Easy to Wed
MGM, 1946, Color, 111 minutes
Released July, 1946
The screwball favorite "Libeled Lady" received a musical revamping from MGM, with Esther Williams playing the socialite who sues newspaperman Van Johnson after a less-than-flattering
article is run about her. Lucille Ball and Keenan Wynn also star; songs include "Come Closer to Me," "Continental Polka" and "It Shouldn't Happen to a Duck."
The Esther Williams, Vol. 1 DVD box set (shown right) contains this film and
Bathing Beauty,
On an Island with You,
and Neptune's Daughter,
and Dangerous When Wet
Produced by: Jack Cummings
Directed by: Edward Buzzell
Adapted by: Dorothy Kingsley
From the Screen Play "Libeled Lady" by Maurine Watkins, Howard Emmett Rogers and George Oppenheimer
Musical Score, Supervision and Direction: Johnny Green
Musical Numbers Staged and Directed by: Jack Donohue
Orchestration: Ted Duncan
Musical Program: "Viva Mexico" (by) Pedro Galindo; "Acercate Mas" (by) Osvaldo Farres; "The Continental Polka" (by) Ralph Blane, Johnny Green; "Toca Tu Samba" (by) Raul Soler; "Boneca de Pixe" (by) Ary Barroso
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Hans Peters
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Jack Bonar
Costume Supervision: Irene
Associate: Marion Herwood Keyes
Men's Costumes: Valles
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Harry Stradling
Filmed in Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Henri Jaffa
Film Editor: Blanche Sewell
Cast:
Van Johnson [Bill Stevens Chandler],
Esther Williams [Connie Allenbury],
Lucille Ball [Gladys Benton],
Keenan Wynn [Warren Haggerty],
Cecil Kellaway [J. B. Allenbury],
Carlos Ramirez [Himself],
Ben Blue [Spike Dolan],
Ethel Smith [Herself],
June Lockhart [Babs Norvell],
Grant Mitchell [Homer Henshaw],
Josephine Whittell [Mrs. Burns Norvell],
Paul Harvey [Farwood],
Jonathan Hale [Hector Boswell],
James Flavin [Joe],
Celia Travers [Farwood's Secretary],
Sybil Merritt [Receptionist],
Sondra Rodgers [Attendant],
Additional Cast:
Jean Porter [Frances],
Robert Emmett O'Connor [Taxi Driver],
Katharine Booth (aka Karin Booth) [Clerk],
Dick Winslow [Orchestra Leader],
George Calliga [Headwaiter],
Tom Dugan [Waiter],
Katherine Black [Masseuse],
Walter Soderling [Mr. Dibson],
Sarah Edwards [Mrs.Dibson],
Charles Knight,
Guy Bates Post,
John Valentine [Butlers],
Louise Burnette,
Patricia Denise,
Phyllis Graffeo,
Kanza Omar,
Mildred Sellers,
Mitzie Uehlein [Girls at Pool],
Chavo De Leon,
Nina Bara [Rumba Dancers],
Milton Kibbee [Private Detective],
Jack Shea [Lifeguard],
Charles Sullivan,
Frank Hagney [Truck Drivers],
Joel Friedkin [Justice of the Peace],
Fred Fisher,
Alex Pollard [Waiters],
Virginia Rees [singing voice of Lucille Ball]
Musical Program:
[0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles);
[0:14] The Continental Polka (sung and danced by Lucille Ball and Ensemble, Virginia Rees dubbing for Lucille Ball);
[0:30] Acercate Mas (sung by Carlos Ramirez, danced by Esther Williams with Van Johnson and other nightclub patrons);
[1:03] Acercate Mas (reprised by Esther Williams while dancing with Van Johnson);
[1:28] Toca Tu Samba (played by Ethel Smith on organ with small band);
[1:30] Boneca de Pixe (production number played by Ethel Smith on organ, sung and danced by Esther Williams, Van Johnson and Chorus);
[1:35] Viva Mexico (sung and played in fragments by wandering trio through remainder of film, short excerpt sung by Chorus at end)
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The Eddie Cantor Story
Warner Bros, 1953, Color, 117 minutes, **½
Premiere release December, 1953
General release January, 1954
Entertaining biopic of Eddie Cantor. I have to agree with the critics on this one - Keefe Brasselle really overplays the role to the point of being distracting.
