Ball of Fire 1941   N/R, 111 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Howard Hawks
Cast: Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Dana Andrews, Richard Haydn, Oskar Homolka, Henry Travers, S.Z. Sakall, Allen Jenkins, Tully Marshall, Elisha Cook Jr., Leonid Kinskey, Dan Duryea, Aubrey Mather, Ralph Peters, Mary Field
Burlesque dancer Sugarpuss O'Shea (Barbara Stanwyck) moves into the home of seven professors, led by Bertram Potts (Gary Cooper), who are writing the "Encyclopedia of Slang." Comedy abounds when the professors learn slang first hand from their new resident and her gangster cohorts. Barbara Stanwyck received an Oscar nomination. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | One of my favorite comedies | 1fatts 03/26/2007 | This comedy, famously modelled on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs places the great Barbara Stanwyck doing the "heart of gold tramp" in the middle of seven ivory tower professors living a monastic life, dedicating themselves to the writing of a new encyclopedia. (You remember written encycolopedias; you used to be able to find them in libraries near the microfiche.)
The professors are a splendid gathering of the best of the character actors of the time: "Cuddles" Sakall, Henry Travers, Hichard Haydn and on and on. Their leader and chief egghead is Gary Cooper playing wonderfully against type. (He did this in a great comic western once: See "Along Came Jones" when it comes along.) The result is funny and charming; and, yes, we really are touched by the innocence of long ago and far away.
For those who don't know the work of the young Barbara Stanwyck, this is a good one to serve as introduction. She really is a ball of fire. |
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 Broadway 1942  N/R, 91 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: William A. Seiter
Cast: George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Janet Blair, Broderick Crawford, Marjorie Rambeau, Anne Gwynne, S.Z. Sakall, Edward Brophy, Marie Wilson, Ralf Harolde
Set during Prohibition, this is the story of murder in the midst of speakeasies, bootleggers, and gangsters.
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 Casablanca 1942 N/R, 104 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorre, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, S.Z. Sakall, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, John Qualen, Leonid Kinskey, Madeleine LeBeau, Dooley Wilson, Joy Page, Curt Bois, Marcel Dalio
One of the best films ever, this Oscar winner for Best Picture stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick, the owner of a Moroccan bar during the German occupation of Northern Africa in WWII. When the love of his life, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), shows up in his joint one night, their old romance is rekindled; but Nazi politics make strange bedfellows. Rick: "Here's looking at you, kid." Another major Academy Award went to Michael Curtiz for his directing. The film also won for Best Writing, and had several nominations, including Best Actor (Bogart) and Supporting Actor (Claude Rains).
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Christmas in Connecticut 1945  N/R, 102 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Peter Godfrey
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, Sydney Greenstreet, Reginald Gardiner, S.Z. Sakall, Robert Shayne, Una O'Connor, Frank Jenks, Joyce Compton, John Dehner, Dick Elliott, Marie Blake, Walter Baldwin, Emmet Smith, Jack Mower
Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck) writes for a homemaker magazine, but, in reality, she does no housework herself. When she is coerced into entertaining a young World War II veteran (Dennis Morgan), Elizabeth must find a phony husband, baby, and house to ensure that her boss (Sydney Greenstreet) does not catch on to her deceptive business practices.
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Cinderella Jones 1946  N/R, 88 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Busby Berkeley
Cast: Joan Leslie, Robert Alda, S.Z. Sakall, Edward Everett Horton, Ruth Donnelly, Elisha Cook Jr., Monte Blue, Johnny Mitchell, Julie Bishop, Hobart Cavanaugh, William Prince, Charles Dingle, Charles Arnt, Chester Clute, Edward Gargan
This Busby Berkeley musical/comedy concerns a not-too-smart girl who must find a smart husband or lose her large inheritance. Where else to go looking than to enroll in college. The songs are good; the script isn't.
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The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady 1950  N/R, 104 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: David Butler
Cast: June Haver, James Barton, Gordon MacRae, Debbie Reynolds, S.Z. Sakall, Gene Nelson, Sean McClory, Jane Darwell, Marsha Jones
In this, Debbie Reynolds' first movie, she plays one of the O'Grady sisters–daughters of a vaudevillian (James Barton). June Haver, in the starring role, plays Patricia O'Grady who has no intention of following in her father's theatrical footsteps. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | barkus 03/06/2007 | | I would like to buy this movie if I could, However I have been unable to find it |
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The Devil and Miss Jones 1941 N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Sam Wood
Cast: Jean Arthur, Robert Cummings, Charles Coburn, Edmund Gwenn, Spring Byington, S.Z. Sakall, William Demarest, Walter Kingsford, Montagu Love, Regis Toomey
In this entertaining comedy, a department store owner, J.P. Merrick (Charles Coburn), pretends to be one of the store's clerks in an effort to solve problems involving the potential for unionization.
