This Week On N and CF.

April's Star of the Month and Birthday Girl: Doris Day. Please click picture on side-bar to view Monty's and my, Doris Day Page.

On TCM April 1st: The Long, Long Trailer(1953). The Long, Long Trailer is also a novel by Clinton Twiss from the 1950s, about a couple who buy a new travel trailer home and spend a year traveling across the United States.

On TCM April 2nd- 3rd. Doris Day Movies. The Lullaby of Broadway(1951), By The Light of the Silvery Moon(1953), My Dream is Yours(1949), On Moonlight Bay(1951), Romance on the High Seas(1948), Tea For Two (1950), It's a Great Feeling(1949), Starlift(1951), Lover Come Back(1961), That Touch of Mink(1962), Move Over Darling(1963), Do Not Disturb(1965), The Tunnel Of Love(1958), Lucky Me(1954), Billy Rose's Jumbo(1962).

ON TCM April 4th: Doris Day Movie Day. Midnight Lace(1960), Storm Warning(1951), The Winning Team(1952), Julie(1956), The west Point Story(1950).

Happy Birthday: Gregory Peck. (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) Peck's first film, Days of Glory (1944). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor five times, four of which came in his first five years of film acting: for The Keys of the Kingdom (1944), The Yearling (1946), Gentleman's Agreement (1947) and Twelve O'Clock High (1949). TCM's birthday line up: Days of Glory(1944), The Valley of Decision(1945), The Yearling(1946), The Great Sinner(1949), Hornblower(1951), Man With a Million(1954), The Purple Plain(1954). Please click picture on side bar for more info.

ON TCM April 5th. Doris Day Movie Line up: Please Don't Eat The Daisies (1960), The Thrill of it All(1963), The Glass Bottom Boat(1966), It Happened To Jane(1959), April In Paris(1952).

On TCM April 6th. Edward G. Robinson Movie Day Line Up. Is best remembered for his roles as gangsters, such as Rico in his star-making film Little Caesar and as Rocco in Key Largo. Other memorable roles include Barton Keyes in the film noir Double Indemnity, and as Dathan in The Ten Commandments. Robinson was selected for an Honorary Academy Award for his work in the film industry, which was posthumously awarded two months after the actor's death in 1973. Please click picture on side bar to read past movie reviews. TCM Line Up: I Loved A Woman(1933), The Man With Two Faces(1934), The Whole Town's Talking(1935), The Last Gangster(1937), The Amazing Doctor Clitterhouse(1938), Big Leaguer(1953), Love Me Or Leave Me(1955).

ON TCM April 6th: Doris Day Movie Line Up: Love Me Or Leave Me(1955), Young Man With A Horn(1950), I Will See You In My Dreams(1951).

Happy Birthday: Bette Davis.(April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989). Davis and her mother traveled by train to Hollywood, arriving on December 13, 1930. She was surprise that nobody from the studio was there to meet her. A studio employee had waited for her, but left because he saw nobody who "looked like an actress". She failed her first screen test but was used in many screen tests for other actors. Please click picture on side bar to read past movie reviews.

Happy Birthday: Spencer Tracy. April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) One of the scouts who saw Tracy in, The Last Mile was director John Ford. Ford's next picture was set to be a prison movie, and he wanted Tracy for the lead role. Production company Fox said that he did not photograph well in make-up. Ford convinced them that Tracy did not need it, and he was cast in the movie. Up the River (1930) was the film debut of both Tracy and Humphrey Bogart. After seeing the rushes, Fox offered Tracy a long-term contract. Knowing that he needed the money for his family—his young son was deaf and recovering from polio—Tracy signed with Fox and moved to California. Please click picture on side bar to read past movie reviews.

On TCM April 7th: Rita Hayworth Movie Day. The first dancer featured on film as a partner of both the stars Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, Hayworth appeared in a total of 61 films over 37 years. Please click picture on side bar to read past movie reviews. TCM's Movie Line Up: Gilda (1946), The Lady from Shanghai(1948), Fire Down Blow (1957), The Happy Thieve (1962), The Lady in Question(1940), Affair In Trinidad(1952).

