sisters put on an elaborate show paid for by "Somebody," for all the servicemen, including Johnny and Frank. While Jean and Patsy are on the dance floor with Johnny, Billy overhears dancer Ben Blue ordering orchids over the telephone and he thinks he now knows who the "Somebody." is. Billy tells Patsy and Jean of his suspicions, but they soon find out that Ben is ordering flowers for his wife. Johnny takes the opportunity to ask Patty who she wants "Somebody" to be. Patsy says that she wants him to marry Jean and that she wants her true love to be a poor "straight man." That night, Patsy has a nightmare in which she looses Johnny to Jean. The next morning, Billy overhears Mr. Nizby place a work order for the canteen and charge the cost to John Dyckman Brown, she then runs to tell Patsy and Jean the good news. Jean is happy that the millionaire is her admirer, Patsy then goes to the Brown mansion to confront him. After confronting the grandfather John Dyckman Brown and then his son, John Dyckman Brown II, of toying with her sister's affections, Patsy learns that "Somebody" is John Dyckman Brown III, and that he is Johnny. Patsy pretends to be happy for her sister. After she leaves, Johnny confesses to his father and grandfather that he is actually in love with Patsy, but is afraid to hurt Jean.
Later, in New York, Patsy heartbroken shows up late at the nightclub and tells Jean about Johnny. Jean's excitement about Johnny makes Patsy even more upset, and she runs out of club in tears.
Unknown to Patsy and Jean, the Dyckmans have come to see their show. Jean, realizes that Patsy is in love with Johnny and asks Frank, if he is in love with her. When he answers yes, Jean kisses him, and the next day, she announces that she and Frank, are getting married. Johnny then proposes to Patsy, and Billy is reunited with his long-lost son "Junior," an enlistee who looks exactly like him.
Fun Fact: First of six movies that paired June Allyson and Van Johnson.
The film is very entertaining. Richard Thorpe, the director, did a wonderful job and the cast of stars a made a movie that is delightful to see anytime it's shown. I especially enjoyed Harry James as the Young Man with a Horn.
Springtime in the Rockies (1942). Musical/ comedy. Cast: Betty Grable, John Payne, Carmen Miranda, Cesar Romero, Charlotte Greenwood, and Edward Everett Horton. Also in the cast was Grable's future husband Harry James, and his band. Director: Irving Cummings.
Dancer Vicky Lane waits for her partner, Dan Christy, but as usual, he is late. Vicky thinks that Dan is out buying her an engagement ring. But, he really is on a on a date with Marilyn Crothers. Fed up with Dan's womanizing, Vicky quits the show and returns to her former dancing partner, Victor Prince, who is still in love with her.
Three months pass, Dan cannot find a backer for his new show. His agent tells him that a couple of businessmen Bickel and Brown will back his show, only if he can get Vicky to return. Vicky and Victor are performing with Harry James and His Music Makers at a Lake Louise resort in the Canadian Rockies.
His agent tells Dan to romance Vicky so that she will come back, and not tell her about Bickel and Brown until she arrives in New York. He then asks bartender to get the drunken Dan on the next plane to Lake Louise. When Dan comes too, he finds himself at the Canadian resort and learns that he has hired McTavish as his valet and Rosita Murphy, as his secretary. He then confronts Vicky, who happily shows off her engagement ring given to her by Victor. Dan comes up with a plan to make Vicky jealous by romancing Rosita. His plan seems to be working until Rosita tells her the truth. One evening, Dan barges into Vicky's room and refuses to leave when she calls for Victor. Angered by Dan's presence, Victor accuses Vicky of cheating on him and she breaks off their engagement. Will Dan's plan to open his new show work out ?
