The Blue Bird 1940  N/R, 83 min.
Genre: Family / Fantasy
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Shirley Temple, Spring Byington, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, Eddie Collins, Sybil Jason, Jessie Ralph, Helen Ericson, Johnny Russell, Laura Hope Crews, Russell Hicks, Cecilia Loftus, Gene Reynolds, Leona Roberts, Al Shean
In a change of character for Shirley Temple, she plays a little brat, Mytyl, who leaves home with her brother Tyltyl (Johnny Russell) and follow the Fairy Berylune (Jesse Ralph) on a trip through the past, present, and future in search of the Blue Bird of Happiness. But, Mytyl finds that happiness can only be found through unselfishness.
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But Not for Me 1959  N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Clark Gable, Carroll Baker, Lilli Palmer, Barry Coe, Lee J. Cobb, Thomas Gomez, Charles(2) Lane, Charles Tannen, Wendell Holmes, Tom Duggan, Joi Lansing, Hal K. Dawson, Richard Bull, Saverio LoMedico, Bess Flowers
In this remake of "Accent on Youth," theatrical producer Russ Ward (Clark Gable) has been in the business for 30 years and is retiring. When he tells his young secretary Ellie (Carroll Baker) the news, she sends him a note telling him that she loves him. Russ uses the situation to produce a play about a May-December romance and casts Ellie in the starring role. Meanwhile, Russ is entranced by Ellie but struggles over his feelings about their age difference and is torn between Ellie and his love for his wife, Kathryn (Lilli Palmer).
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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.
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Can-Can 1960 N/R, 134 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Maurice Chevalier, Louis Jourdan, Juliet Prowse, Marcel Dalio, Leon Belasco, Nestor Paiva, John Al Neris, Jean Del Val, Ann Codee, Eugene Borden, Peter Coe, Marc Wilder, Jane Earl
In Montmarte during 1896, the Can-Can dance, in which women lift their skirts, is outlawed, but cafe owner Simone Pistache (Shirley MacLaine) is determined to entertain her patrons with Can-Can performances. When the police threaten to close down her cafe, Simone and her boyfriend, French lawyer Francois Durnais (Frank Sinatra), go to court, and Judge Paul Barriere (Maurice Chevalier) supports them. But, policeman Phillippe Forrestier (Louis Jourdan) applies pressure on Simone to close her cafe–until he falls for her, and Simone sees this as the chance to get Francois to marry her. Cole Porter's songs "C'est Magnifique" and "I Love Paris" are highlights of this film.
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 Cheaper by the Dozen 1950 N/R, 85 min.
Genre: Family / Comedy / Drama
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Clifton Webb, Myrna Loy, Jeanne Crain, Betty Lynn, Edgar Buchanan, Barbara Bates, Mildred Natwick, Sara Allgood, Jimmy Hunt, Carol Nugent, Patti Brady, Virginia Brissac, Lovyss Bradley, Benny Bartlet, Betty Barker
This film is based on the true story of the Gilbreth family whose father, Frank (Clifton Webb), is an advocate of work efficiency in raising his family of 12 children who endure a multitude of comedic situations to achieve their father's goal. Frank's wife, Lillian (Myrna Loy), provides balance in the home as they deal with many problems involved in raising their children. In one segment, their oldest daughter, Ann (Jeanne Crain), does not have a date for the school dance, so Frank solves the problem by taking on the role of her date, and he proves to be very popular with her classmates. A sequel to this movie, "Belles on Their Toes," followed in 1952.
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Coney Island 1943 N/R, 96 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Betty Grable, George Montgomery, Cesar Romero, Charles Winninger, Phil Silvers, Frank Orth, Andrew Tombes, Paul Hurst, Phyllis Kennedy, Byron Foulger
Set during the late 1800s, this is an entertaining musical about a nightclub singer (Betty Grable) who is promoted by a hustler (George Montgomery) into a Broadway star.
