2h | Documentary, Musical | Video 10 March 2009
A two-hour in-depth exploration into the Hollywood musicals of the 1930s.
Writer/Director: Phillip Dye
Stars: Shirley Jones
This is on the same disc as the 1920s.
58 songs in the Soundtracks, including the film source.
63 films listed in the Connections.
I didn't check the completeness or accuracy of these lists. I'm very grateful I didn't have to fill an empty void.
Divided into 2 parts.
Part 1 covers:
- Maurice Chevalier at Paramount
- Jeanette MacDonald at Paramount
- Eddie Cantor at Goldwyn
- Marx Bros at Paramount
- Mae West at Paramount
- Jimmy Durante at MGM
- Bing Crosby with Mack Sennett and at Paramount
- Al Jolson at Warner
- Dick Powell at Warner
- Ruby Keeler at Warner
- Busby Berkeley at Warner
- Astaire & Rogers at RKO (but they use extensive footage of Second Chorus ('40, distr. Paramount) which has no Rogers
- Singing cowboys Roy Rogers, Gene Autry at Republic
- Tex Ritter at Grand National Pictures
- Herb Jeffries
- Race films
- Lena Horne
- Bill Robinson
- Nicholas Brothers
- Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Cab Calloway
Part 2 covers:
- poor 1st attempts at MGM
- James Cagney at Warner, other
- Eleanor Powell at MGM
- Jeanette MacDonald at MGM, Nelson Eddy,
- Allan Jones at MGM
- Marx Bros at MGM
- Grace Moore
- Show Boat at Universal barely mentioned
- Alice Faye at Fox
- Sonja Henie at Fox
- Betty Grable at Fox
- Shirley Temple at Fox
- Jane Withers at Fox
- Bobby Breen at RKO
- Mickey Rooney at MGM
- Deanna Durbin at Universal
- Judy Garland at MGM
- Snow White from Disney
- Wizard of Oz from MGM
- Mickey & Judy & Busby & Arthur Freed
I can't think of anything major that they missed. Maybe next time I should watch this just as I finish watching 30s musicals.
Rated 8.2 (44)
distr. Koch, dir. Dye; 8
