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.
Frances Langford (April 4, 1913 – July 11, 2005), was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades. Langford originally trained as an opera singer. While a young girl she required a tonsillectomy that changed her soprano range to a contralto. At age 17, she was singing for local dances. Cigar manufacturer Eli Witt heard her sing at an American Legion party and hired her to sing on his local radio show. While singing for radio during the early 1930s, she was heard by Rudy Vallee, who invited her to become a regular on his radio show. From 1935 until 1938 she was a regular performer on Dick Powell's radio show. From 1946 to 1951, she performed with Don Ameche on The Bickersons.
With her film debut in, Every Night at Eight (1935) she introduced what became her signature song: "I'm in the Mood for Love." her other films include: Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935), Born to Dance (1936),Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) and The Glenn Miller Story(1953) where she sang "Chattanooga Choo Choo" with the Modernaires and the movie orchestra.
From 1941, Langford was a regular singer on Bob Hope's radio show. During World War II, she joined Hope, Jerry Colonna, and other performers on U.S.O. tours through Europe, North Africa, and the South Pacific, entertaining thousands of G.I.'s throughout the world.
Also, during the war, Langford wrote a weekly column for Hearst Newspapers, entitled "Purple Heart Diary,".
Her association with Hope continued into the 1980s. In 1989 she joined him for a USO tour to entertain troops in the Persian Gulf.
Filmography:
The Subway Symphony (1932) (short subject)
Every Night at Eight (1935)
Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
Collegiate (1936)
Palm Springs (1936)
Born to Dance (1936)
Hit Parade of 1937 (1937)
Hollywood Hotel (1937)
Dreaming Out Loud (1940)
Too Many Girls (1940)
Hit Parade of 1941 (1940)
Swing It Soldier (1941)
All American Co-Ed (1941)
Mississippi Gambler (1942)
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Follow the Band (1943)
Cowboy in Manhattan (1943)
This Is the Army (1943)
Never a Dull Moment (1943)
Career Girl (1944)
Dixie Jamboree (1944)
Girl Rush (1944)
Radio Stars on Parade (1945)
People Are Funny (1946)
The Bamboo Blonde (1946)
Beat the Band (1947)
Melody Time (1948) (voice)
Deputy Marshal (1949)
Purple Heart Diary (1951)
The Glenn Miller Story (1953)
Fun at St. Fanny's (1956)
Broadway Melody (1936). It was a follow up to the film, The Broadway Melody(1929). Beyond the title and some of the music, there is no story connection with the earlier film. The film was written by Harry W. Conn, Moss Hart, Jack McGowan and Sid Silvers. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. Cast: Jack Benny, Eleanor Powell, Una Merkel and Robert Taylor. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The story begins when, columnist Bert Keeler, is told by his editor that he has to stop writing about "Blessed Events" and start digging up dirt. Lillian Brent, who is backing Gordons new show also wants to be star of the show and Keeler, thinks their story is what his editor is looking for.
Bob's childhood sweetheart, Irene Foster, comes to his office, but he doesn't recognize her at first. Shortly after she leaves, he finds the fraternity pin that he once had given her, he tells his secretary, Kitty Corbett, to find her. When she auditions for his show, he tells her that Broadway isn't for her. She dreams in a beautiful dance number of being a hit in his show. Bob, buys her ticket to go back home.
Lillian, talks Bob into agreeing that if he doesn't find a star for the show within two weeks, she can play the lead.
Keeler, has been spreading rumors about a French musical star named Mlle. La Belle Arlette and when Kitty finds out the truth, she helps Irene assume that identity.
Just as Irene's dreams are about to come true, Keeler tell her that he knows that she is an impostor and threatens to sue the paper if she continues with the lie. Will she be able to talk him out of suing and will Bob ever find out the truth about Irene's identity ?
In this wonderful musical-comedy, Una Merkel and Sid Silvers (who has one hilarious scene disguised as Mademoiselle Arlette) make a wonderful pair who have many, very cute scenes. In 1936, Powell, Merkel, Buddy Ebsen, Langford and Silvers would be joined together for the film, BORN TO DANCE.
Fun Facts:
This was Powell's first leading role, and her first movie for MGM. She would appear in the next two films in the Broadway Melody series: Broadway Melody (1938) and Broadway Melody (1940). This was also Ebsen's film debut.
Reportedly, Eleanor Powell did not want to be in this film but was too polite to directly tell MGM executives. She asked for the leading role and an exorbitant salary, and MGM accepted her demands.