A wonderful movie with Betty Grable, Harry James, John Payne and Carmen Miranda. If you love movies from the 40's or 50's you will love this movie. Betty Grable is in her best singing voice. Harry James, no one can compete with his great trumpet playing. Carmen Miranda, what more can you say about this talented South American singer. She steals all the scenes she is in. Not to forget Helen Forrest.. She was Harry James singer for a long time. She sang her signature song, "I Had The Craziest Dream". Too bad they don't make movies like this anymore.
"Run, Little Raindrop, Run"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Performed by Betty Grable and John Payne
Also performed by Harry James and His Music Makers
"I Had the Craziest Dream"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Played during the opening credits and often throughout the picture
Also Performed by Helen Forrest with Harry James and His Music Makers
"Chattanooga Choo Choo"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Portuguese lyrics by Aloysio De Oliveira
Performed in Portuguese by Carmen Miranda with Bando da Lua
"A Poem Set to Music"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Performed by Harry James and His Music Makers
Danced by Betty Grable and Cesar Romero
"O 'Tic-Tac' do Meu Coração"
Written by Alcyr Pires Vermelho and Walfrido Silva
Performed by Carmen Miranda with Bando da Lua
"Pan American Jubilee"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Portuguese lyrics by Aloysio De Oliveira
Performed by Betty Grable, John Payne, Carmen Miranda, Harry James and His Music Makers and chorus
"Serenade in Blue"
Music by Harry Warren
Played during the bar scene
"Two O'Clock Jump"
Written by Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Harry James
Performed by Harry James and His Music Makers
"You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)"
Music by James V. Monaco
Performed by Harry James and His Music Makers
"I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much)"
Music by Harry Warren
Played when Rosita is introduced
"Chica Chica Boom Chic"
Music by Harry Warren
Played by the band at the restaurant
"At Last"
Music by Harry Warren
Played by the band at the restaurant
"Sleepy Lagoon"
Music by Eric Coates
Heard during the hotel room scene with the roses
Played off screen by Harry James and His Music Makers
Harry James was the first "name band" to employ vocalist Frank Sinatra, in 1939. He wanted to change Sinatra's name to 'Frankie Satin' but Sinatra refused.
To celebrate Noir and Chick Flicks: Musical page 100th post. I thought I would Spotlight Harry James, my favorite musician and bandleader. James was an instrumentalist of the swing era. He was one of the most popular bandleaders of the first half of the 1940s, and he continued to lead his band until just before his death, 40 years later.
He was the son of a bandleader of a traveling circus. By the age of 10 he was taking trumpet lessons from his father. Every day, James was given one page to learn from the Arban's book.
In 1931 the family settled in Beaumont, Texas, where James began playing with local dance bands.
He joined Ben Pollack in 1935 but at the start of 1937, left Pollack to join Benny Goodman's orchestra, where he stayed through 1938.
His was the first "name band" to employ Frank Sinatra, in 1939. He wanted to change Sinatra's name to 'Frankie Satin' but Sinatra refused. His later band included drummer Buddy Rich.
He played trumpet in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn, dubbing Kirk Douglas. This was the film that had me hooked on Harry James. Jame's recording of "I'm Beginning to See the Light" appears in the motion picture My Dog Skip (2000). His music is also featured in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters. James recorded many popular records and appeared in many Hollywood movies.
He was second only to Glenn Miller as the most successful recording artist of 1942.
James was married three times. In May 1935, he married singer Louise Tobin, with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1943. That same year, he married actress Betty Grable. They had two daughters, Victoria and Jessica, before divorcing in 1965.
1940s Hollywood Pin Up girl, Betty Grable, and her husband, bandleader, Harry James performed together in "Baby Wont you Please Come Home".
James married a third time in 1968 to Las Vegas showgirl Joan Boyd, whom he would divorce in March of 1970. He had 16 grandchildren.
James owned several thoroughbred racehorses that won races such as the California Breeders' Champion Stakes (1951) and the San Vicente Stakes (1954). He was also a founding investor in the Atlantic City Race Course. His knowledge of horse racing was demonstrated during a 1958 appearance on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour entitled "Lucy Wins A Racehorse."