Article of the week is from Rick over at Classic Film TV Blogspot: Movie Monsters A To Z. A fun list of those creepy crawly films you like to watch when you can not sleep..

Actress: Marie Dressler.

Marie Dressler (November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934), she could perform in both drama and comedy with the best of them. Her first role in a film came at the age of 44, in the silent film, Tillie's Punctured Romance(1914).

Tillie's Punctured Romance, is the first feature-length comedy/silent film, which stars Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand, Charles Chaplin, and the Keystone Cops. The film is based on Dressler's stage play Tillie's Nightmare. It is best remembered as being the last Chaplin film, which he did not write or direct himself.

In 1919, during the Actors' Equity strike in New York City, the Chorus Equity Association voted Dressler president. Dressler, was blacklisted by the theater production companies because of her believes.

She was seriously thinking about working as a housekeeper, at a Long Island estate, before screenwriter Frances Marion, knowing that Dressler was down on her luck, insisted that MGM cast her in, The Callahans and the Murphys (1927), which turned out to be the comedy/silent film, which saved her movie career. The film Callahans and the Murphys, was based on a novel by Kathleen Norris. Released in June 18, 1927, but quickly withdrawn after protests by Irish-American organizations. The film is presumed to be lost. The story is about Mrs. Callahan and Mrs. Murphy, a couple of feuding tenement housewives trying to keep control of their children.

Her next performance was a minor part in the film, Breakfast at Sunrise(1927). A story about a rich young lady Madeleine and poor Lussan, who have a fake marriage to spite the people they really want to marry. With beautiful, costumes and Art Deco apartments.

She later performed with Moran in, Bringing Up Father (1946). A comedy film, based on the comic strip Bringing Up Father by George McManus, which is about the adventures of the social-climbing Maggie and her long-suffering husband Jiggs.

Later, she performed in the color film, The Joy Girl (1927). A silent/comedy film starring Olive Borden, based on the novel of the same name by May Edginton. The story is about a young woman named, Jewel Courage, who rejects a suitor, who she thinks is a chauffeur, for a man who she thinks is a millionaire. It turns out the roles were, switched.  Jewel, goes on to do well for herself in business, until she and the real millionaire find themselves together.

Dressler, later returned to MGM to perform in the film, The Patsy(1928), playing the mother of Marion Davies. In a silent/comedy drama film directed by King Vidor.

By this time, Hollywood was converting from silent films to "talkies" which was not a problem for Dressler, who could both be sympathetic and snarky. Early in 1930, Dressler joined Edward Everett Horton's theater troupe in L.A. to play a princess in, The Swan. But after one week, she quit leaving Horton, without a woman to play the part.

Later Thalberg, gave Dressler the role of Marthy, who welcomes Greta Garbo home after the search for her father in the film, Anna Christie(1930). A Pre-Code drama film adaptation of the 1922 play by Eugene O'Neill. It was adapted by Frances Marion, produced and directed by Clarence Brown with Paul Bern and Irving Thalberg as co-producers. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress (Greta Garbo), Best Cinematography and Best Director. Both Garbo and the critics were impressed by Dressler's acting ability, and so was MGM, which quickly signed Dressler to a contract. Although, she was past sixty years old, she quickly became Hollywood’s number one box-office attraction.

She won the 1930-31 Academy Award for Best Actress For her wonderful performance in, Min and Bill.

Dressler was nominated again for Best Actress for her 1932 starring role in, Emma.

Dressler followed with the comedy, Dinner at Eight(1933), in which she played an aging but vivacious former stage actress. Dressler had a memorable scene with Jean Harlow in the film.



Dressler appeared in more than 40 films, and achieved her greatest successes in talking pictures made during the last years of her life. Always seeing herself as physically unattractive, she wrote an autobiography titled, The Life Story of an Ugly Duckling.

