50 CLASSIC MUSICALS - PAGE F:

MUSICALS - CAREER GIRL(1944)

Not a bad movie, and really short! A talented
and aspiring singer goes to New York to make
her name on Broadway! Not having much luck,
she decides to go back to her hometown fience
but the girls that she boards with think she
has what it takes and chip in together to change
her mind. Hmm, what WILL happen!! B

From IMDb.com:

This is a rather underrated little movie that
bares more than a passing resemblance to Stage
Door.

Despite its lack of truly famous faces, it is
beautifully acted by all concerned. Frances
Langford, the female lead in this, had a long
and highly successful career in the media,
especially in radio and later on TV and as
a live performer as well as occasional
appearances in movies.

She belonged to an age when talent abounded
and the competition was pretty fierce, and
though not exactly a marquee name in movies,
she did have her moments, and definitely
deserved to have had a bigger career in
movies. This little movie is an excellent
vehicle for her. She was a striking beauty
and had a fine singing voice. The only
weak part of this movie is probably the
dance scene at the end. But that aside
this movie is well worth watching. - ashkakaylee

Frances Langford ... Joan Terry (as Miss Frances Langford)
Edward Norris ... Steve Dexter
Iris Adrian ... Glenda Benton
Craig Woods ... James Blake
Linda Brent ... Thelma Mason
Alec Craig ... Theodore 'Pop' Billings - the Landlord
Ariel Heath ... Sue Collins
Lorraine Krueger ... Ann
Gladys Blake ... Janie
Charles Judels ... Felix Black
Charles Williams ... Louis Horton
Renee Helms ... Polly (as Renee White)
Marcy McGuire ... Louise (as Marion McGuire)
Judy Clark ... Dancer
Horace B. Carpenter ... Stage Doorman (uncredited)
Jack Chefe ... Headwaiter (uncredited)
Ruth Clifford ... Mrs. Draper (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Miss Cunningham - Mr. Dexter's Secretary (uncredited)
Eddie Kane ... Mr. Draper (uncredited)
Larry Steers ... Mr. Bronson - Casting Director (uncredited)

MUSICALS - MINSTREL MAN(1944)

A man of the theater is doing a show when his
wife has a baby! Should be great times ahead, but
his wife doesn't pull through! He goes on out
to try to get his head together, leaving his
new baby girl with some friends. He comes back
after five years to try to get back to work
and get back with his child, but things don't
go like he was hoping they would! C+

From IMDb.com:

All the previous reviews/critiques are probably
right-on. I was happy to see the film because
it presented a bit of theatrical history, showing
something of what minstrel shows were like,
especially in the opening "Gentlemen Be Seated"
bit. Of course, there are similar historical
pieces in other movies as well. I don't know
that I had ever seen Benny Fields before,
although he apparently had done many television
appearances in the past, so I was curious to
see him and hear him sing. Having seen this
film, I rather understand why Ralph Meeker
was chosen to play Fields in "Somebody Loves
Me" opposite Betty Hutton and I now appreciate
that bit of casting. - llewis001

Benny Fields ... Dixie Boy Johnson
Gladys George ... Mae White
Alan Dinehart ... Lew Dunn
Roscoe Karns ... Roscoe
Jerome Cowan ... Bill Evans
Judy Clark ... Caroline Jr. - age 16
Molly Lamont ... Caroline Johnson
John Raitt ... Singer
The Anestos ... Dance Specialty
Lee 'Lasses' White ... 'Lasses' White
Margia Dean ... Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Eddie Kane ... Theater Manager (uncredited)
Harold Miller ... Havana Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Gloria Petroff ... Caroline Jr. - age 5 (uncredited)
Stanley Price ... Broadway Revival Producer (uncredited)

MUSICALS - SWING HOSTESS(1944)

A case of mistaken voice! A promoter gets a
demo disc of a really decent singer mixed up
with a really bad singer that he's trying to
make a star out of! Light humor and decent
music, worth one watch anyway! A very similar
story as Singing In The Rain!! B-

From IMDb.com:

This WONDERFUL film from 1944 is a pure joy! Not
to mention the music throughout... Martha is a
beauty as well as a pretty hot singer from her
day.. She really shows the evil Phobe (Betty
Brodel) a thing or two about singing. One of
the better films from PRC during the war years.
Sure to please ! That is if you can find it.
The film is Public Domain and nobody, I mean
nobody runs it, and thats ashame. Some great
music from JAY LIVINGSTON & RAY EVANS who ARE
credited boldly in the print I own...If you
get a chance to catch this lost gem then
sit back and enjoy ! JUKEBOX FANS will die
over this film featuring ROCKOLA JUKES ! - tfwms1

Martha Tilton ... Judy Alvin
Iris Adrian ... Marge O'Day
Charles Collins ... Benny Jackson
Cliff Nazarro ... Bobo
Harry Holman ... Fralick
Emmett Lynn ... Blodgett
Betty Brodel ... Phoebe
Claire Rochelle ... Fralick's Secretary
Paul Porcasi ... Spumoni
Terry Frost ... Hank
Philip Van Zandt ... Merlini - the Magician
Earle Bruce ... Joe Sweeney
Bob Gooding ... 1st Butch - Specialty Act
Walter Pietila ... 2nd Butch - Specialty Act (as Walt Pietila)
Gene Windson ... 3rd Butch - Specialty Act
Dave White ... Chick, Chick and Chuck Dance Team
John Evans ... Chuck, Chick and Chuck Dance Team