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 Desk Set 1957  N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Gig Young, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill, Sue Randall, Neva Patterson, Harry Ellerbe, Nicholas Joy, Diane Jergens, Merry Anders, Ida Moore, Rachel Stephens, Shirley Mitchell, Richard Gardner
Everything is running on an even keel in a television station's research department–until Richard Sumner (Spencer Tracy) arrives on the scene to computerize the office. The head of the department, Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn), and her crew fear that they will be losing their jobs, and a battle of wits ensues as Richard and Bunny fall in love. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Funny and Heartfelt | AvidMovieFan 09/22/2007 | | This is a fun movie to watch. The chemistry between Tracy and Hepburn is at its best in this film. Lighthearted and warm. |
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Greenwich Village 1944 N/R, 83 min.
Genre: Musical / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Carmen Miranda, Don Ameche, William Bendix, Vivian Blaine, Felix Bressart, Tony De Marco, Sally De Marco, The Revuers, B.S. Pully, The Four Step Brothers, Emil Rameau, Oliver Blake, Tom Dugan, J. Farrell MacDonald, Judy Holliday
Danny O'Mara (William Bendix) owns a speakeasy in New York City during the early 1920s and is raising money to put on a Broadway show. Unknown to songwriter Ken Harvey (Don Ameche), Danny is adapting Ken's concerto into his musical show. Meanwhile, Ken falls for singer Bonnie Watson (Vivian Blaine) who is the speakeasy's star performer. By story's end, all comes together, and the result is a great show. Songs include "This is Our Lucky Day," When You Wore a Tulip," and "I'm Just Wild about Harry."
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The Jackpot 1950  N/R, 85 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: James Stewart, Barbara Hale, James Gleason, Fred Clark, Patricia Medina, Alan Mowbray, Natalie Wood, Tommy Rettig, Lyle Talbot, Robert Gist
After winning "The Jackpot" on a radio quiz show, Bill Lawrence (James Stewart) finds his anxiety level leaping as he finds new financial complications.
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 The King and I 1956  N/R, 133 min.
Genre: Family / Musical / Drama / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Rita Moreno, Martin Benson, Alan Mowbray, Geoffrey Toone, Terry Saunders, Rex Thompson, Carlos Rivas, Patrick Adiarte, Marni Nixon, Charles Irwin, Jocelyn Lew, Leonard Strong, Stephanie Pond-Smith
This lavish Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, adapted from the stage, has become a classic. It is the story of Anna (Deborah Kerr and singing voice of Marni Nixon) who goes to Siam to teach the King's (Yul Brynner) children. At first, Anna and the King do not get along, but when they perform their dance number to "Shall We Dance?" there is more than a small hint of romance. Brynner won an Oscar for his portrayal of the King. The film won four other Oscars and was nominated for an additional four, including Best Picture, Actress (Kerr), and Director.
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The Little Princess 1939 N/R, 95 min.
Genre: Family / Comedy / Drama / Musical
Director: Walter Lang, William A. Seiter
Cast: Shirley Temple, Richard Greene, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Cesar Romero, Arthur Treacher, Sybil Jason, Miles Mander, E.E. Clive, Mary Nash, Marcia Mae Jones, Beryl Mercer, Deidre Gale, Ira Stevens, Eily Malyon
Sara Crewe (Shirley Temple) is left in an exclusive boarding school in England when her father Captain Reginald Crew (Ian Hunter) marches off to serve in the Boer War. After it is reported that he is killed in action, Sara is left penniless and must work as a servant–until her father returns alive.
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Love Before Breakfast 1936 N/R, 70 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Carole Lombard, Preston Foster, Cesar Romero, Janet Beecher, Betty Lawford, Richard Carle, Bert Roach, Forrester Harvey, Ed Barton, Dennis O'Keefe, Robert Kent, Sammee Tong
Scott Miller (Preston Foster) and Bill Wadsworth (Cesar Romero) are both in love with Kay Colby (Carole Lombard), and, to get rid of Bill in the competition, Scott gives Bill a job running the company's business in Japan. Then, he arranges for the beautiful Contessa Janie Campanella (Betty Lawford) to sail on the same ship that Bill is taking to Japan. Romance blooms, but when Kay finds out about Scott's manipulation, she breaks off their relationship. Later, she accepts that his actions were performed in the name of true love, and Kay and Scott marry.