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The Dolly Sisters 1945 N/R, 114 min.
Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Irving Cummings
Cast: Betty Grable, John Payne, June Haver, S.Z. Sakall, Reginald Gardiner, Frank Latimore, Gene Sheldon, Sig Ruman, Trudy Marshall, Collette Lyons
Good "oldie" songs abound in this musical biography of the Hungarian-born Dolly sisters, Jenny and Rosie (Betty Grable and June Haver), who hit it big in the New York theater world in the early 1900s.
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In the Good Old Summertime 1949 N/R, 102 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Cast: Judy Garland, Van Johnson, S.Z. Sakall, Spring Byington, Clinton Sundberg, Buster Keaton, Liza Minnelli, Lillian Bronson, Marcia Van Dyke, William Forrest, Joi Lansing, Howard M. Mitchell, Everett Glass, Jeffrey Sayre, Frank Mayo
Remade as a musical from the original film, "The Shop Around the Corner," this delightful story is about music-store clerk Veronica (Judy Garland) whose pen pal is, in reality, her hard-to-get-along-with co-worker Andrew (Van Johnson). In life, they detest each other but do not realize that they are pen pals because they do not sign their real names. They fall in love on paper, but will that love remain strong when the truth comes out?
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Look for the Silver Lining 1949 N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: David Butler
Cast: June Haver, Ray Bolger, Gordon MacRae, Charles Ruggles, Rosemary DeCamp, Lee Wilde, Lyn Wilde, Dick Simmons, S.Z. Sakall, Walter Catlett
This musical biography of the 1920s' singing star, Marilyn Miller, follows her rise from Ohio vaudeville to Broadway. Nonstop songs from the vaudville era substitute for lack of storyline.
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Lullaby of Broadway 1951 N/R, 91 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: David Butler
Cast: Doris Day, Gene Nelson, S.Z. Sakall, Billy De Wolfe, Gladys George, Florence Bates, Anne Triola, Hanley Stafford, Donald Kerr, Bess Flowers
Melinda Howard (Doris Day) is a musical star in London who visits her mother, Jessica Howard (Gladys George), in the United States where she realizes that life has not been very good for Jessica lately.
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Montana 1950 N/R, 77 min.
Genre: Western / Action / Adventure / Romance
Director: Ray Enright
Cast: Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, S.Z. Sakall, Douglas Kennedy, James Brown, Ian MacDonald, Monte Blue, Charles Irwin, Paul E. Burns, Lester Matthews, Tudor Owen, Lane Chandler, Dorothy Adams, Creighton Hale, Kermit Maynard
Morgan Lane (Errol Flynn) is an Australian sheepherder who arrives in the Montana territory where he plans to graze his sheep. But, cattle ranchers–including Maria Singleton (Alexis Smith) and Rodney Ackroyd (Douglas Kennedy)–are already there and lead the neighboring cattlemen against the intruders. Battles ensue. But, later, Morgan and Maria find time for love and agree that cattle ranchers and sheepherders are able to live together.
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My Dream Is Yours 1949 N/R, 99 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Jack Carson, Doris Day, Lee Bowman, Adolphe Menjou, Eve Arden, S.Z. Sakall, Edgar Kennedy, Selena Royle, Franklin Pangborn, Sheldon Leonard
Doug Blake (Jack Carson) is a businessman who "discovers" singer Martha Gibson (Doris Day) and turns her into a star.
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My Love Came Back 1940 N/R, 81 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Curtis Bernhardt
Cast: Olivia de Havilland, Jeffrey Lynn, Eddie Albert, Jane Wyman, Charles Winninger, Spring Byington, Grant Mitchell, William T. Orr, Ann Gillis, S.Z. Sakall
A young violinist (Olivia de Havilland) wins a scholarship and doubt is cast on its credibility because of her relationship with her patron.
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Never Say Goodbye 1946  N/R, 96 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: James V. Kern
Cast: Errol Flynn, Eleanor Parker, Lucile Watson, S.Z. Sakall, Forrest Tucker, Donald Woods, Peggy Knudsen, Tom D'Andrea, Hattie McDaniel, Arthur Shields
After divorcing his wife, Eileen (Eleanor Parker), Philip Gayley (Errol Flynn) wants a second chance for happiness with her.