MUSICALS - TROCADERO(1944)

A very light musical about how the Trocadero came
to be! Some ok music, but really the draw here is
the story. Very pleasing! B+

From IMDb.com:

This little gem came on one of those Mill Creek
compilation sets. I've never seen it, but I really
enjoyed it. The slim plot traces the history of
the famous nightclub with dynamite performances
from Johnny Downs and Priscilla Lane. The narrative
is frequently interrupted for some big-band
musical interludes, and they are fantastic.
A smooth musical quintet called the Stardusters
contribute one of those uniquely 1940's type
harmonies. The whole thing comes to a conclusion
with a fantastic production number featuring
no less than four bands playing at once. If
you like a breezy narrative interspersed
with a bunch of socko big band numbers,
then this is the film for you. - earlytalkie

Rosemary Lane ... Judy Edwards
Johnny Downs ... Johnny Edwards
Ralph Morgan ... Sam Wallace Dick Purcell ... Spike Nelson
Sheldon Leonard ... Mickey Jones
Marjorie Manners ... Marge Carson
Cliff Nazarro ... Cliff
Erskine Johnson ... Hollywood Columnist
Dave Fleischer ... Dave Fleischer
Emmett Vogan ... Carson
Charles Calvert ... Tony Rocadero
Dewey Robinson ... Bullfrog
Ruth Hilliard ... Nancy - Cigarette Girl
Eddie Bartell ... Master of Ceremonies and Radio Rogue member
Bob Chester ... Orchestra Leader
Bob Chester and His Orchestra ... Bob Chester Orchestra (as Bob Chester's Orchestra)
Matty Malneck ... Musician
Gus Arnheim ... Gus Arnheim
Eddie Le Baron ... Eddie LeBaron (as Eddie LaBaron)
Eddie LeBaron's Orchestra ... Eddie LeBaron's Orchestra (as Eddie LeBaron's Orchestra)
Wingy Manone ... Wingy Mannone (as Wingy Mannone)
The Radio Rogues ... Three Radio Rogues
Wingy Manone and His Orchestra ... Orchestra (as Wingy Manone's Orchestra)
Jimmy Hollywood ... Member The Radio Rogues (as The Radio Rogues)
Dick Carlton ... Member The Radio Rogues (as The Radio Rogues)
Betty Bradley ... Member The Stardusters (as The Stardusters)
Jane Ellison ... Member The Stardusters (as The Stardusters)
Ida James ... Member, The Stardusters (as The Stardusters)
Patricia Kay ... Member, The Stardusters (as The Stardusters)
Snippy ... Animated Character created by Dave Fleischer
Matty Malneck's Orchestra ... Orchestra (as Matty Malneck's Orchestra)
Stardusters ... The Stardusters (as The Stardusters)
Edward Biby ... Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Jack Chefe ... Pierre - Headwaiter (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Dick Gordon ... Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Ethelreda Leopold ... Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack ... Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Harold Miller ... Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard ... Cab driver in Opening Sequence. (uncredited)

MUSICALS - DELIGHTFULLY DANGEROUS(1945)

This is kinda cute! A young girl(15) idolizes
her older sister who's a big star in New York!
Turns out, she is a big star, just not like the
girl thought! This changes her attitude about
her sister considerably! Oh, and there's a big
producer who's interested in the sister! B

From IMDb.com:

The still lovely Jane Powell stars as a musical
student whose older sister (Constance Moore) is
a burlesque star unbeknownst to Ms. Powell. After
discovering the truth, Jane decides to help make
her sister legit with the help of Broadway producer
(Ralph Bellamy). The rest is predictable, yet
entertaining, and features a top-notch cast of
supporting players including Arthur Treacher
and Louise Beavers, plus the usual group of
rowdy, boy-crazy teenage girls. (Has nothing
changed?) The musical numbers are rather second
rate, but there are a lot of amusing bits of
comedy. After this, Ms. Powell went over to
MGM, and the rest, as they say, is history. - mark.waltz

Ralph Bellamy ... Arthur Hale
Constance Moore ... Josephine 'Jo' Williams / Bubbles Barton
Jane Powell ... Sherry Williams
Louise Beavers ... Hannah
Morton Gould ... Bandleader
Arthur Treacher ... Jeffers
Ruth Tobey ... Molly Bradley
Sunny Burkette ... Cathy Gahagan (uncredited)
Andre Charlot ... Prof. Bremond (uncredited)
Christian Drake ... Jimmy Burns (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Mrs. Hopkins (uncredited)
Eddie Hall ... Marine Sergeant Dancing with Jo (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins ... Burlesque Barker (uncredited)
Shirley Hunter ... Nadine Jones (uncredited)
Richard LaMarr ... Theatre Audience Member (uncredited)
Pat McKee ... Burlesque House Patron (uncredited)
Harold Miller ... Waiter with Message (uncredited)
Frank Mills ... Burlesque House Patron (uncredited)
Morton Gould's Orchestra ... Morton Gould's Orchestra (uncredited)
Bob Perry ... Burlesque House Patron (uncredited)
Ruth Robinson ... Mrs. Jones, Nadine's Mother (uncredited)
John Roy ... Burlesque House Patron (uncredited)
Scott Seaton ... Club Patron (uncredited)