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The Magnificent Dope 1942 N/R, 83 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Henry Fonda, Lynn Bari, Don Ameche, Edward Everett Horton, George Barbier, Frank Orth, Roseanne Murray, Arthur Loft, Hobart Cavanaugh, Pierre Watkin
Country versus city is the theme for this film in which two men (Henry Fonda and Don Ameche) vie for a school secretary's (Lynn Bari) attention.
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The Marriage-Go-Round 1960 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Susan Hayward, James Mason, Julie Newmar, Robert Paige, June Clayworth, Joe Kirkwood Jr., Everett Glass, Ben Astar, John Bryant, Mary Patton
Based on the Broadway play, this is the story of a professor's (James Mason) predicament when a young Swedish woman (Julie Newmar) wants to combine her genes with his in the form of a BABY.
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 Moon Over Miami 1941 N/R, 91 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Betty Grable, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings, Charlotte Greenwood, Jack Haley, Carole Landis, George Lessey, Minor Watson, Fortunio Bonanova, Robert Greig
In this entertaining film, three fortune-hunting sisters (Betty Grable, Charlotte Greenwood, and Carol Landis) find Miami to be the optimum place in their search for wealthy husbands.
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Mother Wore Tights 1947 N/R, 107 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Betty Grable, Dan Dailey, Mona Freeman, Connie Marshall, Vanessa Brown, Robert Arthur, Sara Allgood, William Frawley, George Cleveland, Sig Ruman
Vaudevillians Myrtle McKinley (Betty Grable) and Frank Burt (Dan Dailey) mix professional and personal lives as they raise their family in the midst of show business. This film won the Academy Award for Best Musical Score.
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On the Riviera 1951 N/R, 90 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Danny Kaye, Gene Tierney, Corinne Calvet, Marcel Dalio, Jean Murat, Henri Letondal, Clinton Sundberg, Sig Ruman, Joyce Mackenzie, Mari Blanchard
Entertainer Jack Martin (Danny Kaye) is performing on the Riviera and is the look-alike of French aviation hero Henri Duran (also played by Danny Kaye). Jack is persuaded to stand in for Henri at an important party, and the comedy of mistaken identities begins–especially when he is approached by women in the aviator's life (though he is married). Lots of good music and Danny Kaye gags.
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Second Honeymoon 1937 N/R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, Stuart Erwin, Claire Trevor, Marjorie Weaver, Lyle Talbot, J. Edward Bromberg, Paul Hurst, Jayne Regan, Mary Treen, Hal K. Dawson, William Wagner, Robert Kellard, Lon Chaney Jr., Charles Tannen
Irresponsible playboy Raoul McLish (Tyrone Power) was Vicki's (Loretta Young) first husband, but that marriage has ended in divorce, and Vickie is married now to hardworking businessman Bob Benton (Lyle Talbot). While vacationing in Florida, Vicki runs into Raoul, and when Bob needs to return to New York on business, Raoul and Vicki get together. After a series of mix-ups, Bob ends up out of Vicki's life, and she and Raoul plan to marry again and live happily ever after.
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Sitting Pretty 1948 N/R, 84 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Clifton Webb, Robert Young, Maureen O'Hara, Richard Haydn, Louise Allbritton, Ed Begley, Randy Stuart, Willard Robertson, John Russell, Betty Lynn, Charles Arnt, Ken Christy, Grayce Hampton, Mira McKinney, Ellen Lowe
Three spoiled brats get just the nanny they need: prissy Mr. Belvedere (Clifton Webb). This film sparked a series of films about Mr. Belvadere; Clifton Webb was nominated for an Oscar.
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 State Fair 1945 N/R, 100 min.
