 Airplane! 1980   PG, 88 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Cast: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, Barbara Billingsley, Kenneth Tobey, Ethel Merman, James Hong, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lorna Patterson, Stephen Stucker, Jim Abrahams, Craig Berenson
Leslie Nielsen found his niche as a character actor in this parody of the "Airport" disaster movies. When the passengers and its crew get sick from the food, the fate of the plane depends on a combat fatigued pilot (Robert Hays) and his long-lost love (Julie Hagerty) who also happens to be a stewardess on the flight. Great cliches, gags, and sly humor. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Anonymous 01/23/2007 | | Funny, funny, funny from beginning to end! You have to watch it several times to catch all the great gags and one-liners!!! |
|
|  | |
Alexander's Ragtime Band 1938 N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Henry King
Cast: Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, Jack Haley, Jean Hersholt, Helen Westley, John Carradine, Paul Hurst, Wally Vernon
Lots of Irving Berlin songs add to this major production that won an Academy Award for its musical score. The story follows Roger Grant (Tyrone Power) from his classical music training in San Francisco in 1915 through his shift to ragtime and the fortunes of the band he starts. Of course, there is the romantic interest with his lead singer (Alice Faye) and the rival (Don Ameche). The film also received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
| | |
Anything Goes 1936  N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Musical
aka: Tops Is the Limit
Director: Lewis Milestone
Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Charles Ruggles, Ida Lupino, Grace Bradley, Arthur Treacher, Margaret Dumont, Robert McWade, Philip Ahn, Keye Luke
This musical features Cole Porter's songs, and it also has the bonus of Ethel Merman bringing her Broadway role of Rena Sweeney to film. The story revolves around entertainers on an ocean liner. "You're the Top" and "I Get a Kick Out of You" are highlighted in this film.
| | |
The Art of Love 1965  N/R, 99 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Norman Jewison
Cast: James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Elke Sommer, Angie Dickinson, Ethel Merman, Carl Reiner, Jay Novello, Fifi D'Orsay, Pierre Olaf, Miiko Taka, Roger C. Carmel, Irving Jacobson, Naomi Stevens, Renzo Cesana, Leon Belasco
American ex-patriots–aspiring artist Paul Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) and struggling writer Casey Barnett (James Garner)–live together in Paris. Paul's girlfriend Nikki (Angie Dickinson) lives in America but pays their rent so that Paul can work on his paintings in Paris. When Paul is told by his art dealer that his paintings will be more valuable if he is dead, his solution is to fake his suicide, and he and Casey can live off the higher price tags. But, the plan backfires when Casey is suspected of murdering Paul. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Classic 60s Comedy | Anonymous 03/17/2007 | | This is a great film - truly a 60s comedy classic... the bad part is that it is not available as DvD (or even a VHS)... WHY? |
|
| | |
The Big Broadcast of 1936 1935 N/R, 97 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Norman Taurog
Cast: Jack Oakie, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bing Crosby, Lyda Roberti, Wendy Barrie, Henry Wadsworth, Akim Tamiroff, Charles Ruggles, Ethel Merman, Samuel S. Hinds, C. Henry Gordon, Benny Baker, Guy Standing, Mary Boland
This second film in a series of "Big Broadcasts" uses a plot unfolding everyday occurrences at a radio station to showcase radio personalities on the big screen. The station's owner, Spud (Jack Oakie), performs as the announcer on his station's show. The station is on the verge of bankruptcy when George and Gracie (George Burns and Gracie Allen) sell Spud the "Radio Eye" that picks up events and televises them on a viewing screen. Among those captured performing on the "Radio Eye" are Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Amos "N" Andy (Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll), and the Vienna Boys Choir
| | |
Call Me Madam 1953 N/R, 114 min.