The Window (1949).

The Window(1949). Film noir, based on the short story "The Boy Cried Murder" by Cornell Woolrich. The film was directed by Ted Tetzlaff, who worked as a cinematographer on another suspense film, Alfred Hitchcock's, Notorious (1946). Cast: Bobby Driscoll, Barbara Hale, Arthur Kennedy, Ruth Roman and Paul Stewart.

After Tommy, falsely brags about moving to Texas, the landlord of the building has a young couple come up to look at their apartment, in hopes that they will be the new tenants. Tommy, is told by his parents if you "cry wolf", once too often and no one will believe you when you're telling the truth" and sends him to bed.

Tommy, too hot to sleep, decides to take the fire escape on the top floor of his apartment building. There he can see into Joe and Jean Kellersons' apartment. Tommy, watches while Joe searches through the pockets of an unconscious man, who comes to and starts a fight. After.. Joe stabs and kills him, Tommy rushes to his mother and tells her about the murder. Mary, believes that it was only a nightmare and sends him back to bed. Tommy, then remembers that he left his pillow on the fire escape and when he goes to retrieve it sees the Kellersons getting rid of the body.

The next morning, when his father gets home from working the night shift, Tommy tells his father about the Kellersons. Frustrated, His father tells him to stop making up stories.

Tommy, sneaks out of the apartment and goes to the police station. There he tells detectives about the murder. One of the detectives, decides to check out Tommy's story, but first talks to his mother. Mary, tells the detective that Tommy had only a nightmare. The detective decides to go ahead and check out the Kellersons. Posing as a repair estimator, Ross looks around the rundown apartment, but finds nothing suspicious. Mary takes Tommy upstairs to apologize to the Kellersons'.

That evening, Mary receives a telegram from her brother-in-law, informing her that her ill sister needs her. Believing the Kellersons sent the telegram, Tommy begs his mother to take him with her. Tommy, scared and angry writes a goodbye note and is headed out the door when his father unexpectedly returns and locks him in his bedroom.

As soon as Ed leaves, Joe breaks into the Woodrys' apartment, where Tommy blurts out everything he knows and is forced into an alley by the Kellersons. Will Tommy escape with his life?

Child star Bobby Driscoll,(March 3, 1937 – March 1968)  gives a perfect performance, in this very chilling movie about a 9 year old boy who has to live with his fears. I did not recognize him at first as a child actor known for work in cinema and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. He starred in some of The Walt Disney's popular films: Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1948), and Treasure Island (1950). He served as animation model and provided the voice for the title role in, Peter Pan (1953). In 1950, he received an Academy Juvenile Award for outstanding performance in feature films.

That Certain Woman(1937).

That Certain Woman(1937). Drama film written and directed by Edmund Goulding. It is a remake of Goulding's 1929 film The Tresspasser, Gloria Swanson's first sound film. Cast: Bette Davis, Henry Fonda and Anita Louise.

Young widow of gangster Al Haines, Mary Donnell.. is now working under an assumed name as a secretary for a well known wealthy attorney Lloyd Rogers. When a journalist Virgil Whitaker, threatens to expose her past. Rogers and Mary, ask Whitaker not to print the story. Although, she is still worried that the story will still be printed. Mary, thinks it would be best, to turn down wealthy Jack Merrick's marriage proposal.

He eventually, changes her mind and on their wedding night, Jack's father wants the marriage annulled. Mary leaves, hoping that Jack will come after her. She moves in with her friend Amy and hides her son Jackie, from the Merrick family.

Jack, then marries society girl Florence "Flip" Carson, but on their honeymoon, Flip is crippled in an car accident.

Needing help, Mary accepts Rogers financial support, hoping that Mrs. Rogers will not be hurt. Hunter doesn't really care because he's in a loveless marriage. One day, Rogers dies in Mary's apartment and it gets out that Jackie is Jack's child.