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Oh, You Beautiful Doll 1949 N/R, 93 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: John M. Stahl
Cast: June Haver, Mark Stevens, S.Z. Sakall, Charlotte Greenwood, Gale Robbins, Jay C. Flippen, Andrew Tombes, Eduard Franz, Dick Rich, Nestor Paiva
In this musical biography, a classical music composer (S.Z. Sakall) couldn't get his songs heard until a publisher of popular songs (Mark Stevens) suggested going toward popular music. His daughter (June Haver), a singer/dancer, was all for this idea. Needing money, the composer used the name "Fred Fisher" and rearranged his music with great success. "Peg O' My Heart" was one of his many hits.
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Romance on the High Seas 1948 N/R, 96 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: Jack Carson, Janis Paige, Don DeFore, Doris Day, Oscar Levant, S.Z. Sakall, Fortunio Bonanova, Eric Blore, Franklin Pangborn, Leslie Brooks
This was Doris Day's screen debut and the song "It's Magic" was the big winner as it described the newfound love between Peter (Jack Carson) and Georgia (Doris Day).
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San Antonio 1945 N/R, 110 min.
Genre: Western / Romance
Director: David Butler
Cast: Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, S.Z. Sakall, Victor Francen, Florence Bates, John Litel, Paul Kelly, Monte Blue, Doodles Weaver, Paul Kelly, Robert Shayne, John Alvin, Robert Barrat, Pedro de Cordoba, Tom Tyler
Cattleman Clay Hardin (Errol Flynn) arrives in San Antonio, Texas, to capture Roy Stuart (Paul Kelly) who he believes leads a cattle rustling gang. Upon arrival, Clay is attracted to dance-hall singer Jeanne Starr (Alexis Smith) who works in the saloon owned by Roy. Clay believes that Jeanne is in with the crooked rustlers, but he falls in love with her. Tensions rise after Clay's friend Charlie Bell (John Litel) is murdered and culminate in a shoot-out at the Alamo.
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Shine on, Harvest Moon 1944 N/R, 111 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: David Butler
Cast: Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Irene Manning, S.Z. Sakall, Marie Wilson, Robert Shayne, William B. Davidson, Will Stanton, Joseph Crehan
The late 1800s/early 1900s duo Nora Bayes (Sheridan) and Jack Norworth (Dennis Morgan), Broadway star and songwriter respectively, are highlighted in this musical. The film follows their rise in the entertainment business, including the bumps along the way.
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Small Town Girl 1953 N/R, 93 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Laszlo Kardos
Cast: Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Ann Miller, S.Z. Sakall, Bobby Van, Robert Keith, Chill Wills, Billie Burke, Fay Wray, Nat King Cole
While serving a 30-day sentence for speeding, Rick Belrow Livingston (Farley Granger) finds his playboy lifestyle changing as he falls in love with Cindy Kimbell (Jane Powell) and changes from his marriage plans with chorus girl Lisa (Ann Miller).
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The Student Prince 1954 N/R, 107 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Richard Thorpe
Cast: Ann Blyth, Edmund Purdom, John Ericson, Louis Calhern, Edmund Gwenn, S.Z. Sakall, Betta St. John, Richard Anderson, Mario Lanza, John Williams
Sigmund Romberg's operetta about a prince falling in love with a barmaid is enhanced by the dubbing of Mario Lanza's voice.
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Tea for Two 1950 N/R, 97 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: David Butler
Cast: Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Gene Nelson, Patrice Wymore, Eve Arden, Billy De Wolfe, S.Z. Sakall, Bill Goodwin, Virginia Gibson, Crauford Kent, Elinor Donahue, Harry Harvey, Pat Flaherty, George Baxter, Herschel Daugherty
Based on the Broadway musical, "No, No, Nanette," this delightful film is about Nan's (Doris Day) bet that she can get money needed for her Broadway musical show by not answering "NO!" for an entire weekend. Nan wins the bet and then learns that the money was wiped out in the Wall Street Stock Market crash. Jimmy (Gordon MacRae) is smitten with Nan and offers her the money. The show does go on and is a hit. The film's songs include "Tea for Two," "I Want to Be Happy," "I Only Have Eyes for You," and "Do Do Do."
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Thank Your Lucky Stars 1943 N/R, 127 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy
Director: David Butler
Cast: Eddie Cantor, Dinah Shore, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Olivia de Havilland, Ida Lupino, Errol Flynn, John Garfield, Dennis Morgan, S.Z. Sakall, Joan Leslie, Ann Sheridan, Hattie McDaniel, Edward Everett Horton, Jack Carson
Movie star Eddie Cantor (Himself) steps in as chairman of the Cavalcade of Stars benefit show and creates so many problems that the producers (S.Z Sakall and Edward Everett Horton) arrange to have him kidnapped. They plan to replace him with his look-a-like, talented bus driver Joe Simpson (also Eddie Cantor), who has been looking for work as an actor but can't get a job because he looks so much like Cantor. Simpson proves to be a hit and is signed to a film contract.
