Kathryn Grayson and June Allyson are TWO SISTERS FROM BOSTON (1946)

A delightful musical comedy set at turn of the century New York and centering on Abigail Chandler (top notch turn by Kathryn Grayson) who tells her stuffy Boston relatives that she is a big time opera singer. In truth she works at a burlesque house and is billed as High-C Susie. Trouble ensues when the family comes for a visit. Her sister, Martha (played by June Allyson) is all giddy about seeing her big sis in an opera. Jimmy Durante is the club manager that lets loose with zingers. Grayson and Allyson are terrific as the sisters with Grayson's voice a heavenly sound. Allyson is quite fun in her role, all wide eyed and innocent but gets in on the act with a grand and funny performance at the club. Also starring MGM regular Peter Lawford as a love interest for Allyson. These two sisters are definitely worth hanging out with.

June Allyson.

June Allyson (October 7, 1917 – July 8, 2006). Film and television actress, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Allyson won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her performance in, Too Young to Kiss (1951). From 1959–1961, she hosted her own CBS TV show, The DuPont Show with June Allyson.

During World War II, Allyson was selected for the film version of, Best Foot Forward (1943). The story is about Bud Hooper (Dix), who sends Lucille Ball (who plays herself) an invitation to be his date at his school prom. Lucille's publicity man, Jack O'Riley (Gaxton), believes this is a perfect PR stunt and convinces her to attend the Winsocki Military Academy's dance. Hooper, who never dreamed she would accept, has to break his date with his girlfriend, Helen (Weidler), and asks Ball to pretend to be Helen. Knowing the school would not allow her to attend as herself. Hooper has a hard time keeping Lucille from the other cadets. Harry James and his orchestra perform the songs, "The Flight of the Bumblebee". The cast also sing and dance their way through, "Buckle Down, Winsocki", "Wish I May," "Three Men on a Date", "Alive and Kickin'", "The Barrelhouse, The Boogie-Woogie and the Blues", and "Ev'rytime."

Despite playing a "bit part" in the film, Girl Crazy (1943), Allyson received good reviews as Lucille Ball's sidekick . The Film is about Danny Churchill, a playboy, who is taken out one of college by his father and sent to 'Cody College' located in the middle of the desert, in the hopes that he will concentrate more on his studies. He meets Ginger, the postmistress and quickly falls for her. Danny and Ginger are upset when they learn that the college must close, because of financial reasons. Danny meets with the state governor, and asks him if they can save the school if enrolments improve? Danny puts on a show to 'bring back the old west', with Tommy Dorsey's band .

When MGM's musical supervisor, Arthur Freed saw her test and insisted that Allyson be put on contract. Another musical, Thousands Cheer (1943) was again a showcase for her singing and dancing. The movie is  a two-part story. The first half is a romantic/comedy about an aerialist, played by Gene Kelly, who is drafted into the US Army. During training, he falls in love with Kathryn ( Kathryn Grayson), the daughter of his commanding officer, who has also put her singing career on hold in to provide entertainment for the troops. Kathryn has just met her father for the first time because her parents were divorced. Kathryn tries to get her parents(John Boles and Mary Astor) back together. Grayson sings and Kelly performs one of his most famous routines, dancing with a mop as a partner. The second part of the film becomes a variety showcase of comedy, song, and dance.


Allyson's breakthrough performance was in, Two Girls and a Sailor (1944), with Van Johnson. Johnson and Allyson were to perform together in four later films.

Allyson's early success as a musical star led to several other postwar musicals, including: Two Sisters from Boston (1946), Good News (1947). Allyson also played straight roles such as, Constance in The Three Musketeers (1948), Little Women (1949) and Battle Circus (1953).

Allyson had been signed to perform opposite Fred Astaire in, Royal Wedding, but had to leave the production due to pregnancy. She with a rising star, Jack Lemmon in a musical comedy, You Can't Run Away From It(1956). Besides Van Johnson, James Stewart was a frequent costar, teaming up with Allyson in films such as The Glenn Miller Story, The Stratton Story and Strategic Air Command.

Two Girls and a Sailor(1944).

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.

Music for Millions (1944).