The singing voice of Eleanor Powell was dubbed by Marjorie Lane.
Preceded by The Broadway Melody (1929) and followed by Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940). Another film in the series was planned, "Broadway Melody of 1943" starring Eleanor Powell and Gene Kelly. However, that project was abandoned, and a dance number filmed by Eleanor Powell was edited into, Thousands Cheer (1943).
Una Merkel (December 10, 1903 – January 2, 1986) , looked a lot like actress Lillian Gish and began her career as a stand-in for Gish, in the classic silent film, The Wind(1928). Merkel, also performed in the silent the film, Love's Old Sweet Song (1923).
She played Ann Rutledge in the film, Abraham Lincoln (1930. During the 1930s, Merkel became a popular second lead, playing the wisecracking best friend of the heroine. Merkel was an MGM contract player from 1932 to 1938, performing in as many as twelve films in a year, often on loan-out to other studios.
In 42nd Street (1933), Merkel played a streetwise showgirl. Merkel performed in both the 1934 and the 1952 film versions of, The Merry Widow. One of her most famous roles was in the Western, Destry Rides Again (1939) in which her character, Lillibelle, gets into a famous "cat-fight" with Frenchie (Marlene Dietrich). She played the elder daughter to the W. C. Fields character, in the film, The Bank Dick(1940).
She had a major part in the film, The Mating Game(1959) as Paul Douglas's wife and Debbie Reynolds's mother, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film, Summer and Smoke (1961). Merkel, whose final film role was in the Elvis Presley film Spinout (1966).
June Knight (January 22, 1913 – June 16, 1987) . At the aged of 19, she performed in the last Ziegfeld Follies show, Hot-Cha! (1932). She also performed in the film, Broadway Melody (1936), in which she sang a duet with actor Robert Taylor. She performed in movies from 1930 to 1940.
Vilma Ebsen (February 1, 1911 – March 12, 2007) , best known for dancing in MGM musicals in the 1930s with her famous brother, Buddy Ebsen. She learned to dance at her father's dance studio in Orlando, Florida, in the 1920s. Vilma and Buddy Ebsen moved to New York in 1928, where they formed a vaudeville act. One of their first appearances together was in Eddie Cantor's Ziegfeld production, Whoopee. When Whoopee closed after a year and a half, Vilma and Buddy Ebsen took their act to Atlantic City, where they caught the eye of celebrity columnist Walter Winchell, who help them with their career.
Vilma and Buddy Ebsen performed their dance act on Broadway, as well as around the United States in vaudeville theatres and supper clubs throughout the early 1930s. Some of the Broadway productions they starred in were Flying Colors (1932) and Ziegfeld Follies of 1934. They came to Hollywood in 1935, where Vilma Ebsen starred in one film, Broadway Melody of (1936).
After the film, Broadway Melody (1936), the studio decided to separate the Ebsens. Vilma Ebsen was not interested in accepting Louis B. Mayer's offer to make her "the next Myrna Loy" and moved back to New York with her husband, composer and bandleader Robert Emmett "Bobby" Dolan. Later, she opened a dance school in Pacific Palisades with her sister, Helga, partially funded by their brother.
Harry Stockwell (April 27, 1902 – July 19, 1984), made his film debut in the film, Strike Up the Band (1935). Although, he is best known as the voice of "The Prince", in Walt Disney's animated classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).
Harry Stockwell was married to actress Nina Olivette, and was the father of actors Dean Stockwell and Guy Stockwell.
Soundtracks:
"Broadway Rhythm"
(1935)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Played during the opening credits
Danced to by a chorus at rehearsal
Sung by Frances Langford at the nightclub
Danced to by Buddy Ebsen, Vilma Ebsen, June Knight, Nick Long Jr. and Eleanor Powell at the nightclub
"You Are My Lucky Star"
(1935)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Played during the opening credits
Sung by Frances Langford and chorus
Sung and danced to by Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie Lane) and chorus in a ballet
Played on piano by Roger Edens and danced to by Eleanor Powell
Reprised by Robert Taylor and chorus at the end
Played as background music often
"Broadway Melody"
(1929)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung by Harry Stockwell in the first scene
"I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'"
(1935)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung by June Knight, Robert Taylor and chorus
Danced to by June Knight, Nick Long Jr. and chorus
Reprised by Frances Langford
Played as dance music and during end credits
"Sing Before Breakfast"
(1935)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung and danced to by Buddy Ebsen, Vilma Ebsen and Eleanor Powell
(dubbed by Marjorie Lane)
"All I Do Is Dream Of You"
(1934)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung on a record in French by an unidentified singer
"On a Sunday Afternoon"
(1935)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung and danced to by Buddy Ebsen and Vilma Ebsen
"The Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)"
(1851)
Written by Stephen Foster
Performed by Roger Edens
The Stork Club (1945). Directed by Hal Walker. Cast: Betty Hutton , Barry Fitzgerald and Don DeFore.