However, many of the musical numbers are nicely staged, and the basic story of Cantor's life is reasonably accurate for a biopic. If you're an Eddie Cantor fan, it's worth seeing
for the music and for a glimpse into the life of this legendary entertainer.
Produced by: Sidney Skolsky
Directed by: Alfred E. Green
Assistant Director: Al Alleborn
Screen Play by: Jerome Weidman, Ted Sherdeman and Sidney Skolsky
From a Story by Sidney Skolsky
Music Direction by: Ray Heindorf
Orchestrations by: Frank Comstock, Gus Levene
Vocal Arrangements by: Charles Henderson
Musical Numbers Staged and Directed by: LeRoy Prinz
Art Director: Charles H. Clarke
Set Decorator: William Wallace
Wardrobe by: Howard Shoup, Marjorie Best
Makeup Artist: Gordon Bau
Sound by: C. A. Riggs, David Forrest
Director of Photography: Edwin DuPar
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultant: Mitchell C. Kovaleski
Film Editor: William Ziegler
Cast:
Keefe Brasselle [Eddie Cantor],
Marilyn Erskine [Ida],
Aline MacMahon [Grandma Esther],
Arthur Franz [Harry Harris],
Alex Gerry [David Tobias],
Greta Granstedt [Rachel Tobias],
Gerald Mohr [Rocky],
William Forrest [Ziegfeld],
Jackie Barnett [Durante],
Will Rogers, Jr. [Will Rogers],
Marie Windsor [Cleo Abbott],
Hal March [Gus Edwards],
Susan Odin [Ida, age 11],
Owen Pritchard ["Boy" Harris],
Douglas Evans [Leo Raymond],
Ann Doran [Lillian Edwards],
Richard Monda [Eddie Cantor as a Boy]
Musical Program:
[0:00] Overture "If You Knew Susie" / "Margie" (played by Orchestra, "When I'm the President" sung by Chorus behind titles) / "Now's the Time to Fall in Love" (excerpt played by Orhestra);
[0:03] Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland (excerpt sung by Richard Monda [Eddie Cantor as a boy]);
[0:14] Bedelia (sung by Richard Monda [Eddie Cantor as a boy], then taken up by Orchestra in background score);
[0:17] Will You Love Me in December as You Do in May (sung by Richard Monda [Eddie Cantor as a boy] at amateur talent contest);
[0:23] Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee (sung and danced by Richard Monda [Eddie Cantor as a boy] and Childrens Ensemble onstage in Gus Edwards' "Kid Kabaret" -- really cute!);
[0:27] If I Was a Millionaire (sung by Richard Monda [Eddie Cantor as a boy] and Childrens Ensemble);
[0:34] Love Me and the World Is Mine (sung by Barbershop Quartet, one of which is Keefe Brasselle);
[0:36] Row, Row, Row (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[0:54] How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle with Chorus Girls in Ziegfeld show);
[0:57] Oh You Beautiful Doll (excerpts sung by Eddie Cantor for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:01] If You Knew Susie Like I Know Susie (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:03] Bye Bye Blackbird / Pretty Baby / Yes Sir, That's My Baby (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle in montage of Ziegfeld shows);
[1:11] Josephine Please No Lean on the Bell (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:20] Yes, We Have No Bananas (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:21] Tip Toe Through the Tulips (With Me) (played by Orchestra, danced by Keefe Brasselle and Chorus behind montage);
[1:22] Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider (Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:31] Makin' Whoopee (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle in Ziegfeld's show "Whoopee");
[1:33] Now's the Time to Fall in Love (Potatoes Are Cheaper, Tomatoes Are Cheaper) (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:34] When I'm the President (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:49] Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:50] Margie (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle);
[1:53] Ma, He's Making Eyes at Me (sung by Eddie Cantor dubbing for Keefe Brasselle behind Red Cross poster montage)
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The Eddy Duchin Story
Columbia, 1956, Color, 123 minutes, ***
Released June, 1956
Tyrone Power stars as the pianist/bandleader who was the talk of '30s New York cafe society but whose personal life was marred by tragedy. Glossy, song-filled biodrama
also features Kim Novak, James Whitmore, and the keyboard work of Carmen Cavallaro. Songs include "What Is This Thing Called Love?," "Till We Meet Again."