Jack visits Mary, to see if the rumors are true and learns that he is Jackie's father. Merrick, Sr. takes legal action to adopt Jackie, but it is Flip, who talks Mary into giving Jackie up.

Years later, Virgil, who has befriended Mary during her troubles, finds her in Monte Carlo and tells her that Flip is dead, leaving Jack free to return to Mary.

What I loved most about the film, was how the women all seemed to care about doing the right thing.

Anita Louise (January 9, 1915 – April 25, 1970), made her acting debut on Broadway at the age of six, and within a year was performing regularly in Hollywood films. By her late teens she was being cast in leading and supporting roles in important film, and was best known for her delicate features and blonde hair.

As her stature in Hollywood grew, she was described as one of cinema's most fashionable and stylish women. Her reputation was further enhanced by her role as Hollywood society hostess, with her parties attended by the elite of Hollywood, and widely and regularly reported in the news media.

Among her film successes were Madame Du Barry (1934), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935), The Story of Louis Pasteur (1935), Anthony Adverse (1936), Marie Antoinette (1938), The Sisters (1938), and The Little Princess (1939).

By the 1940s, she was reduced to minor roles until television gave her more opportunities. In middle age she played one of her most widely seen roles as the gentle mother, Nell McLaughlin, in the CBS television series My Friend Flicka from 1956–1957, with co-stars Johnny Washbrook, Gene Evans, and Frank Ferguson.

The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt(1939).

The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt(1939). Cast: Warren William, Ida Lupino, Rita Hayworth and Virginia Weidler. Directed by Peter Godfrey.

Ex-jewel thief Michael Lanyard, AKA The Lone Wolf, is taken by force to see Spiro, the leader of an espionage ring, who offers to pay him $10,000 to steal the plans for the new anti-aircraft gun. Lanyard, turns down the job and quickly leaves, but not before Spiro steals his cigarettes.

The following day, the War Department safe is robbed and Lanyard's half-smoked cigarettes are found at the scene of the crime. Inspector Thomas, suspects the former jewel thief of the crime and goes looking for him. After talking with the inspector, Lanyard leaves for a cocktail party with Val Carson, the senator's daughter.

Soon after arriving at the bar, Lanyard is lured to Spiro's house, where he is informed that the spies made off with only half of the plans and that they want him to get the remaining plans. Lanyard goes to the inventors house, where he finds the real plans in the safe.

Lanyard, turns the real plans over to Val's father and goes to Spiro's house to get the rest of the plans. Karen, tries to buy the secret plans from Lanyard. Lanyard's daughter Patricia, playing detective, hides in her car. While trailing Spiro, Lanyard is recaptured, but is saved by Patricia, who creates a diversion by stealing the plans. Will the police arrive in time to arrest the spies.

This is the first film I've seen of The Lone Wolf series. Ida Lupino, is very charming who plays a woman who keeps hoping the Wolf will marry her.. Rita Hayworth, as always makes a wonderful femme fatale.

Warren William (December 2, 1894 – September 24, 1948), was nicknamed the "king of Pre-Code". After moving from Broadway to Hollywood in 1931, he reached his peak as a leading man in early 1930s pre-Production Code films. He was a contract player at the Warner Bros. studio and was known for playing heartless types, including the Sam Spade character in the second filming of, The Maltese Falcon, called Satan Met a Lady (1936).

He also played roles, such as, Imitation of Life, in which he played Claudette Colbert's love interest. He also performed as her love interest in the film, Cleopatra. And he was the swashbuckle in, The Man in the Iron Mask(1939).

William was the first to play Erle Stanley a fictional defense attorney Perry Mason on the big screen and starred in four, Perry Mason mysteries. He also played Raffles-like reformed jewel thief in the, The Lone Wolf, beginning with, The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939) with Ida Lupino and Rita Hayworth and he starred as detective Philo Vance in two films in that series, 1934's The Dragon Murder Case and 1939's The Gracie Allen Murder Case.

This Week on N and CF.

