Author Archive: Retro

On the eve of his big break, a veteran vaudevillian’s wife dies in childbirth, and he’s so upset he forsakes Broadway, leaving his daughter to be raised by his showbiz pals. Dir. Joseph H. Lewis

Wertheimer, a New York radio talent scout, shows up at Uncle Jed’s barn dance having received numerous letters from Nancy Shackelford, the adopted daughter of Uncle Jed Shackelford, telling him about the musical talents of Bob and the other four farm-hand musicians. He hires the boys for a new radio program to be known as “The Old Homestead” broadcast from New York. Nancy and Uncle Jed accompany them, the latter as their manager. The show is a hit and Nancy is thrilled, especially when she meets famous crooner Rudy Nash. Elsie Wilson, Rudy’s partner, resents the attention Rudy shows Nancy, and Bob takes an immediate dislike to Rudy. The band goes to a night club and get high on champagne which they think is cider. Peggy joins the boys in their clowning after the regular entertainers quit in indignation. Nancy and Rudy enter the café, and when the proprietor realizes that Nancy and (primarily) Rudy [...]

A king falls in love with a gypsy woman and is forced to choose between her or his dictatorship.

American performer falls in love with a princess travelling incognito aboard a trans-atlantic line, and must try to save her bankrupt country. Dir. Leonard Fields. Musical romance story about an American who is on his way to a mythical kingdom in Europe to live.

Dance hall singer Carole Landis is smitten with dance hall manager Cesar Romero until she learns he’s something of a Casanova. When he realizes she’s no longer interested in his charms, he coaches his pal, composer William Henry, on winning her over. Enjoyable comic tuner features the songs “There’s a Lull in My Life” and “There’s Something in the Air.” Dir. Irving Pichel.

Southern millionaire falls in love with a circus performer shortly before the start of the Civil War. Part in color.

Set in turn-of-the-century New York, a composer finds out that his girlfriend is working as a model for a painter. Songs include: “Have I Told You Lately?” & “A Bluebird Is Singing to Me.” Dir. Allan Dwan

In 1898, composer Sid Barnett manages to get his sweetheart, Adeline the beer-garden singer, to sing the lead in his new Broadway operetta; this infuriates Elysia, the erstwhile star. But Sid frets as Adeline spends increasing amounts of time with the dashing Major Day.

Agent Pete Garland is fired by society singer Monica Barrett after he got her a new radio contract, because she thinks her lawyer friend Teddy Leeds fits in better with her social status. To get even, Pete wants to make an unknown singer into a star. He finds Ruth Allison, drives her hard through rehearsals and makes her a star. But she is worried about her past, something she hasn’t told Pete: She’s an ex-convict and jumped bail in order to keep her partners in crime out of it. Further she’s in love with Pete, but feels that he’s still carrying a torch for Monica. When Monica’s popularity is decreasing, Pete is able to get Ruth a stint on the program, the result is Monica is fired and Ruth get her job, but Monica takes revenge by revealing Ruth’s past. Ruth considers it is best for her to disappear before being arrested, but she has [...]