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