On TCM March 25th: Night and the City (1950). Is a film noir based on the novel by Gerald Kersh, directed by Jules Dassin, and starring Richard Widmark and Gene Tierney. Shot on location in London.
Please click here to learn more.

On TCM March 26th: Zero Hour! (1957). When a flight crew falls ill, the only man who can land the plane is afraid of flying. Dir: Hall Bartlett Cast: Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell, Sterling Hayden. Video: full movie.
Please click here to read movie review.

Happy Birthday: Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1899 – April 4, 1983) was a actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the Best Actress category. She had also produced her own films such as the controversial Sadie Thompson and The Love of Sunya. In 1929, Swanson successfully transitioned to talkies with The Trespasser.

However, her popularity fade during the 1930s when she moved into theater and television. Today she is best known for her role as Norma Desmond, a faded silent film star, in the film Sunset Boulevard.

On TCM March 27th:

Beyond the Rocks (1922). In this silent film, a young woman on her honeymoon with her aging millionaire husband falls for a handsome younger man. Dir: Sam Wood Cast: Gloria Swanson, Rodolph Valentino, Edythe Chapman. Please click here to read Silents movie review.



Father Takes a Wife (1941). A famous actress has to win over her ready-made family when she weds a shipping magnate. Dir: Jack Hively Cast: Adolphe Menjou, Gloria Swanson, John Howard. First video of 8.
Please click here to read movie review.

On TCM March 29th. The Man With A Cloak (1951) . A mystery man tries to help a young innocent escape a murderous housekeeper. Dir: Fletcher Markle Cast: Joseph Cotten, Barbara Stanwyck and Louis Calhern.

On TCM March 30th: Thunder Rock (1942). British drama film with supernatural elements, directed by Roy Boulting and starring Michael Redgrave, James Mason, Lilli Palmer and Barbara Mullen.

On TCM March 31st: Sunrise (1927). Directed by F.W. Murnau. With George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Livingston, Bodil Rosing. A married farmer falls under the spell of a slatternly woman from the city, who tries to convince him to drown his wife.
Please click here for Silents movie review.
First video of 9.

Article of the week is from Another Old Movie Blog: Matching Drapes and Couch. Where Jacqueline, talks about the drapes in some of her favorite films.

Round Three Matches: Funny Ladies/Singers and Dancers

Here are the matches for round three. Marilyn Monroe had a tough match with Thelma Ritter but eventually won and will now face Janet Leigh in the funny ladies/girl next door bracket. While top seed Doris Day will take on Debbie Reynolds. Matches begin Thursday and will run through Saturday night.

FUNNY LADIES/GIRLS NEXT DOOR BRACKET FINAL

2 MARILYN MONROE

VS

5 JANET LEIGH

-----------------------------------

SINGERS AND DANCERS BRACKET FINAL

1 DORIS DAY

VS

2 DEBBIE REYNOLDS

Cynthia (1947).

Cynthia (1947). Directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, George Murphy, S.Z. Sakall, Mary Astor.

Louise Bishop, now a grown woman remembers back in time, when she was a freshman studying music at Wyandott College and when she fell in love with baseball player, Larry Bishop. Louise shares with Larry, her dreams of continuing her studies at the Vienna Conservatory. Larry, tells her that he too plans to go to Vienna to study medicine.

The following summer, Louise goes to Michigan, while Larry returns to home, to work at J. M. Dingle's hardware store. When Larry and Louise return to school in the fall, they are married. Louise discovers that she is pregnant they and they both move to Napoleon, to raise their beautiful daughter Cynthia, who is born frail. When, the doctor bills begin to pile up, Louise and Larry realize that they may never be able to return to their studies.

Cynthia, who is now fifteen years old and still frail, is unaware that her parents made many sacrifices for her. Goes to see her voice instructor, Professor Rosenkrantz, who suggests that she audition for the next school opera.

