Video: Cyd Charisse and Dee Turnell

Cyd Charisse and Dee Turnel perform in this wonderful dance number. Dee Turnell is the blonde. Cyd Charisse is the brunette.

I would love to see this film, Words and Music (1948). Which is loosely based on the lives of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. Cast: Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett, and Ann Sothern and is best remembered for the final screen pairing between Rooney and Judy Garland.

ON TCM : Billy Crystal interview on musicals.

You can enjoy both Week-End In Havana (1941) with Alice Faye and Springtime in The Rockies (1942) with Betty Grable

Two of my favorite musicals that are pretty similar in style and music. The main exception is the leading lady. Alice Faye headlines Week-End In Havana while my girl Betty Grable tops Springtime in The Rockies. Both films feature several of the same actors, including John Payne, Carmen Miranda and Cesar Romero.

In Week-End In Havana, a cruise ship bound for Cuba crashes off the Florida coast, ship executive Jay Williams (John Payne) asks each passenger to sign a waiver that clears the liner of all responsibility. But when New York City shop girl Nan Spencer (Alice Faye) says no, it sets off a chain reaction of romance and rejection. Cesar Romero and Carmen Miranda co-star in this 1941 musical featuring the songs "Romance and Rhumba" and "Tropical Magic." Faye is quite good in her role as Nan, as she will not yield to Payne's continued pursuit. Romero and Miranda are also quite good. Should be noted that Faye was pregnant while filming this movie. What a trooper.

In Springtime In The Rockies, Broadway partners Vicky Lane and Dan Christy have a tiff over Christy's womanizing. Jealous Vicky takes up with her old flame and former dance partner, Victor Price, and Dan's career takes a nosedive. In hopes of rekindling their romance and getting Vicky back on the boards with him, Dan follows her to a ritzy resort in the Canadian Rockies, where she and Victor are about to open their new act. But things get complicated when Dan wakes after a bender to find that he's hired an outlandish Latin secretary, Rosita Murphy, which makes Vicky think he's just up to his old tricks again. Betty is definitely the star as she gets to shine in several musical numbers. But Carmen Miranda is a riot as Rosita Murphy. You will be busting a gut everytime she appears onscreen. And actress Charlotte Greenwood adds a touch of grace. Springtime was a huge hit for studio 20th Century Fox as it was a top ten money earner in 1942 and solidfying Betty Grable as a major box office attraction. I love both films equally and I don't know if I could choose between them. So instead of making that decision, I just say watch them both and have a great time.

Count Basie

Count Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra for nearly 50 years. Many well known musicians performed under his direction, including tenor saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison and singers Jimmy Rushing and Joe Williams. Basie's theme songs were "One O'Clock Jump" and "April In Paris".

Romance On The High Seas(1948)

Romance on the High Seas (1948). Is a musical/romantic comedy. Cast: Jack Carson, Janis Paige, Don DeFore, and Doris Day in her film debut.

Michael and Elvira Kent, make plans to go on a cruise for their third anniversary. While at the travel agency, Elvira meets Georgia Garrett, a singer who enjoys planning trips that she can never afford to take. When Mike cancels the trip for business reasons, Elvira suspects that he is really canceled because of his beautiful new secretary. Elvira's uncle and the owner of the pharmaceutical company where Mike works, suggests that Elvira make the trip to Rio alone.

Elvira, then makes plans with her uncle that she will pretend to leave town, sending Georgia in her place, and that way she can stay home and keep an eye on Mike.

After Elvira and Georgia, are ready to go ahead with their plans, Mike says that he can go on the cruise after all. When Elvira slow to say "yes", Mike thinks that something up and hires private detective Peter Virgil,  to follow her.

The first night out, Peter and Georgia, meet and spend a lot of time together. Peter reports to Mike that "Elvira" is traveling alone. Elvira discovers nothing about Mike. Georgia's plans are almost ruined when her boyfriend, unexpectedly arrives on the ship. Georgia pretends to be sick, and stays in her room. Oscar finds her room and visits her cabin. Peter watches them through a window and thinks that he has finally caught Elvira in the act. Peter, still thinking that Georgia is Elvira, tells Mike that he has fallen in love with his wife. Mike quickly flies to Rio, and the uncle says he thinks Elvira should do the same. Will the couples ever reunite?