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That Night in Rio 1941  N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy / Musical
Director: Irving Cummings
Cast: Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Carmen Miranda, S.Z. Sakall, J. Carrol Naish, Curt Bois, Leonid Kinskey, Bando da Lua, Frank Puglia, Maria Montez, Lillian Porter, Georges Renavent, Fortunio Bonanova, Eddie Conrad
Baron (Don Ameche) and Baroness (Alice Faye) Duarte head for South America, but, in order to save his business, the Baron must slip out of the country. He hires entertainer Larry Martin (also Don Ameche) to impersonate him and allow time for him to complete the deal. But, Larry treats the Baroness so nicely that when the Baron returns he knows that he must be more attentive to his wife. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Apple 03/06/2007 | My husband and I loved it. The re-mastering of the DVD is wonderful, Don Ameche is in fine voice and Carmen Miranda moves better than most women...ever! She and her bad knock out those Brazilian melodies with great gusto and the Samba is danced much better by her than by the other dancers choreographed by Hermes Pan. Carmen was really the star. She should have had top billing over Alice Faye who floated through the film as if she was stoned. But I heard she was ill around this time. Still...she's beautiful and her voice is lovely and mellow. The costumes by Travis Banton were magnificent and there were many of them...including Carmen Miranda's. Althought they were as usual a bit over-the-top they were more elegant than usual.
I searched and searched thru they DVD and I'll be darned if I could find Maria Montez. Maybe somebody can post here which character she was (I know her name was Inex but never heard it mentioned in the movie.)
All in all it was a very good night of entertainment. |
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Two Guys from Milwaukee 1946 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: David Butler
Cast: Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Joan Leslie, Janis Paige, Humphrey Bogart, Rosemary DeCamp, S.Z. Sakall, Tom D'Andrea, Franklin Pangborn, Lauren Bacall
Thinking that Prince Henry (Dennis Morgan) is really from his hometown of Milwaukee, taxi driver Buzz Williams (Jack Carson) helps to acclimate the prince to New York.
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Wonder Man 1945 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: H. Bruce Humberstone
Cast: Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Vera-Ellen, Donald Woods, S.Z. Sakall, Allen Jenkins, Edward Brophy, Steve Cochran, Otto Kruger, Huntz Hall, Eddie Acuff
Danny Kaye stars as two brothers: Buzzy is a nightclub entertainer who is murdered by gangsters and studious twin Edwin who is called on to help get the killers. The film won an Oscar for special effects and was nominated for the music.
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 Yankee Doodle Dandy 1942  N/R, 126 min.
Genre: Musical / Drama / Romance
Director: Michael Curtiz
Cast: James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf, George Tobias, Irene Manning, Frances Langford, Rosemary DeCamp, Jeanne Cagney, S.Z. Sakall, Eddie Acuff, George Barbier, Douglas Croft, Eddie Foy Jr., Minor Watson
George M. Cohan's biography is the theme of this patriotic musical, and James Cagney is superb in the title role. The story begins when George (Douglas Croft) was growing up as a star in his family's vaudeville show, continues through his years as one of Broadway's great stars, and ends up with him receiving a medal from the President for his contributions to the United States. Cagney won the Best Actor Oscar for his effort. Nominations included Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Walter Huston), and Director. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | KRISTAL ALTIZER 07/04/2009 | | ALL I CAN SAY IS WATCH THE MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS AN EXCELLENT MOVIE |
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| 1. Ball of Fire (1941)
2. Broadway (1942)
3. Casablanca (1942)
4. Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
5. Cinderella Jones (1946)
6. Cynthia (1947)
7. The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950)
8. The Devil and Miss Jones (1941)
9. The Dolly Sisters (1945)
10. In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
11. Look for the Silver Lining (1949)
12. Lullaby of Broadway (1951)
13. Montana (1950)
14. My Dream Is Yours (1949)
15. My Love Came Back (1940)
16. Never Say Goodbye (1946)
17. Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1949)
18. Romance on the High Seas (1948)
19. San Antonio (1945)
20. Shine on, Harvest Moon (1944)
21. Small Town Girl (1953)
22. The Student Prince (1954)
23. Tea for Two (1950)
24. Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
25. That Night in Rio (1941)
26. Two Guys from Milwaukee (1946)
27. Wonder Man (1945)
28. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
In The News
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