Larry, is still working for Dingle's hardware store and now wants to buy the house that they are renting. Fred, however, refuses to give his endorsement for Larry's bank loan, and Louise is not too happy about the idea, because of her dreams of continuing her studies at the Vienna Conservatory.

Unable, to participate in most of the school activities because of her health, Cynthia begins to feel like an outcast, until her singing attracts the attention of popular, Ricky Latham. Cynthia, lands the leading role in the school play, but Louise and Larry are concerned that she does not have the physical strength to perform in the show. Their fears come true, when Cynthia, comes down with the flu and has to drop out of the play.

After, Cynthia returns to school, Ricky asks her to be his date for the spring dance. Louise secretly allows Cynthia, to attend the dance against her husbands wishes. While, Cynthia has a wonderful time at the ball, Larry learns that he was tricked and gets into an argument with Louise.

The next morning, Larry oversleeps and is late for work, the first time in fifteen years. When Dingle confronts him, he quits his job and plans to move his family to Chicago. Louise, is happy to see that her husband has finally stood up for himself, but Cynthia does not want to move. Will the family decide to stay in Napoleon or follow their dreams?



I just finished watching Cynthia, for the first time. I think Elizabeth Taylor fans, will love this fluffy classic film. Here, at fifteen, she still has got a lot of her girlish charm.

The teenage Taylor, did not really want to continue making films, but her stage mother forced Taylor to practice until she could cry on cue. Her mother watched her during filming, signaling to change her delivery or a mistake.

Taylor, was so poorly educated that she needed to use her fingers to do basic arithmetic. When at age 16 Taylor told her parents that she wanted to quit acting for a normal childhood, however, Sara Taylor told her that she was ungrateful: "You have a responsibility, Elizabeth. Not just to this family, but to the country now, the whole world".

Pre-Code: Men in White (1934).

Men in White (1934) is a Pre-Code film with Clark Gable and Myrna Loy, and directed by Ryszard Bolesławski. Because of the illicit romance and the abortion in the movie. The Legion of Decency claimed the movie as unfit for public viewing.

After working all day at the hospital, intern Dr. George Ferguson, is not really looking forward to a dinner date with his fiancee, Laura Hudson. Because later that night, he may have to return to the hospital for a patient, who needs a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, George, can't keep his date with Laura, whose wealthy father John, is now also patient in the hospital. Things even become more complicated after, George disobeys a senior doctor's orders which saves a young girl's life. George learns that the transfusion patient has died and telephones Laura, who is not too happy with him. Laura, who has had enough of him putting her off, refuses to see him and the devastated George, returns to his hospital dormitory room.

Barbara Dennin, a student nurse, comes to George's room and asks to borrow notes for an upcoming examination. George and Barbara share their doubts about the medical profession and then give into temptation.

Later, hospital board members, concerned over rising operating costs, ask Hudson for a large donation and then promise him that they would give George a prestigious appointment, in appreciation. Hochberg, does not believe that George, would ever agree to it.. George, confides to Hochberg that, because of the problems that he is having with Laura, he is having second thoughts about his hospital career.

Soon after, George learns that Barbara is seriously ill from a botched abortion and needs emergency surgery. On orders from Hochberg, Laura goes with George to help with Barbara's surgery. Just before Barbara falls asleep, she tells George that she loves him, which is over heard by Laura. During the operation, Laura faints and later refuses to see George. Will George ever be able to make it up to Laura?

A very entertaining medical drama with Gable/Loy/Allan, in a romantic love triangle, to spice things up.

Elizabeth Allan (9 April 1908 – 27 July 1990) was an English actress who's most memorable performances were as David's young mother in, David Copperfield and as Lucie Manette in, A Tale of Two Cities and Mark of the Vampire.

By the 1950s, Allan had made the transition to character parts: The Heart of the Matter (1953). In 1958, she appeared as Boris Karloff's wife in The Haunted Strangler.

