The Belle of New York 1952 N/R, 82 min. Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: Charles Walters Cast: Fred Astaire, Vera-Ellen, Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn, Alice Pearce, Clinton Sundberg, Gale Robbins, Tom Dugan, Henry Slate, Dick Wessel, Roger Davis, Lisa Ferraday, Donald Kerr, Joe Niemeyer, Sandee Marriott
Playboy Charlie Hill (Fred Astaire) promises to reform and change his ways after he meets and falls in love with mission worker Angela Bonfils (Vera-Ellen).
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How to Be Very, Very Popular 1955 N/R, 89 min. Genre: Musical
Director: Nunnally Johnson Cast: Betty Grable, Robert Cummings, Charles Coburn, Sheree North, Fred Clark, Alice Pearce, Orson Bean, Tommy Noonan, Charlotte Austin, Rhys Williams
In this remake of 1934's "She Loves Me Not" and 1942's "True to the Army," two dancers (Betty Grable and Sheree North) witness a Mob killing and then hide out on a college campus. This was Grable's last movie–"musicals" was her thing, but musicals were NOT the thing by the mid-1950s.
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Kiss Me, Stupid 1964 PG, 126 min. Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Billy Wilder Cast: Dean Martin, Kim Novak, Ray Walston, Felicia Farr, Cliff Osmond, Barbara Pepper, Doro Merande, Howard McNear, John Fiedler, Mel Blanc, Skip Ward, Alice Pearce, Bobo Lewis, Tom Nolan, Arlen Stuart
Pop singer and womanizer Dino (Dean Martin) stops at a small town for gas. The weird gas station attendant, Barney (Cliff Osmond), sabotages Dino's car so that Barney and his partner Orville (Ray Walston) can pitch their songs to Dino. They even fix Dino up with Polly the Pistol (Kim Novak)–and the fun begins. This film was condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency upon its release but is tame by today's standards.
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On the Town 1949 N/R, 98 min. Genre: Musical / Adventure / Comedy / Romance
Director: Gene Kelly Cast: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin, Hans Conried, Vera-Ellen, Florence Bates, Alice Pearce, George Meader, Don Brodie, Bea Benaderet, Tom Dugan, Milton Kibbee, Dick Wessel
Three sailors–Gabey (Gene Kelly), Chip (Frank Sinatra), and Ozzie (Jules Munshin)–get 24-hour passes to enjoy liberty in New York City. While on leave, each finds romance. Gabey falls in love with dancer Ivy Smith (Vera-Ellen), Chip finds romance with cabbie Brunhilde (Betty Garrett), and Ozzie (Jules Munshin) becomes enchanted with paleontology student Claire (Ann Miller). And a great 24 hours are enjoyed by all in one of the best musicals ever made. The film won an Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.
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Tammy and the Doctor 1963 N/R, 89 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Harry Keller Cast: Sandra Dee, Peter Fonda, Macdonald Carey, Beulah Bondi, Margaret Lindsay, Reginald Owen, Alice Pearce, Adam West, Stanley Clements, Doodles Weaver, Joan Marshall, Mitzi Hoag, Alex Gerry, Robert Foulk, Forrest Lewis
Tammy (Sandra Dee) is now a nurse's aide for wealthy Annie Call (Beulah Bondi) who has been hospitalized. Dr. Mark Cheswick (Peter Fonda) takes a special interest in Tammy, but his boss, Dr. Wayne Bendley (Macdonald Carey), tells him that his job will be in jeopardy if he becomes involved with her. Meanwhile, head nurse Rachel Coleman (Margaret Lindsay) and Bentley become romantically involved. By story's end, Tammy saves Annie's life, Rachel and Dr. Wayne get together, and Tammy and Dr. Mark find love and hope for a future together. This film marks Fonda's film debut.
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| 1. The Belle of New York (1952)
2. How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955)
3. Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)
4. On the Town (1949)
5. Tammy and the Doctor (1963)
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