Frankie and Johnnie 1936 N/R, 66 min. Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: John H. Auer, Chester Erskine Cast: Helen Morgan, Chester Morris, Lilyan Tashman, Florence Reed, Walter Kingsford, Cora Witherspoon, William Harrigan, John Larkin
Based on the title song, this is the story of the romance and marriage of cat-house singer Frankie (Helen Morgan) and country boy Johnnie (Chester Morgan). Shortly after the marriage, Johnnie begins fooling around with Nellie Bly (Lilyan Tashman)–an affair that ends in Johnnie's murder.
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Glorifying the American Girl 1929 N/R, 96 min. Genre: Musical
Director: John W. Harkrider, Millard Webb Cast: Mary Eaton, Edward Crandall, Gloria Shea, Dan Healy, Kaye Renard, Sarah Edwards, Eddie Cantor, Helen Morgan, Rudy Vallee, Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., Noah Beery, Irving Berlin
Department store employee Gloria Hughes (Mary Eaton) is in love with fellow worker Buddy Moore (Edward Crandall), but she aspires to perform in vaudeville. One day, Danny Miller (Dan Healy) spots Gloria, they become dance partners, and gain stardom. But, in the process, Gloria leaves Buddy behind. Will Gloria find true happiness without Buddy?
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Marie Galante 1934 N/R, 88 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Henry King Cast: Spencer Tracy, Ketti Gallian, Ned Sparks, Helen Morgan, Sig Ruman, Leslie Fenton, Arthur Byron, Jay C. Flippen, Frank Darien, Stepin Fetchit
Down-on-her-luck Marie (Ketti Gallian) is kidnapped, tossed from a ship, and ends up in the Panama Canal Zone. While working in a dance hall, she meets undercover agent Crawbett (Spencer Tracy) who is investigating a plot to blow up the canal, and she is drawn into the fray. Helen Morgan sings a couple of songs.
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Show Boat 1936 N/R, 113 min. Genre: Comedy / Musical / Drama / Romance
Director: James Whale Cast: Irene Dunne, Helen Morgan, Allan Jones, Paul Robeson, Charles Winninger, Hattie McDaniel, Helen Westley, Donald Cook, Sammy White, J. Farrell MacDonald, Queenie Smith, Francis X. Mahoney, Marilyn Knowlden, Arthur Holh, Charles Middleton
This is the film that first brought Jerome Kern's Broadway musical to the screen. Cap'n Andy Hawk's (Charles Winninger) show boat troupe features married actors Julie and Steve (Helen Morgan and Donald Cook), but when it is revealed that Julie is a mulatto, she is fired, and Steve leaves with her. Cap'n Andy's daughter Magnolia (Irene Dunn) takes over the leading role and is joined by gambler Gaylord Ravenal (Allan Jones) as her leading man. Later, Magnolia and Gaylord leave the show boat dreaming of a perfect life together, but problems lie ahead. Paul Robeson's poignant rendition of "Old Man River" is the highlight of this very good version.
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| 1. Applause (1929)
2. Frankie and Johnnie (1936)
3. Glorifying the American Girl (1929)
4. Marie Galante (1934)
5. Show Boat (1936)
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