Round Three Matches: Sophisticates and Drama Queens

Here we go with round three and some excellent matches. This round starts later on tonight and will run through Wednesday night. In the sophisticates bracket, there is a rematch from last year's bracket final between Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. The only difference being Grace is top seed and Audrey is the second seed. Last year Audrey was top seed and Grace was actually seeded 4th. Grace ended up beating Audrey then, so I imagine Audrey wants some payback. In the drama queens bracket, top seed Elizabeth Taylor squares off against 3rd seed Ava Gardner.

SOPHISTICATES BRACKET FINAL

1 GRACE KELLY

VS

2 AUDREY HEPBURN

---------------------------------

DRAMA QUEENS BRACKET FINAL

1 ELIZABETH TAYLOR

VS

3 AVA GARDNER

Silent Actress: Bebe Daniels.

Bebe Daniels (January 14, 1901 – March 16, 1971). Had already performed as a actor by the age of four in a stage production of Richard III. In the US, she had her first leading role at the age of seven and started her film career in movies for, Imperial and Pathe. At 14 she was hired by Hal Roach to star as Harold Lloyd's leading lady in his "Lonesome Luke" shorts. Lloyd, seriously considered marrying her, but.. she wanted a film career and they remained lifelong friends. Unlike.. many actors of her era, the arrival of sound was no problem for her. She had a beautiful singing voice and performed in the films:

Rio Rita (1929). Musical/comedy starring Bebe Daniels and John Boles along with the comedy team of Wheeler and Woolsey. The film is based on the 1927 stage musical produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, which originally united Wheeler and Woolsey as a team and made them famous. The film was the biggest and most expensive RKO production of 1929, but it was also the studio's biggest box office hit until King Kong (1933). Its finale was photographed in two-strip Technicolor. Rio Rita was chosen as one of the ten best films of 1929 by Film Daily.

My favorite Bebe Daniels film, 42nd Street(1933). Musical, directed by Lloyd Bacon with choreography by Busby Berkeley. The songs were written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics), and the script was written by Rian James and James Seymour, with Whitney Bolton (uncredited), from the novel by Bradford Ropes. 42nd Street was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1934.

The story begins during the early days of the Depression, Broadway producers Jones and Barry put on a musical starring, Dorothy Brock. Her "sugar daddy," Abner Dillon is sponsoring the show and behind his back she dating the out of work actor, Pat Denning.

Julian Marsh, is hired to direct, But Marsh is broke as a result of the Stock Market Crash. Marsh, now must make his last show a major hit if he is to have enough money to retire on.

Cast selection and rehearsals begin and newcomer Peggy Sawyer, is dumped until, Lorraine Fleming takes her under her wing.

Rehearsals, continue for five weeks, until the night before the shows opening, when Brock breaks her ankle. Abner Dillon, wants Marsh to cast Ann Lowell, as the star. Annie does not feel ready to perform, but tells Marsh that Peggy Sawyer is.

Marsh rehearses Sawyer, until an hour before curtain time and the show is on with three Busby Berkeley numbers: Shuffle Off to Buffalo, I'm Young and Healthy, and the title song 42nd Street. The show is a success.

Fun Facts:

42nd Street's success permitted a higher budget and more elaborate production numbers in Warner's follow-up film to this one, Footlight Parade.

Her second cousin, Dr. Lee De Forest, "the father of sound", frequented the set of Rio Rita (1929) while she rehearsed. He was instrumental in improving the sound quality of the early talkies and significantly helped her career through his technical expertise.

While making a personal appearance at a Chicago hotel, several thousand dollars' worth of jewelry was stolen from Daniels' hotel room. Gangster Al Capone, a longtime Daniels fan, heard about it and put out the word that whoever stole the jewelry had 24 hours to return it "or else." The jewelry was returned the next day.

Daughter of actress Phyllis Daniels.

Her film The Speed Girl (1921) was made to capitalize on her ten-day jail sentence for multiple speeding tickets. The movie's poster shows her walking out of a jail cell.

Video: Bebe Daniels rehearses the number "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me" from the 1933 Busby Berkeley classic film 42nd Street.