Lillian Russell (1940)

 

Lillian Russell - 1940

Coming up next we have 1940's "Lillian Russell", a highly fictionalized biopic about the legendary singer and actress who electrified audiences just before and at the turn of the 20th century.

The film's cast includes Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Henry Fonda, Edward Arnold, Warren William, Leo Carrillo, Helen Westley, Dorothy Peterson, Ernest Truex, Lynn Bari, Claud Allister, Eddie Foy Jr., Una O'Connor, Joseph Cawthorn, Ferike Boros, and Irving Bacon.

Helen Leonard wants to be a famous singer/actress one day.  She delights her family by singing such songs as "Brighten The Corner Where You Are" and "Come Down Ma Evenin' Star".

But it's her rendition of "And The Band Played On" that rockets her to stardom and causes her first theater boss to change her name from Helen Leonard to the ultra chic Lillian Russell.

Lillian has all kinds of success in her new career.  Men want to date her, and women want to copy her.  At the opening of her first show, she sings "Ma Blushin' Rosie".  Later, after she is established on the stage, she performs a full rendition of "After The Ball" for President Grover Cleveland over the telephone with a full orchestra and vocal accompaniment during an intermission.

She is a sensation in both America and Europe.  As her career matures, Lillian sings such emotional songs as "Blue Lovebird", but she never loses touch with songs with which she is most often associated, such as "Waltz Is King/After The Ball".

The film also explores Lillian's various relationships, including her longest one with Diamond Jim Brady, who showers her with gifts and is smitten from the moment he first meets her.

Jim is always sending Lillian presents.  At one show, she playfully scolds him.  "Now, Jim Brady, just look at all these lovely presents you sent me.  A basket of orchids with a diamond necklace and bracelet, American Beauty roses with rubies, gardenias with emeralds, violets with pearls, and a jewel studded bicycle.  Jim, have you lost your mind?" she asks.  He smiles and says, "No, just my heart."

We also watch Lillian's happiness with her husband, Edward Solomon, who wrote the song "Blue Lovebirds" for her.

And a man who always seems to be there for the important moments in Lillian's life finds a special place in her heart as well.

Cast rundown:

   Alice Faye................................Lillian Russell

   Don Ameche............................Edward Solomon

   Henry Fonda............................Alexander Moore

   Edward Arnold.........................Diamond Jim Brady

   Warren William.........................Jesse Lewisohn

   Leo Carrillo..............................Tony Pastor

   Helen Westley..........................Grandma Leonard

   Dorothy Peterson.....................Cynthia Leonard

   Ernest Truex............................Charles K. Leonard

   Lynn Bari................................Edna McCauley

   Claud Allister...........................Arthur Sullivan

   Eddie Foy Jr.............................Eddie Foy Sr.

   Una O'Connor..........................Marie

   Joseph Cawthorn......................Leopold Damrosch

   Ferike Boros............................Mrs. Rose

   Irving Bacon............................Soldier

And that's all for Lillian Russell.  Alice Faye absolutely shines in the title role.  Originally, MGM was slated to do a film about the famous songstress with Jeanette MacDonald in the lead role.  That project fell through and 20th Century Fox picked it up.  Henry Fonda was forced to do this film in order for him to play the lead role in "The Grapes of Wrath".  He intensely disliked the experience.

As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.

Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm (1938)

 

Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm - 1938

1938's "Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm" is our next film.  It features Shirley Temple as the title character as she sings and dances her way into the hearts of the nation as Little Miss America.

The film's cast includes Shirley Temple, Randolph Scott, Jack Haley, Gloria Stuart, Phyllis Brooks, Helen Westley, Slim Summerville, Bill Robinson, William Demarest, Paul Harvey, Franklin Pangborn, and J. Edward Blomberg.

Rebecca Winstead is raised by her stepfather, "Uncle Harry".  With no way to earn money, Harry turns to Rebecca to bring home the bacon.  He signs her up for a radio program that might make her "Little Miss America".  He tells her that this is what they've got to do, because they're landlady locked them out.  "Uncle Harry, why are landladies always doing that to us?" asks Rebecca.