Solid entertainment. Lots of great music, and a fine performance by Ty Power. Ironically, he would pass away just two years after making this movie. Interesting that the year the story
begins (1927) is not just plopped on the screen, but told to us subtly by newspaper headlines of Lindy landing in Paris, and a group of youngsters singing "Ain't She Sweet."
Producer: Jerry Wald
Associate Producer: Jonie Taps
Director: George Sidney
Screenplay: Samuel Taylor (based on a story by Leo Katcher)
Music Supervised and Conducted by: Morris Stoloff
Original Music by: George Duning
Piano Recordings by: Carmen Cavallaro
Song Score: various (none original)
Art Direction: Walter Holscher
Set Decoration: William Kiernan, Robert Priestley
Gowns: Jean Louis
Cinematography: Harry Stradling
Film Editing: Jack W. Ogilvie
Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Motion Picture Story (Leo Katcher), Best Color Cinematography (Harry Stradling), Best Score - Musical (Morris Stoloff and George Duning) and Best Sound Recording
Cast:
Tyrone Power [Eddy Duchin],
Kim Novak [Marjorie Oelrichs],
Victoria Shaw [Chiquita],
James Whitmore [Lou Sherwood],
Rex Thompson [Peter Duchin as a Boy],
Mickey Maga [Peter as a Young Child],
Shepperd Strudwick [Mr. Wadsworth],
Frieda Inescort [Mrs. Wadsworth],
Gloria Holden [Mrs. Duchin],
Larry Keating [Leo Reisman],
John Mylong [Mr. Duchin],
Gregory Gaye [Philip],
Warren Hsieh [Native Boy],
Carlyle Mitchell [Doctor],
Lois Kimbrell [Nurse],
Richard Sternberg,
Andy Smith [Peter's Friends],
Ralph Gamble [Mayor Jimmy Walker],
Richard Cutting [Captain],
Richard Crane,
Brad Trumbull [Seamen],
Kirk Alyn,
Richard Walsh [Young Men],
Howard Price [Range Recorder Operator],
Gloria Ann Simpson [Mrs. Rutledge],
Oliver Cliff [Man],
Joan Reynolds,
Jacqueline Blanchard [Girls],
Butler Hixon [Butler],
Peter Norman [Waiter],
Arline Anderson [Guest],
Jack Albertson [Piano Tuner],
Xavier Cugat [Cameo]
Musical Program:
[0:00] Manhattan (Orchestra behind titles);
[0:01] Ain't She Sweet (Chorus dubbing for young people in car driving through Central Park);
[0:08] Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E Flat Major [piano solo by Eddy Duchin] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen);
[0:11] unidentified instrumental (Played by Leo Riseman and His Orchestra; danced by guests at the Central Park Casino);
[0:12] Shine On, Harvest Moon [piano solo by Eddy Duchin during Reisman break] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen);
[0:14] Will You Love Me in December as You Do in May (Chorus dubbing for guests at the Central Park Casino);
[0:19] unidentified instrumental [Eddie Duchin with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen on piano, with Orchestra);
[0:25] unidentified instrumental [Piano solo played by Eddie Duchin at party] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen);
[0:27] What Is This Thing Called Love (?) (played by Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, fading to background music behind montage of Duchin and Chiquita wandering around town falling in love);
[0:29] Dizzy Fingers [Eddie Duchin with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen on piano, with Orchestra);
[0:38] Manhattan (Duchin recording played on Victrola, danced by Ty Power and Victoria Shaw);
[0:43] You're My Everything [Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra at the Central Park Casino] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen);
[0:45] unidentified instrumental (excerpt played by Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra on-screen; Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra off-screen);
[1:09] Chopsticks [Eddy Duchin at bombed out village in Pacific Theater during WWII with a little orphaned Asian boy] (traditional and "ragged" versions played by Ty Power and Warren Hsieh; dubbed by Carmen Cavallaro);
