 Cabin in the Sky 1943  N/R, 99 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Ethel Waters, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram, Mantan Moreland, Butterfly McQueen, Willie Best, Kenneth Spencer, John William Sublett
In this, Vincente Minnelli's first feature film, the story comes out as somewhat racist. Gambler Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) succumbs to the charms of a beautiful woman (Lena Horne) while his wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), waits for him to come to his senses.
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Dr. Rhythm 1938  N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Frank Tuttle
Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Carlisle, Beatrice Lillie, Andy Devine, Laura Hope Crews, Sterling Holloway, Franklin Pangborn, Louis Armstrong, Rufe Davis, Fred Keating
Doctor Remsen (Bing Crosby) pretends to be a policeman so that he can guard the lady he loves, Judy Marlowe (Mary Carlisle).
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The Five Pennies 1959  N/R, 117 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Melville Shavelson
Cast: Danny Kaye, Barbara Bel Geddes, Louis Armstrong, Bob Crosby, Harry Guardino, Tuesday Weld, Ray Anthony, Bobby Troup, Shelly Manne, Bob Hope
This sentimental biography of 1920s' coronet player Loring "Red" Nichols (Danny Kaye) features jazz hits of the era. Highlight: Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong's rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In."
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The Glenn Miller Story 1954 N/R, 115 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Anthony Mann
Cast: James Stewart, June Allyson, Charles Drake, George Tobias, Harry Morgan, Frances Langford, Louis Armstrong, Barton MacLane, Irving Bacon, Marion Ross
Trombonist bandleader Glenn Miller was killed in a plane crash during World War II. James Stewart plays the title role of Miller's rise to fame during the big-band era of 1940s' swing music.
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Going Places 1938 N/R, 84 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Ray Enright
Cast: Dick Powell, Anita Louise, Allen Jenkins, Ronald Reagan, Louis Armstrong, Maxine Sullivan
In this musical comedy, based on the Broadway play "Hottentot" about a sporting-goods salesman, Dick Powell plays the salesman, Peter Mason, who tries to win a steeplechase.
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 Hello, Dolly! 1969 G, 129 min.
Genre: Family / Musica / Comedy / Romancel
Director: Gene Kelly
Cast: Barbra Streisand, Walter Matthau, Michael Crawford, Louis Armstrong, E.J. Peaker, Marianne McAndrew, Fritz Feld, Richard Collier, J. Pat O'Malley, Danny Lockin, Joyce Ames, Tommy Tune, Judy Knaiz, David Hurst, Richard Monahan
In this musical version of "The Matchmaker," Dolly (Barbra Streisand) works to unite young couples. She is hired by "half-a-millionaire" Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau) to find him a mate. Dolly is interested in Horace for herself, yet she goes through the superficial motions of finding him a bride. Complications ensue, but, by story's end, Dolly and Horace will live happily ever after. Three Academy Awards were won and four other nominations were received, including Best Picture.
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Here Comes the Groom 1951 N/R, 113 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Frank Capra
Cast: Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Alexis Smith, Franchot Tone, James Barton, Robert Keith, Alan Reed, Walter Catlett, Ian Wolfe, Louis Armstrong
Reporter (Bing Crosby) wants to adopt two European war orphans but must be married before the agency will release the children. So, he sets out to woo his ex-fiancee (Jane Wyman) who has become romantically involved with another man (Franchot Tone). The film won the Oscar for Best Song "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening."
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 High Society 1956 N/R, 107 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
Director: Charles Walters
Cast: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, Louis Armstrong, John Lund, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, Margalo Gillmore, Lydia Reed, Gordon Richards, Richard Garrick
Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly) is a spoiled member of "high-society," but her ex-husband (Bing Crosby) loves and understands her. On the day before her wedding to George (John Lund), news people (Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm) are on hand to report the society news and become involved with the wedding participants. Grace Kelly, "I don't want to be worshipped, I want to be loved."