A hat check girl at New York's famous Stork Club nightclub, Judy Peabody, saves an elderly man from drowning. He turns out to be Jerry Bates, who Judy, believes to be poor man.
Pop tells his lawyer to give Judy any thing her heart desires, anonymously. Judy's, dream is for her bandleader boyfriend Danny, to return home from the Marines, so she can sing with his band.
Before long she finds herself in a beautiful apartment, free of charge and a line of credit at a up scale department store. She buys dresses and furs, without knowing who is supporting her.
Judy finds "Pop" a job as a busboy, but that turns out to be a disaster, so she invites Pop to stay at her apartment. Danny comes home, looking forward to seeing her until he sees the apartment, the clothes and the older man. Believing her to be a "kept" woman, he decides to move on .
Billingsley is invited by Judy to hear the band. Impressed, he gives them a job at the club.
Will Judy ever find out that "Pop" is responsible for giving her all these wonderful things and will she win back Danny?
If you are fan of Betty Hutton and movies during the WWII era, with a fun story and a couple of good musical numbers. This movie is for you.
Fun Fact:
The movie, included as a character Sherman Billingsley the owner of the real stork club. During the movie, he talks to Danny, Judy's fiancee telling him that his wife and two daughters were the only women in his life. This is contradictory to the real life Sherman, who had a longtime affair with Ethel Merman.
Barry Fitzgerald (10 March 1888 – 14 January 1961), is the older brother of Irish actor Arthur Shields. By 1929, he turned to acting full-time. He was a roommate of playwright, Sean O'Casey, for a short time.
Fitzgerald went to Hollywood to star in the film, The Plough and the Stars (1936), directed by John Ford. His other performances: The Long Voyage Home (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), And Then There Were None (1945), The Naked City (1948), and The Quiet Man (1952). Fitzgerald achieved a feat unmatched in the history of the Academy Awards: he was nominated for both the Best Actor Oscar and the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the same performance, as "Father Fitzgibbon" in the film, Going My Way (1944). (Academy Award rules have since been changed to prevent this.) He won the Best Supporting Actor Award; he broke the head off his Oscar statue while practising his golf swing. (During World War II, Oscar statues were made of plaster instead of gold, owing to wartime metal shortages.)
Barry Fitzgerald movies I have seen:
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
The Sea Wolf (1941)
Going My Way (1944)
The Stork Club (1945)
Easy Come, Easy Go (1947)
The Naked City (1948)
The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)
The Quiet Man (1952)
The Catered Affair (1956)
I am not a great singer and I am not a great dancer, but I am a great actress, and nobody ever let me act except director, Preston Sturges. He believed in me.
Preston Sturges, directed Betty Hutton in the film, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek(1944). Comedy. The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, was nominated for a 1945 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The story begins when, Trudy Kockenlocker, a small-town girl, wakes up one morning after a wild farewell party with a group of soldiers to find herself married to a soldier named "Ratzkiwatzki" and it is not long afterward she learns that she is pregnant. Not really knowing who "Ratzkiwatzki" is or where he can be found. Trudy does not know what to do. Norval Jones, her friend, who has been in love with Trudy for years, wants to marry her in spite of the fact, she is married to someone else. Trudy's father, not to happy about the idea which complicates matters. Before long, Norval is arrested and finds himself on the run. Will he get back in time for the birth of the babies?
Betty Hutton was perfect playing the part of Trudy, the girl next door type, who finds out how one reckless moment can change her life. Trudy, only.. wanted to do the best for the boys going to a war where some of them wouldn't come back alive.
Fun Fact:
When the film was released, it was such a huge hit, it was literally standing room only for many performances.
Royal Wedding (1951). Best known for Fred Astaire's dance performance on a ceiling and with a coat rack.