Music for Millions (1944). Musical/comedy. Directed by Henry Koster. Cast: Margaret O'Brien, José Iturbi as Himself, Jimmy Durante, June Allyson and Marsha Hunt. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1946.

When seven-year-old "Mike" travels to New York from Connecticut by train, she is worried when she is not met by her sister, Barbara Ainsworth. Mike is soon cornered by a policeman, who takes her to Symphony Hall, where Babs, a bassist, is performing. Mike runs onto the stage and annoys conductor José Iturbi, in the middle of the concert. Iturbi, wants to fire Babs, until his stage manager, "Andy" Andrews, reminds him that with so many of the male players gone because of the war, he cannot afford to fire Babs. Babs, who was unaware that Mike was coming for a visit, is thrilled to see her. Babs and the female orchestra members, sneak Mike into their "no children" boardinghouse. After Babs faints the doctor shares a secret with Mike, telling her that Babs is pregnant.

Although Mike and her roommates have tried to keep it a secret about Babs's condition, their obvious concern alerts Iturbi, who is sympathetic.

Just before the orchestra leaves for Florida on a tour, a telegram arrives for Babs at the boardinghouse. Rosalind, one of Babs's roommates, reads the message herself. As feared, the telegram has bad news about her husband Joe, and Rosalind and the other girls decide not to tell Babs anything about it until after the baby is born.

Even though this is called a musical comedy, you will need plenty of "hankies". Jimmy Durante's comedy, provides the smiles. You will also enjoy the beautiful classical concertos played by Jose Iturbi, and his mostly female orchestra. Giving their support to the boys in uniform.

Good News(1947)

Good News is the title of two American MGM musical films based on the 1927 stage production of the same name.The first, released in 1930, was directed by Nick Grinde. The cast included Bessie Love, Cliff Edwards and Penny Singleton. The film was shot in black-and-white, although the finale was in Technicolor. (The surviving print lacks the finale; no footage is known to survive.)By the 1940s, the original had become illegal to view or exhibit in the United States due to its Pre-Code content, which included sexual innuendo and lewd suggestive humor. A sanitized 1947 remake starred June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Mel Tormé, and Joan McCracken. The screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green was directed by Charles Walters in Technicolor. The original score had tunes by Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin, and Roger Edens, who were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Pass That Peace Pipe.

After Pat McClellan, completes finishing school, she arrives at Tait College, her arrival causes quite a stir on campus. She immediately catches the eyes of the football team, but Connie Lane, sees through her. Connie, works part-time at the university library, disapproves of her slinky red dress which is too "extreme and obvious." Pat, ignores Connie advice and attracts all the men in her flashy red dress, including Tommy Marlowe, the captain of the football team. Pat ignores Tommy, because has eyes for Peter Van Dyne, III. Pat's rejection makes Tommy want her all the more, and he wants to take French lessons. Connie is secretly in love with Tommy and agrees to tutor him. Tommy learns how to speak French well enough to ask Pat to the prom in French, but he is heartbroken when Pat turns down his invitation.

When Babe Doolittle, learns of the rejection, she decides to intervene and tries to interest Pat in Tommy by telling her that Tommy is the heir to his family's pickle fortunes.
Pat is suddenly interested in Tommy. Connie is happy that Tommy has asked her to be his date. When Tommy changes his mind he comes to her and breaks their date. As Tommy's grades begin to slip, Coach Johnson becomes concerned that Tommy will not have the grades he needs to play in the big game against Colton University. With Tommy's football-playing future at stake, the team asks Connie to tutor Tommy for his French class. Connie agrees and is surprised when Tommy admits that his interest in Pat was a mistake. Will Tommy bring up his grades so he can play in the big game?

I just saw the musical Good News for the first time. I thought it was a wonderful musical from 1947 with terrific performances from June Allyson and Peter Lawford.
"Pass That Peacepipe" Joan mcCracken, made a strong impression in her dance number. Allyson and Lawford look like they are having so much fun in the "Varsity Drag" number. Good songs throughout from the 20s stage show like the title song as well as "Lucky in Love," "The Best Things in Life Are Free," "Lady's Man," "Good News," "The French Lesson," and the sad song "Just Imagine".

Fun Fact:
Peter Lawford spoke French fluently and June Allyson did not, Lawford had to teach Allyson how to teach him to speak French in the French Lesson scene.