Genre: Musical / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Vera-Ellen, George Sanders, Billy De Wolfe, Helmut Dantine, Walter Slezak, Steven Geray, Ludwig Stossel, Lilia Skala, Percy Helton, Charles Dingle, Emory Parnell, John Wengraf, Frank Gerstle
In this film adaptation of Irving Berlin's Broadway musical, Sally Adams (Ethel Merman)–"the hostess with the mostess"–is the U.S. Ambassador to Lichtenburg. While serving as ambassador, Sally falls in love with Foreign Minister Cosmo Constantine (George Sanders). Meanwhile, Sally's press attache, Kenneth Gibson (Donald O'Connor), attracts Princess Maria (Vera-Ellen). Songs of note in this celebrated film include "You're Just in Love" and "It's a Lovely Day Today." An Oscar was received for Best Musical Score.
| | |
 It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World 1963 N/R, 188 min.
Genre: Comedy / Adventure / Drama
Director: Stanley Kramer
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Phil Silvers, Jim Backus, Carl Reiner, Jerry Lewis, Dick Shawn, Terry-Thomas, Jonathan Winters, Edie Adams, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
Buried treasure is the goal of a large group of people who madly race around chasing each other in pursuit of the $350,000 prize. An all-star cast of comedians participates in the chase.
| | |
Journey Back to Oz 1974  G, 88 min.
Genre: Animation / Family / Adventure / Fantasy / Musical
Director: Hal Sutherland
Cast: Liza Minnelli, Milton Berle, Mickey Rooney, Danny Thomas, Rise Stevens, Paul Ford, Margaret Hamilton, Mel Blanc, Ethel Merman, Paul Lynde, Herschel Bernardi, Jack E. Leonard, Larry Storch, Dal McKennon
Liza Minnelli is the voice of Dorothy in this animated film as Dorothy heads back to Oz. Unfortunately, there are still evil forces at work, since the bad witch had a sister (voice of Ethel Merman)–oh my. Sat on the shelf for about 10 years before release.
| | |
Kid Millions 1934 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Cast: Eddie Cantor, Ann Sothern, Ethel Merman, George Murphy, Warren Hymer, Paul Harvey, Edgar Kennedy, Paulette Goddard, Lucille Ball, Stanley Fields
After inheriting a fortune, a kid (Eddie Cantor) from Brooklyn goes to Egypt to claim his inheritance. Lucille Ball is one of the "Goldwyn Girls" in this movie.
| | |
Strike Me Pink 1936  N/R, 99 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Norman Taurog
Cast: Eddie Cantor, Ethel Merman, Sally Eilers, William Frawley, Brian Donlevy, Jack La Rue, Harry Parke, Helen Lowell, Gordon Jones, Edward Brophy
This is a weak Eddie Cantor entry as he plays a mild-mannered tailor who becomes involved with the Mob when he takes on the job of manager of an amusement park.
| | |
 There's No Business Like Show Business 1954 N/R, 117 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe, Donald O'Connor, Dan Dailey, Johnnie Ray, Mitzi Gaynor, Hugh O'Brian, Frank McHugh, Rhys Williams, Lyle Talbot
Filled with Irving Berlin songs, this is a delightful musical about a vaudeville family and their roles in show business.
| | |
We're Not Dressing 1934 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Norman Taurog
Cast: Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ray Milland, Ethel Merman, Leon Errol, Ben Hendricks Jr., Ernie Adams, Stanley Blystone
The guests of rich heiress Doris Worthington (Carole Lombard) are shipwrecked when her yacht sinks off a tropical island. One of the deck hands (Bing Crosby) is the only one who knows rules of survival, and he shows the stranded society set how to find food and shelter.
| | |
| 1. Airplane! (1980)
2. Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)
3. Anything Goes (1936)
aka: Tops Is the Limit
4. The Art of Love (1965)
5. The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935)
6. Call Me Madam (1953)
7. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
8. Journey Back to Oz (1974)
9. Kid Millions (1934)
10. Strike Me Pink (1936)
11. There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
12. We're Not Dressing (1934)
In The News
|