Genre: Musical / Romance
aka: It Happened One Summer
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes, Vivian Blaine, Charles Winninger, Fay Bainter, Donald Meek, Frank McHugh, Percy Kilbride, Harry Morgan, Jane Nigh, William Marshall, Phil Brown, Paul Harvey, Paul E. Burns
The Frake family–father Abe (Charles Winninger), mother Melinda (Fay Bainter), and young adult children Wayne (Dick Haymes), and Margy (Jeanne Crain)–heads for the Iowa State Fair in this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Adventures and romances abound as they spend their week at the fair. Songs include "It's a Grand Night for Singing," "State Fair," and the Academy Award winning song, "It Might as Well Be Spring." A good remake of the 1933 hit.
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 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.
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Tin Pan Alley 1940 N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Alice Faye, Betty Grable, Jack Oakie, John Payne, Allen Jenkins, Esther Ralston, Fred Keating, Billy Gilbert, Ben Carter, Elisha Cook Jr.
During 1915, songwriters Harry Calhoun (Jack Oakie) and Skeets Harrigan (John Payne) find success when they team up with singing sisters Katie (Alice Faye) and Lily Blane (Betty Grable). Then a rift develops when a new tune is given to a more famous singer, and the sisters leave for England. But Harry and Skeets soon enlist in the army, are shipped overseas, and find Katie and Lily in England. Excellent Academy Award-winning musical score.
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Weekend in Havana 1941 N/R, 80 min.
Genre: Musical / Comedy
aka: Week-End in Havana
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, John Payne, Cesar Romero, Cobina Wright, George Barbier, Sheldon Leonard, Leonid Kinskey, Billy Gilbert, Chris-Pin Martin, Hal K. Dawson, William B. Davidson, Hugh Beaumont
After Nan Spencer's (Alice Faye) ship gets hung up on a reef while she is headed for a Caribbean vacation, the company sends Jay Williams (John Payne) to escort her on a tour of Havana. While enjoying the local hot spots, Nan meets gambler Monte Blanca (Cesar Romero), and before the vacation ends both Monte and Jay become romantically interested in her.
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When My Baby Smiles at Me 1948 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Betty Grable, Dan Dailey, Jack Oakie, June Havoc, James Gleason, Richard Arlen, Robert Emmett Keane, Jean Wallace, George J. Lewis, J. Farrell MacDonald
Dan Dailey was nominated for the Academy Award for his role in this film about a team (Betty Grable and Dailey) who break up but get back together via the stage.
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Wife, Doctor and Nurse 1937 N/R, 83 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Loretta Young, Warner Baxter, Virginia Bruce, Jane Darwell, Minna Gombell, Elisha Cook Jr., Lon Chaney Jr., Stanley Fields, Sidney Blackmer
Doctor Judd Lewis (Warner Baxter) and his new bride (Loretta Young) enjoy his professional success but find trouble in their personal lives.
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With a Song in My Heart 1952 N/R, 117 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Walter Lang
Cast: Susan Hayward, Rory Calhoun, David Wayne, Thelma Ritter, Robert Wagner, Helen Westcott, Una Merkel, Lyle Talbot, Max Showalter, Leif Erickson
While Susan Hayward and Thelma Ritter received Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively, it was Alfred Newman who walked away with the Oscar for Best Musical Scoring in this biography of singer Jane Froman who makes an inspiring recovery following a plane crash.
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| 1. The Blue Bird (1940)
2. But Not for Me (1959)
3. Call Me Madam (1953)
4. Can-Can (1960)
5. Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)
6. Coney Island (1943)
7. Desk Set (1957)
8. Greenwich Village (1944)
9. The Jackpot (1950)
10. The King and I (1956)
11. The Little Princess (1939)
12. Love Before Breakfast (1936)
13. The Magnificent Dope (1942)
14. The Marriage-Go-Round (1960)
15. Moon Over Miami (1941)
16. Mother Wore Tights (1947)
17. On the Riviera (1951)
18. Second Honeymoon (1937)
19. Sitting Pretty (1948)
20. State Fair (1945)
aka: It Happened One Summer
21. There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
22. Tin Pan Alley (1940)
23. Weekend in Havana (1941)
aka: Week-End in Havana
24. When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948)
25. Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937)
26. With a Song in My Heart (1952)
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