Joan McCracken, was an American dancer, actress, and comedian who became famous for her role as Silvie ("The Girl Who Falls Down") in the original 1943 production of Oklahoma!. By age 11, she was studying dance with Catherine Littlefield. She dropped out of high school to join Littlefield's ballet company. She was a student of George Balanchine in the first year of the School of American Ballet. Joan McCracken toured Europe and danced at Radio City Music Hall before creating the role of Sylvie. She made a strong impression in the movie Good News(1947), but her movie career never took off. I just read where Joan McCracken, was married to Bob Fosse.

UNTIL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY (1946)

Until the Clouds Roll By (1946) musical. Based on the life story of composer Jerome Kern. Cast: Cyd Charisse, June Allyson, Judy Garland, Van Heflin, Lena Horne, Van Johnson, Tony Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Shore. Esther Williams has a Cameo appearance.

On 27 December 1927, after the opening night performance of his Broadway musical Show Boat composer Jerome Kern visits the neighborhood where he began his career. As he sits in his limousine, Jerome remembers back to his early days as a young songwriter:

James first thinks Jerome is a waste of time song writer until he hears one of Jerome's beautifully composed songs. James believes Jerome will one day become a great song writer. The two composers become fast friends, and before James leaves for England, he tells Jerome to "think big". Not having any luck on Broadway, Jerome decides to try his luck in England. Reunited, the three spend an afternoon together at the fair, where Jerome gets an idea to use swings to go along with his new song. One day, while riding his bicycle through the English countryside, Jerome meets Eva. A romance develops, but Jerome soon finds himself on a ship headed for America, where rehearsals for Frohman's new show are about to begin. Jerome's first Broadway show, The Girl from Utah , is a great success, but while he and James working on songs for a new show, Frohman leaves for England to look for new talent. On his way England, Frohman's ship sinks and he dies. Jerome goes back to work and composes one Broadway hit after another.

This movie has a wonderful collection of Kern's songs. It begins with almost 20 minutes of Showboat (including Lena Horne's plaintive reading of "Can't Help Lovin' That Man") and the hits just keep on coming. Judy Garland, who appears in a few scenes as stage star Marilyn Miller, contributes "Look for the Silver Lining" and a wonderful production number on "Who?" Young Angela Lansbury, singing "How'd You Like to Spoon with Me?" Lucille Bremer, sings a wonderful duet with Van Johnson on "I Won't Dance,". It ends with Frank Sinatra's, "Ol' Man River."
http://www.archive.org/details/till_the_clouds_roll_by
Click to watch movie.

Soundtracks:

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"Show Boat"
(uncredited)
Premiere Sequence:
1. Cotton Blossom
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by chorus
2. Where's The Mate For Me?
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Tony Martin
3. Make Believe
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Tony Martin and Kathryn Grayson
4. Life Upon The Wicked Stage
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Virginia O'Brien and Women's Chorus
5. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Lena Horne
6. Ol' Man River
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Caleb Peterson, Frieda Shaw's Ethiopian Chorus, and MGM Chorus

"Ol' Man River"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Performed by Frank Sinatra

"The Last Time I Saw Paris"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Dinah Shore

"A Fine Romance"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Sung by Virginia O'Brien

"All the Things You Are"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Jerome Kern
Performed by Tony Martin

"Cleopatterer"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse
Music by Jerome Kern
Performed by June Allyson

"How'd You Like to Spoon With Me?"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Edward Laska
Music by Jerome Kern
Performed by Angela Lansbury

"Long Ago (and Far Away)"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Music by Jerome Kern
Performed by Kathryn Grayson

"Look for the Silver Lining"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva
Music by Jerome Kern
Performed by Judy Garland

"The Siren's Song"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse
Sung by Chorus in Opening Credits

"They Didn't Believe Me"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Herbert Reynolds
Sung by Dinah Shore, Robert Walker and Dorothy Patrick (dubbed by Ruth Clark)

"Till The Clouds Roll By"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse
Sung and Danced by June Allyson, Ray McDonald and Chorus

"Leave It to Jane"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse
Sung by June Allyson
Danced by June Allyson, Ray McDonald, and Chorus