Cast: Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford, Sarah Churchill and Keenan Wynn, with music by Burton Lane. Directed by Stanley Donen. It was his second film and the first film he directed by himself.
Tom and Ellen Bowen, are a famous brother and sister dance act who's agent books them a show in London during the same time as the, Royal Wedding. They travel by cruise ship where Ellen meets and falls in love with, Lord John Brindale. After they arrive, Tom runs into Anne on the street and she is surprised when she learns that he is the star of the show. Tom hires her for a part in the show and then asks her out that night for a date.
Anne tells Tom that she has always loved to dance and sometimes imagines herself dancing on the ceiling. Later she takes Tom to meet her American-hating father, who takes an instant liking to Tom. Anne tells Tom that she is engaged to American Hal Rayton, but agrees to go out with him again.
The day before the opening, Ellen is heartbroken when she learns Johnny, cannot be at the opening because he has to attend a party for the royal couple. Tom, is also upset because Anne, wants to stay home to wait for a call from Hal. Tom and Ellen decide to go to the party together. The next night, the show goes off without a hitch and Johnny is able to leave the royal party to be with Ellen.
Walking home, Tom takes a photograph of Anne from the hotel lobby up to his hotel room, Tom then imagines himself dancing on the ceiling.
The next morning, Ellen and Tom, read about their wonderful reviews. Before Edgar leaves, Tom asks him to call Irving in New York and see if he can find any information on Hal. Before the performance, Edgar tells Tom that Hal, has been married for several months.
At the hotel, Ellen and Tom talk each other out of getting married and agree to keep the show together. On the morning of the royal wedding, all of London is celebrating, except Tom and Ellen, who realize that they cannot be happy unless they get married. Tom goes off to find Anne and Ellen goes to find Johnny..
Pure marshmallow fluff here, but... if you love Fred Astaire and Jane Powell, you will love this movie.. One of the more under-rated musicals of the early-1950s.
Fun Facts:
Initially Ginger Rogers was asked, but she declined. Then June Allyson was signed for the role, but had to drop out when she became pregnant. Judy Garland was then signed as Ellen, but due to personal issues was fired from the film. Jane Powell replaced Garland.
The story was loosely based on the real-life partnership of Fred Astaire and his sister, Adele Astaire. In real life, Adele Astaire married Lord Charles Cavendish, son of the Duke of Devonshire, just as Jane Powell, playing Fred's sister, marries an English Lord at the end of this film.
Nancy Goes to Rio (1950). Directed by Robert Z. Leonard and produced by Joe Pasternak from a screenplay by Sidney Sheldon, based on a story by Ralph Block, Frederick Kohner and Jane Hall. The music was directed and supervised by George Stoll and includes compositions by George and Ira Gershwin, Giacomo Puccini, Jack Norworth and Stoll. Cast: Ann Sothern, Jane Powell, Barry Sullivan, Carmen Miranda, Louis Calhern and Scotty Beckett.
Nancy Goes to Rio is a remake of the 1940 film, It's a Date, also based on the story by Block, Kohner and Hall, starring Deanna Durbin. Kay Francis and Walter Pidgeon.
The story begins when Frances wants the part in Ricardo's play and though she is promised the role, Ricardo asks her not to tell anyone until a final decision is made. Later, Ricardo tells Frances' producer that Frances may not be right for the part and he had another actress in mind. Then, when Ricardo meets Nancy, he instantly knows that he has found the perfect actress for the part.
The next day, Frances sets sail for Rio de Janeiro, to studying her lines and have a little fun. Gregory decides to go with Frances to Rio.
After watching Nancy's performance, Ricardo offers her the part that he promised Frances. Nancy accepts the role, though she does not know that Ricardo has already promised the part to her mother.
Nancy wants to study for the part and decides to meet up with her mother and grandfather to Rio. On board the ship, Paul Berten overhears Nancy rehearsing her lines and mistakenly believes that she is a deserted wife expecting a baby. Paul is worried about Nancy and asks his business partner, Marina Rodrigues, to talk to her. Nancy mistakes his concern for a marriage proposal and says good-by when the ship reaches Rio.
Nancy overhears her mother rehearsing her lines and now knows that they are both studying for the same part. She does not tell her mother that she supposed to star in Ricardo's play, she decides to tell her mother that she came to Rio to get married.