[1:18] Medley (played by Peter Duchin on-screen, Carmen Cavallaro off-screen);
[1:24] On the Sunny Side of the Street [Eddy Duchin and Orchestra rehearsing] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra);
[1:25] unidentified instrumental [played by Peter Duchin on piano, one of his friends on clarinet, and his other friend on drums; Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra join in] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra);
[1:29] Theme Song (?) [short excerpt played by Eddie Duchin and His Orchestra] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra);
[1:33] Brazil [played by Eddie Duchin and His Orchestra with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra at the Waldorf Historia] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra);
[1:33] unidentified instrumental (played by Eddy Duchin's Orchestra and Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra at the Waldorf Historia);
[1:59] To Love Again (finale) [played by Peter Duchin and Eddy Duchin at home; Eddy Duchin disappearing as Peter continues to play] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and His Orchestra)
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The Emperor Waltz
Paramount, 1948, Color, 106 minutes, ***
Premiere release (USA) May, 1948
General release (USA) June, 1948
Uncharacteristically fluffy entertainment from writer-director Billy Wilder features Bing Crosby as a phonograph salesman in Austria who tries
to pitch his product to the country's ruler while attempting to woo the emperor's niece (Joan Fontaine). Richard Haydn and Sig Rumann co-star; tunes include
"I Kiss Your Hand, Madame," "Friendly Mountains" and the title song.
The film opens with the statement: "On a December night, some forty-odd years ago, His Majesty Francis Joseph the First, Emperor of Austria,
Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, and so forth and so forth, was giving a little clambake at
his palace in Vienna."
Produced by: Charles Brackett
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Assistant Director: C. C. Coleman, Jr.
Written by: Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder
Music Score by: Victor Young
Vocal Arrangements: Joseph J. Lilley
Special Lyrics by: Johnny Burke for songs "The Kiss in Your Eyes" (Chambre Separee), "Friendly Mountains"
Music Associate: Troy Sanders
Dances Staged by: Billy Daniels
Art Direction: Hans Dreier, Franz Bachelin
Set Decoration: Sam Comer, Paul Huldschinsky
Costumes: Edith Head
Men's Costumes: Gile Steele
Makeup Supervision: Wally Westmore
Sound Recording: Stanley Cooley and John Cope
Director of Photography: George Barnes
Special Photographic Effects: Gordon Jennings
Process Photography: Farciot Edouart
Photographed in Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Robert Brower
Editorial Supervision: Doane Harrison
Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design - Color (Edith Head and Gile Steele), and Best Score - Musical (Victor Young)
Cast:
Bing Crosby [Virgil Smith],
Joan Fontaine [Johanna Franziska Von Stultzenberg-Stultzenberg],
Roland Culver [Baron Holenia],
Richard Haydn [Emperor Franz Josef],
Lucile Watson [Princess],
Sig Rumann [Dr. Zwieback],
Julia Dean [Archduchess Stephanie],
Harold Vermilyea [Chamberlain],
Roberta Jonay [Chambermaid],
John Goldsworthy [Obersthofmeister],
Doris Dowling [Tyrolean Girl],
James Vincent [Abbe],
Harry Allen [Gamekeeper],
Frank Elliott [Von Usedon],
Paul de Corday [Officer],
Jack Gargan [Master of Ceremonies],
Cyril Delevanti [Diplomat],
Franco Corsaro [Marquis],
Bert Prival [Chauffeur],
Alma Macrorie [Proprietor of Tyrolean Inn],
Gerald Mohr [Marques Alonso]
Musical Program:
[0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles);
