Author Archive: Retro

Stripper Vivian Blaine tries to make the jump to Broadway stardom, but her manager gets jealous when she falls for a writer hired to create her biography, in this lively musical based on a play by Gypsy Rose Lee. With Dennis O’Keefe, Perry Como, Carmen Miranda; songs include “Chico-Chico,” “Dig You Later,” “Red Hot and Beautiful.” Includes “Hubba Hubba Hubba” by Perry Como, as well as many other songs. Based on the play “The Naked Genius” by Gypsy Rose Lee.

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.