Romance on the High Seas, is my favorite Doris Day movie. A couple highlights of the film, for me, is when Georgia, posing as Mrs. Kent, and Peter are seated and Georgia begins to sing "It's Magic." It is just beautiful! And the cutest bar scene I think I have seen on film.. if that does not put a smile on your face.. I do not know what will ;)

FUN FACTS:

featuring "It's Magic" and other songs by Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn.


Doris Day and Jack Carson who met while making this film, had a brief romance.

Soundtracks:
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"Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em with a Ribbon (and Throw 'em in the Deep Blue Sea)"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Doris Day and the Page Cavanaugh Trio

"It's Magic"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Doris Day



"It's You or No One"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Doris Day

"I'm in Love"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Doris Day

"The Tourist Trade"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Avon Long

"Run, Run, Run"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by Jack Carson

"Bridal Chorus"
(uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Music by Richard Wagner
Played during the wedding

"She's a Latin from Manhattan"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Sung briefly by Doris Day in the travel agency

"Romance on the High Seas"
(uncredited)
aka "In Trinidad"
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Sung by the Samba Kings

"Brazilian Rhapsody"
(uncredited)
aka "Cuban Rhapsody"
Music by Jule Styne, Ray Heindorf and Oscar Levant
Performed by Oscar Levant

Mamie Van Doren.

Hughes gave Van Doren a bit part in the film, Jet Pilot. Her line consisted of one word, "Look!". In 1951, she posed for famous pin-up girl artist Alberto Vargas, the painter of the glamorous "Vargas Girls." His painting of Van Doren was on the July cover of Esquire.

Van Doren did a few more bit parts in movies at RKO, including, His Kind of Woman (1951) starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell and Vincent Price.

She was a showgirl in New York in Monte Proser's nightclub version of Billion Dollar Baby. Songwriter Jimmy McHugh discovered her for his musicals, then decided she was too good for the chorus line and should have dramatic training. While performing in the role of Marie in the film, Come Back, Little Sheba, Van Doren was seen by Phil Benjamin, a casting director at Universal International.

On January 20, 1953, Van Doren signed a contract with Universal Studios. The studio was hoping she would bring the same kind of success that 20th Century Fox had with Marilyn Monroe. Van Doren, whose signing day happened to be the same day as the inauguration of President Eisenhower, was given the first name Mamie for Ike's wife, Mamie Eisenhower.

Van Doren's first movie for Universal was, Forbidden (1953), playing a singer. She then made All-American (1953), In Yankee Pasha (1954) starring Jeff Chandler and Rhonda Fleming, in 1956 she played opposite Clint Eastwood in the film, Star in the Dust.

She also performed in some of the first movies to feature Rock & Roll music. In the film, Untamed Youth (1957), she was the first woman to sing rock and roll in a Hollywood musical (Eddie Cochran did the music for the film). This film was later featured in Mystery Science Theater 3000's "Untamed Youth" (1990).

Some of Van Doren's best known films are: Teacher's Pet (1958),

Born Reckless (1958), High School Confidential (1958), and The Beat Generation (1959). But Van Doren was just as well known for her provocative roles: Girls Town (1959), which provoked censors with a shower scene, The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960) she wore only fig leaves, and in other films, like The Beautiful Legs of Sabrina (1959), Sex Kittens Go to College (1960) and Vice Raid (1960).

Many of Van Doren's film roles showcased her figure and her wardrobe usually consisted of tight sweaters, low-cut blouses, form-fitting dresses, and daring (for the era) swimsuits. Van Doren did become a very famous Hollywood sex symbol. Marilyn, Mamie and Jayne Mansfield were known as the "Three M's." But by comparison, where Monroe succeeded in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Mansfield in, Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?. Universal cast Van Doren, with Francis the Talking Mule, in Francis Joins the WACS. She does have a websight. It is a little to racy for me to post here on, Singin and Dancing back in Time.

Happy Birthday Mickey Rooney (1920 - present)

The super talented actor/dancer/comedian and all around entertainer turns 90 today. Mickey who recently starred with Ben Stiller in A Night at the Museum is one of my favorite actors. He could do anything: sing, dance, do comedy or drama. A very talented man. And I didn't realize he was married 8 times. But he has been with his current wife, Jan since 1978. My favorite Rooney films are The Andy Hardy films, It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World; Girl Crazy, Babes On Broadway, National Velvet, and Boys Town. He was at his musical best when paired with Judy Garland for all those "let's put on a show" type musicals of the early 40's.