"Sunny"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Chorus, with Judy Garland, and stunt double

"Who?"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Judy Garland and Chorus

"One More Dance"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Lucille Bremer (dubbed by Trudy Erwin)

"I Won't Dance"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, and Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Van Johnson and Lucille Bremer (dubbed by Trudy Erwin)

"She Didn't Say 'Yes'"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Sung by Lyn Wilde and Lee Wilde (as The Wilde Twins)

"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Danced to by Cyd Charisse and Gower Champion

"The Land Where the Good Songs Go"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse
Sung by Lucille Bremer (dubbed by Trudy Erwin) and Chorus

"Why Was I Born?"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Sung by Lena Horne

"Yesterdays"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerome Kern
Lyrics by Otto A. Harbach
Sung by the Chorus

"Ka-lu-a"
Music by Jerome Kern
Performed by the studio orchestra

OPPOSITE SEX (1956)

The Opposite Sex (1956) musical remake of the (1939) classic comedy The Women. Both films are based on Claire Boothe Luce's original play. Directed by David Miller. Cast: June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller, Leslie Nielsen, Jeff Richards, Agnes Moorehead, Charlotte Greenwood, Joan Blondell, Sam Levene, and Bill Goodwin.

At Sydney's salon in Manhattan one afternoon, Sylvia Fowler hears from her manicurist Olga that theater producer Steven Hilliard is having an affair with chorus girl Crystal Allen. Kay his wife is the last to know that here is any problems with her 10 year marriage to Steven. Later, the ladies meet at the 21 Club to plan their upcoming charity benefit. When Kay shows up, Sylvia suggests that she visit Olga for a manicure. Kay goes to Sydney's, where Olga, not realizing who she is, tells her the gossip about Steven. After lunch, Sylvia and Edith attend Steven's show to see what Crystal looks like, and Edith's morning sickness forces them to leave early. At a coffee shop they happen to sit next to Crystal, and the three throw insults at each other.

Kay is heartbroken, tries to to pretend nothing has happened. (This my favorite flashback scene in the movie with Harry James, playing trumpet) That night, at the couple's anniversary party, Kay tries to keep up appearances. Crystal reads in the paper that Kay has gone to Bermuda, and hoping that this means the end of their marriage makes plans to "bump into" Steven and his daughter, where they spend the day together at the park.

Soon Kay is on a train to Reno to get a divorce. She meets the Countess, a colorful older woman on her 4th divorce, and actress Gloria Dahl. Later, at the ranch, Kay is shocked to discover that the newest boarder is Sylvia, whose husband is leaving her for another woman.

Kay decides return to her singing career, under her maiden name of Ashley, she learns backstage that Sylvia has returned from Reno with Buck as her new discovery and he is having an affair with Crystal who has grown bored with Steven.

The night of Buck's big opening, Kay does not feel like going, knowing Steven will be there with Crystal. while saying good night to Debbie, she reveals that Steven is unhappy and that Crystal is seeing Buck. Kay puts on a beautiful gown and goes to the club, where she flirts with Steven and asks gossip columnist Dolly DeHaven's for help on getting revenge on Sylvia and getting her man back.


I thought June Allyson was wonderful as Kay. Joan Collins did a believable performance as her rival, I also enjoyed her catty friends. Agnes Moorehead, Ann Miller and Charlotte Greenwood. As an added plus, there are plenty of beautiful costumes to look at.

FUN FACTS: MGM originally wanted Esther Williams to star in this movie, but she was not interested.

Sountracks:
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"The Opposite Sex"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed over the opening credits by Dolores Gray
Performed during "The Psychiatrist" musical sketch with Dick Shawn, Jim Backus,
Joan Collins and Carolyn Jones

"Young Man With a Horn"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed and Danced by June Allyson, with horn solo by Harry James

"A Perfect Love"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed by June Allyson, dubbed by Jo Ann Greer

"Yellow Gold"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed by Jerry Antes, Joan Collins, Carolyn Jones

"Rock and Roll Tumbleweed"
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Ralph Freed
Music by George Stoll
Performed by Jeff Richards

"Now Baby Now"
Music by Nicholas Brodszky
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed and Danced by June Allyson and male chorus