The Big City 1948  N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Norman Taurog
Cast: Margaret O'Brien, Robert Preston, Danny Thomas, George Murphy, Edward Arnold, Betty Garrett, Karin Booth, Butch Jenkins, Connie Gilchrist
Three young men, representing Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic faiths, adopt young Midge (Margaret O'Brien) and become her mentors in this musical film.
|  | |
My Sister Eileen 1955  N/R, 106 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: Richard Quine
Cast: Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett, Jack Lemmon, Bob Fosse, Kurt Kasznar, Dick York, Lucy Marlow, Barbara Brown, Horace McMahon, Queenie Smith, Tommy Rall, Henry Slate, Hal March, Kathryn Grant, William Newell
This musical remake of the 1940s' play and film involves two sisters–Eileen (Janet Leigh) and Ruth (Betty Garrett)–who move from Ohio to New York City where they move into a basement apartment. Ruth aspires to be a writer, but her work is turned down by magazine publisher Bob Baker (Jack Lemmon) until he convinces her to move away from fiction and write about her "true" life. Eileen Aspires to be an actress, and now Ruth pretends to be Eileen in her writings, which involve Eileen's misadventures with strange men. It works, and both find fame, fortune, and love. Highlight: Jack Lemmon and Betty Garrett perform "It's Bigger than You and Me." Screenplay by Blake Edwards.
| | |
Neptune's Daughter 1949  N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Edward Buzzell
Cast: Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban, Betty Garrett, Keenan Wynn, Xavier Cugat, Ted de Corsia, Mel Blanc, Mike Mazurki, Joi Lansing
The song "Baby, it's Cold Outside" won the Academy Award for Best Song in this vehicle for Esther Williams about the romance of a swimmer who also designs swimsuits.
| | |
 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.
| | |
Take Me Out to the Ball Game 1949 N/R, 93 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Busby Berkeley
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly, Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold, Jules Munshin, Richard Lane, Tom Dugan, Douglas Fowley, Wilton Graff, Ramon Blackburn, Royce Blackburn, Si Jenks, Joi Lansing, Dick Wessel
This story about the early days of baseball centers on two players –Dennis Ryan and Eddie O'Brien (Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly)–who play for the Wolves, a team owned by K.C. Higgins (Esther Williams). They get into trouble gambling and then work out their financial problems through vaudeville performances during the off-season. Director Busby Berkeley's last film.
| | |
| 1. The Big City (1948)
2. My Sister Eileen (1955)
3. Neptune's Daughter (1949)
4. On the Town (1949)
5. Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
In The News
|