[0:01] Emperor Waltz (danced by guests at "clambake");
[0:26] Friendly Mountains (sung by Bing Crosby and Chorus);
[0:45] I Kiss Your Hand Madame (sung by Bing Crosby; taken up by violinists and Orchestra, danced by hotel staff and Chauffeur; reprised throughout film);
[1:12] The Kiss in Your Eyes (played by fiddlers in village, sung by Bing Crosby);
[1:45] Emperor Waltz (segment sung by Bing Crosby, danced by Court guests);
Get Yourself a Phonograph (written for the film but not used);
"I Kiss Your Hand Madame" is a major theme in the background score;
The Whistler and His Dog (whistled by Bing Crosby, used throughout the film)
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The Emperor's New Clothes
(aka Cannon Movie Tales: The Emperor's New Clothes)
Golan-Globus / Cannon, 1987, Color, 93 minutes
See list of all Cannon Movie Tales
In Europe several centuries ago, a group of prisoners about to be executed are freed as part of the celebration of the upcoming marriage of the emperor's daughter,
Princess Gilda, to a very rich prince from another country. Among these newly free men are an uncle-and-nephew con artist team, who continue their usual work to the point where they
end up in the emperor's own palace, posing as tailors. Taking advantage of the emperor's extreme love for new and newer clothing as a symbol of his wealth, the fake tailors get him
to hire them to make clothes (in time for the wedding) that are invisible to all who are either unfit for their position, or very stupid. Of course, they wouldn't make anything at
all, but instead steal all of the material (many jewels) and leave the emperor and all the people thinking that they are unfit or stupid. Things start to get more difficult as neither
the emperor nor Gilda like the prince she is engaged to, she and the nephew fall in love, the nephew has misgivings about being a con artist, and the emperor is constantly checking
on the progress of his tailors, who are watched over by a very suspicious guard.
Produced by: Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus
Executive Producer: Itzik Kol
Directed by: David Irving
Screenplay by: Anna Mathias, Len Talan and David Irving
Based on the classic fairy-tale by Hans Christian Andersen
Music Score by: David Krivoshei
Songs: Music by Stephen Lawrence, Lyrics by Michael Korie
Music Supervisor: Stephen Lawrence
Music Director (Israel): Yehoshua Ben Yehoshua
Choreographer: Ya'acov Kaluski
Production Designer: Marek Dobrowolski
Art Director: Avishai Avivi
Set Decorator: Migel Markin
Costume Designer: Buki Sheiff
Make-up Artist: Marie Helene Yatchenkoff
Hair Stylists: Lina Talmor, Tammy Levi
Director of Photography: David Gurfinkel
Special Effects Supervisor: Terry Glass
Editor: Tova Neeman
Cast:
Sid Caesar [Emperor],
Robert Morse [Henry],
Jason Carter [Nicholas],
Lysette Anthony [Gilda],
Clive Revill [Prime Minister],
Julian Joy Chagrin [Duke],
Israel Gurion [Wenceslas],
Susan Berlin [Lady Christine],
Danny Segev [Prince Nino],
Yossi Graber [Wizor],
Eli Gorenstein [Sergeant],
Johanna Reis [Townsperson],
Stuart Kingston [Guard],
Liat Wexler [Maria],
Jeff Gurner [Maria's Father],
Zachi Noy [Hiccoughing Man],
Rolanda Joy Chagrin [Woman with Duck],
Tuvia Tavi [Messenger],
Yehuda Efroni [Head Guard]
Musical Program:
[0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles);
[0:06] Clothes Make the Man (sung by Sid Caesar and Israel Gurion);
[0:18] Adventure (performed by Robert Morse);
[0:37] Weave-O (sung by Robert Morse, Jason Carter and Eli Gorenstein);
[0:46] Is This a Love Song? (sung by Danny Street dubbing for Jason Carter and Joan Baxter dubbing for Lysette Anthony);
[1:03] Red or Blue (performed by Clive Revill, Julian Chagrin, Israel Gurion and Sid Caesar)
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