She does sensational when she sings on the radio.  The radio executives want her, but through a mishap, Rebecca gets away without signing any contract.

Not wanting to be burdened by her anymore, Harry takes Rebecca to her mother's family, where she is taken in by her aunt Miranda.

Also living with Miranda is Rebecca's pretty cousin, Gwen.  The two become fast friends.

Miranda vows to give Rebecca a wholesome country atmosphere and family life.  Rebecca is thrilled.  When Miranda tells her to run along and see what she can learn about farming, Rebecca says she's going to go and introduce herself to the chickens.

As she explores the farm, Rebecca comes upon a little piglet stuck in a gate.  She helps him out and tries to send him back to his mother for breakfast.  But he makes a break for it and runs onto the neighbor's property.

Little does she know that the neighbor is none other than Anthony Kent, the radio executive who has been looking for her since she disappeared from the radio studio.  He's also very happy to meet Rebecca's cousin, Gwen.

Rebecca shows off her singing and dancing skills right away.  She dances with Kent's hired man, Aloysius.  The two of them dance and sing to the song "An Old Straw Hat".

When he tries to get Miranda's permission for Rebecca to be "Little Miss America" and appear on the radio, Miranda refuses, saying she doesn't want Rebecca to have anything to do with show people.  Naturally, they are extremely disappointed.

So, the only thing to do is let Rebecca go on the radio behind Miranda's back.  She sneaks out of the house and runs next door to do the show.  The country begins to fall in love with the little girl who sings "Come And Get Your Happiness".

To finish the show, Rebecca sits at the piano and proceeds to sing a medley of "greatest hits", which include "On The Good Ship Lollipop", "Animal Crackers In My Soup", "When I'm With You", "Oh, My Goodness", and "Goodnight My Love".

After the show, Miranda barges in and announces that she's been listening and knows what they're all up to.  But they are all pleasantly surprised when Miranda says how much she enjoyed the program and is willing to let Rebecca continue.

During the course of the evening, Anthony lets Gwen know how much he likes her.

It turns out that Miranda wasn't the only one who heard Rebecca.  "Uncle Harry" heard her as well, and he wants custody.  He shows up with his new wife and a lawyer and demands Rebecca be returned to him.  He realizes what a star and money maker she could be.  Sadly, Rebecca has no choice but to go with him.

Gwen runs next door and asks Anthony for his help.  He's on his way into town anyway, and he's only too glad to do what he can.

Harry has Rebecca all signed up for a rival radio program, "Little Miss Universe".  When it's her turn to go on, she gets a case of laryngitis and can't sing.  (We later learn that this was deliberate.)

Anthony turns up and talks with Harry.  He tells him he will give him $5,000 if he will turn over guardianship of Rebecca to Miranda so she can be with the people who love her most.  Harry is only too glad to get his hands on that much cash.

And Rebecca is very glad to be back with the people she's come to know and love more than anything.

The bonus is that she still gets to perform as "Little Miss America".  She sings and dances to "The Toy Trumpet" with Aloysius as her delighted family watches.

Cast rundown:

   Shirley Temple.................................Rebecca Winstead

   Randolph Scott................................Anthony Kent

   Jack Haley.......................................Orville Smithers

   Gloria Stuart...................................Gwen Warren

   Phyllis Brooks..................................Lola Lee

   Helen Westley..................................Aunt Miranda Wilkins

   Slim Summerville.............................Homer Busby

   Bill Robinson....................................Aloysius

   William Demarest.............................Harry Kipper

   Paul Harvey.....................................Cyrus Bartlett

   Franklin Pangborn.............................Hamilton Montmarcy

   J. Edward Bromberg..........................Dr. Hill

And that's it for Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm.  The title of the film was taken from a book with the same name.  Aside from a girl named Rebecca coming to live with her Aunt Miranda, there are no similarities with the storyline.  Shirley Temple's pig-tailed hairdo which she sports after she moves to the farm made headline news at the time the film was released.

As always, if you wish to leave a comment, please remember our posting rules.