Filmography: Bathing Beauty (1944)
Best Foot Forward (1943) Carnegie Hall (1947) Do You Love Me (1946) Greedy If I'm Lucky (1946) I'll Get By (1950) Outlaw Queen (1957) Private Buckaroo (1942)
Private Buckaroo(1942). Director: Edward F. Cline. Cast: The Andrews Sisters, Dick Foran, Harry James, Shemp Howard, Joe E. Lewis, and Jennifer Holt. The film is about army recruits following basic training, with the Andrew Sisters, attending USO dances. The film is a mixture of comedy and songs. Riot in Rhythm (1957) Springtime in the Rockies (1942) The Benny Goodman Story (1956) The Sting II (1983) Two Girls and a Sailor (1944) The Opposite Sex (1956) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry James with Helen Forrest peforming: "I had the craziest dream".
Harry James and Buddy Rich on drums, performing: Green Onions(1965.)
The Benny Goodman Story (1956). Biographical film. Cast: Steve Allen and Donna Reed, Director: Valentine Davies. The film is based on the life of clarinetist Benny Goodman, who recorded most of the clarinet solos used in the film. Lionel Hampton, Martha Tilton, Kid Ory, George Givot, Gene Krupa, and many other musicians have cameo appearances in this film. Ziggy Elman performed on screen recreating his trumpet solo on "And the Angels Sing", he was unable to record his portion for the soundtrack; Manny Klein actually performed it, off-camera.
I just love Biographical films. This story begins with Benny becoming an excellent clarinetist by the time he is fourteen. Benny's grabs the first opportunity to play in a ragtime band, he joins the musicians' union and begins his career. Benny has the opportunity to listen to the "Kid", who tells for him to play the way he feels and invites him to sit in. Benny, joins the Ben Pollack band and plays at dances throughout the country. The Pollack band secures a job in the speakeasy of Benny's former neighbor, now gangster, Little Jake Primo. There he meets John Hammond, a music critic and his sister Alice, who prefers classical.
Pollack's band flops in New York and Benny, begins to worry that there is no audience for his kind of music, and is forced to perform with more traditional dance bands. Still impressed with Benny's talent, Hammond invites him to perform a Mozart clarinet concerto before an audience in the Hammond mansion. Alice is surprised by "all this emotion comes pouring out" when he plays. Benny forms a band and begins to perform on an NBC Saturday night radio program. Jazz musician Fletcher Henderson hears the program and is so impressed that he contributes arrangements for the band. After the show is canceled, Benny's orchestra goes on tour, but before he leaves, he and Alice declare their feelings for each other. The tour is a failure until the orchestra reaches Palomar, California, where, the group is a huge success. Benny sees Alice in the audience and plays "Memories of You" for her. Benny forms a quartet that includes Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa, and by the time Benny, his orchestra and his quartet return to Chicago, they are making headlines. Benny is booked into Carnegie Hall and worries that "a hall full of longhairs" will not like the orchestra's music. Which features guest performers Harry James, Ziggy Elman and Martha Tilton.
Benny Goodman's band performed in many musicals: The Big Broadcast of 1937, Hollywood Hotel (1938), Syncopation (1942), The Powers Girl (1942), Stage Door Canteen (1943), The Gang's All Here (1943), Sweet and Lowdown (1944) and A Song Is Born (1948). Goodman's only starring feature was Sweet and Low Down (1944). Goodman's success story was told in the 1955 motion picture The Benny Goodman Story with Steve Allen and Donna Reed. It was a follow up to 1954's successful The Glenn Miller Story. The screenplay was heavily fictionalized, but the music was real. Many of Goodman's professional colleagues appear in the film, including Ben Pollack. Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and Harry James.
This clip is, The Benny Goodman big band playing Sing Sing Sing, featuring Gene Krupa at the end. Also... Mr. Harry James plays a trumpet solo.