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A Man Called Adam 1966  N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Leo Penn
Cast: Sammy Davis Jr., Ossie Davis, Cicely Tyson, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra Jr., Peter Lawford, Mel Torme, Lola Falana, Jeanette Du Bois, Kenneth Tobey, Johnny Brown, George Rhodes, Michael Silva, Michael Lipton
Jazz trumpeter Adam Johnson (Sammy Davis Jr.) has many problems: prejudice against Blacks, feeling guilt for an accident that killed his family, a non-caring agent, etc. When the only White member of his band is beaten by racists, it's too much for our hero. A depressing story, but the all-star cast and good music throughout help save it.
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New Orleans 1947 N/R, 89 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Arthur Lubin
Cast: Dorothy Patrick, Irene Rich, John Alexander, Arturo de Cordova, Billie Holliday, Richard Hageman, Marjorie Lord, Shelley Winters, Louis Armstrong
Music reigns supreme in this story of a fictional account of the birth and the following 40 years of jazz. Louis Armstrong and others provide the music, including a Billie Holliday/Armstrong duet.
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Paris Blues 1961 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Martin Ritt
Cast: Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier, Louis Armstrong, Diahann Carroll, Serge Reggiani, Barbara Laage, Andre Luguet, Marie Versini, Moustache, Aaron Bridgers, Guy Pedersen, Helene Dieudonne, Niko, Dominique Zardi
American ex-patriots Ram Bowen (Paul Newman) and Eddie Cook (Sidney Poitier) are jazz musicians living in Paris after World War II. They meet American tourists Lillian (Joanne Woodward) and Connie (Diahann Carroll) and fall in love. Connie convinces Eddie to return to America with her and face his fears of racism. Ram, on the other hand, has last minute doubts about leaving Paris and tells Lillian at the train station that he will not be joining her in America. Backed by Duke Ellington's jazz score, the music includes "Take the A Train," "Sophisticated Lady," "Mood Indigo," "Paris Stairs," and "Nite." The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Musical Score.
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Pennies from Heaven 1936 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Norman Z. McLeod
Cast: Bing Crosby, Madge Evans, Edith Fellows, Donald Meek, Louis Armstrong, John Gallaudet, Tom Dugan, Nana Bryant, Charles C. Wilson, Harry Tyler
The title song, "Pennies from Heaven," was nominated for an Academy Award in this film in which Bing Crosby plays a poor minstrel who befriends an orphan and her grandfather.
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A Song Is Born 1948  N/R, 112 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical
Director: Howard Hawks
Cast: Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Benny Goodman, Hugh Herbert, Steve Cochran, Felix Bressart, Louis Armstrong, Esther Dale, J. Edward Bromberg, Ludwig Stossel, Ford Washington Lee, John William Sublett, O.Z. Whitehead, Ben Weldon, Mary Field
In this remake of "Ball of Fire," musicologist Professor Hobart Frisbee (Danny Kaye) heads a team of professors studying the history of jazz. While they do research, gangster Tony Crow's (Steve Cochran) moll, Honey Swanson (Virginia Mayo), decides that the house where the team of professors are living would make a great place to hide while police search for her to testify at Tony's trial. Honey introduces the professors to popular music, and a good time is had by all–until Tony spoils the party. Lots of Big Band greats are featured and certainly add to the entertainment value of this film. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | mllagers 03/14/2007 | | It's great. Great historical value. |
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When the Boys Meet the Girls 1965 N/R, 110 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Alvin Ganzer
Cast: Sue Ane Langdon, Louis Armstrong, Liberace, Frank Faylen, Harve Presnell, Fred Clark, Connie Francis, Stanley Adams, Joby Baker, Russell Collins
A financially troubled college is saved through the efforts of its students in this over-long film used to show off studio talent.
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| 1. Cabin in the Sky (1943)
2. Dr. Rhythm (1938)
3. The Five Pennies (1959)
4. The Glenn Miller Story (1954)
5. Going Places (1938)
6. Hello, Dolly! (1969)
7. Here Comes the Groom (1951)
8. High Society (1956)
9. A Man Called Adam (1966)
10. New Orleans (1947)
11. Paris Blues (1961)
12. Pennies from Heaven (1936)
13. A Song Is Born (1948)
14. When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965)
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