Nancy visits Paul at his office and tries to accept the marriage proposal she thought he had made. Paul confused, still thinks that Nancy is pregnant. He sends her home to talk to her mother about her problems, but.. Nancy misunderstands him and thinks that he wants her to discuss their marriage plans with her mother.
Things start to make sense when Paul tells Gregory that he had just met Nancy and heard about her problems on the boat. Gregory immediately recognizes the story of the play that Frances was reading and explains it to Frances. Will Frances withdraw from Ricardo's play and suggest Nancy as her replacement?
This is a wonderful musical, comedy and romance. It has many excellent dance numbers. Jane Powell, Ann Sothern, Carmen Miranda and Louis Calhern, all are amazing in their roles and musical performances.
Ann Sothern (January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001), began her film career as an extra in the film, Broadway Nights(1927) at the age of 18. During 1929 and 1930, she appeared as a chorus girl in such films as: The Show of Shows and Whoopee! She had a trained voice, occasionally singing in films.
MGM cast Sothern in the film, Maisie (1939), as a Brooklyn burlesque dancer Mary Anastasia O'Connor who also goes by the stage name Maisie Ravier. After years of struggling, Sothern had her first major success, and a string of "Maisie" comedy sequels, beginning with, Congo Maisie (1940), and ending with Undercover Maisie (1947) . A review of Swing Shift Maisie (1943) by Time magazine described her as "one of the smartest comediennes in the business".
On November 24, 1941, Sothern performed in the Lux Radio Theater adaptation of Maisie Was a Lady, and the popularity of the film series led to her own radio program, The Adventures of Maisie.
In 1949, Sothern appeared in the Oscar winning film, A Letter to Three Wives. During the 1950s, she made a few movies, including The Blue Gardenia (1953).
In 1965, she was heard as the voice of Gladys Crabtree (the car) in the series My Mother the Car, which co-starred Jerry Van Dyke.
Her final film role was in, The Whales of August in 1987. Her role as the neighbor of elderly sisters, played by Lillian Gish and Bette Davis, brought Sothern her only, Best Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination.
Holiday in Mexico(1946). Directed by George Sidney. Cast: Walter Pidgeon, Jane Powell, Roddey Mc Dowell and Ilona Massey.
The story begins when, Christine Evans, a fifteen year old girl who can not wait to live the the sophisticated life of foreign diplomat living in Mexico. Christine believes it is her job to organize her widower father's social life and takes over the planning of a big garden party he will be hosting.
Her friend Stanley Owen, the son of the British ambassador to Mexico, is wondering why there is sudden change in Christine's behavior. Wanting the the party to be a great success, Christine visits the nightclub where orchestra leader Xavier Cugat, is performing and asks him if he would perform at her father's party? Cugat accepts Christine's invitation, but tells her that his singer Toni, does not sing at private functions. Not knowing that Toni and her father were once in love, Christine goes over to the singer's home and begs her to sing at the party. Toni, only agrees when she realizes that the party will be hosted by Jeffrey.
Later, Christine and Stanley visit pianist Jose Iturbi, who is rehearsing his new show, to invite him to perform at the party. Jose, mistakes Christine for one of the many singers who come to audition for him and has her sing a song. Jose loves her singing and immediately offers her a place in his next concert. Christine then explains her real reason for visiting Jose, who is disappointed agrees to perform at the party.
Before the party, Jeffrey goes to visit Toni and the two reminisce about their past romance. Jeffrey and Toni rekindle their romance and Christine becomes jealous.
Soon after, Christine accepts the starring role in Jose's show, but things become complicated when she mistakes his interest in her singing as a romantic interest. Stanley, becomes jealous and tells Jeffrey that Christine has fallen in love with Jose.
Jeffrey at first, believes that Stanley is acting out of jealousy, but.. it is not long before he too, is also concerned about his daughter's relationship with Jose. Jeffrey asks Christine's friend Yvette Baranga, some hypothetical questions about what she thought about girlhood crushes on older men. Yvette, who has a crush on him, now thinks he is romantically interested in her. Could things become more complicated?
How will these two older men let these two young girls down without embarrassing them?
What a wonderful performance by Jane Powell. MGM knew how to create a star and they really pulled out all the stops in this fluffy "coming of age" film. The musical selections were wonderful throughout he film. Holiday in Mexico, has made me a lifelong fan of Jane Powell.
Fun Fact:
One of two films in which a young Fidel Castro appears as an extra, mostly in crowd scenes. The other film was a Esther Williams film, Bathing Beauty(1944).
