Author Archive: Retro

A Song for Miss Julie is a 1945 American film directed by William Rowland.

A press agent with wild and crazy ideas turns his firm over to his stodgy son. Includes Eleanor Powell dancing inside a huge pinball machine. W.C. Fields’ last film. Written by Andrew L. Stone. Dir. Andrew L. Stone

After being reuninted with a son she hasn’t seen in years, a singing star buys a dinner theatre for him and his friends. Songs include: “Annabella,” “It Makes No Difference When You’re in the Army”, “Put Your Trust in the Moon”, “Zis Boom Bah”, “Good News Tomorrow”, “I’ve Learned to Smile Again”. Dir. William Nigh

Night club hat-check girl saves a tramp from drowning, but he turns out to be a millionaire. He sets her up in luxury in return, and her boyfriend begins to suspect that something more is going on. Songs include: “Love Me”, “Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief”, “I’m a Square in the Social Circle” & more. Dir. Hal Walker

Texas towns vying for business plan competing carnivals, hiring rival press agents who eventually fall in love. Songs include: “Twinkle Twinkle Little Song”, “Let’s Have Another”, “Little Odd Rhythm”. Produced by Boris Petroff, Written by Samuel Fuller. Dir. Boris Petroff

Semi-biograghy of composer Stephen Foster, from his early studies for the clergy and his songwriting success just before the Civil War, to his eventual death in drunken poverty. Songs include “Oh Susanna”, “My Old Kentucky Home”, & “Swanee River”. Dir. Joseph Santley

In this British costume musical, Carol Raye plays Empress Maria, a young woman of noble blood who has fallen in love with Count Franz Von Hofer (Peter Graves), one of the men assigned to guard her. Maria’s guardians attempt to dissuade her interest in Franz because of his reputation as a Casanova, and when Franz is discovered in a playful conversation with Cenci Prohaska (Patricia Medina), they are convinced that their assumptions are correct. When Maria learns of Franz’s behavior, she disguises herself as Cenci for an upcoming costume ball with the hopes of catching Franz in a disloyal act. Waltz Time also features a guest appearance by the celebrated operatic vocalist Richard Tauber, who sings two numbers; it was one of Tauber’s final screen appearances, as he passed on in early 1948. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The captain of the Last Showboat on the Mississippi accidentally picks up a shipment of whiskey and is mistaken for a bootlegger by two con artists, who plan to hijack the booze. Songs include: “You ain’t Right With The Lord”, “Dixie Showboat”, “No, No, No”, “If It’s a Dream”, and more. Dir. William Christy Cabanne

Rambeau runs a boardinghouse for has-been actors, which is turned upsidedown when her daughter visits unexpectedly. Songs include: “Love Is the Thing”, “I Was Taken by Storm”, “Let’s Be Frivolous”, & “Martinique.” Dir. William Nigh