musicalnovelty

Don't miss one of the funniest shorts ever: "The Happy Hottentots" (1930 - WB/Vitaphone), coming up on TCM late Sunday night/early Monday morning at 4:05 A.M. eastern time (after the movie "Fanny"). Here's more on the short: http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?threadID=141516&tstart=0

Ray; In many ways I agree with you about "Riding High" being better than the original, "Broadway Bill". Not many others have expressed that opinion. Probably the main reason I feel that way is because I saw "Riding High" first and it was already an instant favorite before I ever got to see the original. But at least this is a case in which both versions are good, unlike some remade films.

Terrence: I agree with you about Universal movies...perhaps not everyone's A-list, but usually vastly entertaining. But my period of favorite Universals is about 1938 to 1944 or so. Very little after 1946 interests me. The 1938 to 1946 horror stuff, the Gloria Jean, Deanna Durbin, Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan musicals, the comedies: Abbott & Costello, Hugh Herbert, Leon Errol, etc. Dramatic stuff, even the B-westerns. Everything they put out at that time was fun. Especially the 1941-1942 years...all good! Granted, a lot of it was B-movie stuff, but I feel that the Universals had a polish that I just don't see in other studios' "B" material - the music, the photogaphy, editing, etc. But still, even after saying all that, I think what I'd really like to see more of are Universal pre-code period movies and early talkies. Way too few of those are around.

Okay, I kinda held off for a while, to give someone else a chance. But now I'll submit my guess: Jane Russell again?

scsu1975: Thanks for the nice reminder of a movie I haven't seen in way too long. I think it's time we saw this on TCM with the color part all nicely restored. And you're so right about guys such as Morris Ankrum and Thomas Browne Henry being in so many of these types of films!

Here's one I highly recommend: http://www.elbrendel.com/ In addition to amazingly rare pictures and info on the star for whom it's named, there's also lots of great cool & rare pictures & stuff on such favorites as Joan Blondell, Janet Gaynor, Wheeler & Woolsey, and many others. Also stuff on pre-code films, movie advertising glass slides and lots of other cool topics. And be sure to go back and check out all the older posts, and the comments. .

The movie you're asking about could be "Phantom Lady" (1944 - Universal), although the scenes in a theater may not have been in a movie theater, but a theater with a live show. But anyway, here's info on it: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036260/combined I hope this helps.

Hey guys don't pull all your hair out... or you might have to go to Peter Lorre's island. You know, from the movie that was just shown on TCM the other day - "Island of Domed Men" !!

I also have always liked Rochelle Hudson, and agree that she was very good in the W. C. Fields movie as his daughter. But a slight correction: the movie was "Poppy (1936) not "The Old Fashioned Way". Info on "Poppy": http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028120/combined Bio info on Rochelle: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399955/bio'>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399955/bio'>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399955/bio'>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399955/bio Rochelle's filmography: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399955/ Wouldn't it be nice if TCM could run a day of her films some time, perhaps on her next birthday?

I haven't seen "Thieves' Highway" in years, so I don't clearly recall what music is used where in the movie. But here is a complete listing of all the music that is heard in the movie, in order of appearance, as listed on the 20th Century-Fox music cue sheet, dated May 19, 1949: If you have a copy of the movie recorded you can watch & listen & follow along with the cue sheet listing and probably figure out the tune you're asking about. 1. Twentieth Century-Fox Trademark (Alfred Newman) 2. The Pact (main title) (Arthur Lange) 3. The Kleftman (Greek song - arranged by Florence Hudson Botsford) (used twice) 4. What Did I Do (Josef Myrow and Mack Gordon) 5. I'll Never Be the Same (Matt Malneck, Frank Signorelli, and Gus Kahn) 6. Bye Bye Blackbird (Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon) (used twice) 7. Honey (Seymour Simons, Haven Gillespie, and Richard A. Whiting) 8. Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue (Has Anybody Seen My Girl) (Ray Henderson, Sam Lewis, and Joe Young) 9. If I Could Be With You (Henry Creamer and Jimmy Johnson) 10. The Right Kind (Don George, Charles Henderson, and Lionel Newman) 11. Snuggled On Your Shoulder (Carmen Lombardo and Joe Young) I hope this helps.

I think the guy between Edgar Bergen and Ralph Bellamy is Jack Carson.

Jane Russell?

Could she be Janet Leigh?

I have the TCM (USA) schedules going back to day one (4-14-94) and "The Trial of Mary Dugan" (1929 version) was scheduled for April 20, 1994. But as we well know, sometimes movies are scheduled but then not shown. I didn't have TCM yet at that time, so I guess I have to assume that the movie really was shown. The 1941 remake was also scheduled a few times during TCM's first year, but again, I cannot confirm whether or not it really was shown. Let's hope the reasons these movies have not been on in so many years can finally be cleared up soon and we can get to see them on TCM.

For more info and discussions on the MGM "Dogville shorts" check out this thread on the Shorts forum: http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?threadID=138106&tstart=0 And, Ann Sothern fans, what do you think of the Ann Sothern connection (mentioned in the post from Jan. 24)?

The short film you're asking about is "Sunday Night at the Trocadero" (1937) - MGM. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177265/combined It was one of a series of all-star shorts ("A Galaxy of Stars") made by producer Louis Lewyn for MGM. He had just made seven in Technicolor: Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (1934) Starlit Days at the Lido (1935) Pirate Party on Catalina Isle (1935) La Fiesta de Santa Barbara (1935) Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs (1936) Cinema Circus (1936) Hollywood Party (1937) "Sunday Night at the Trocadero" was the same format, but filmed in black & white. The three singing girls were The Brian Sisters. The singing star was Connee (or Connie) Boswell. Here's where to learn all about the wonderful Boswell Sisters: http://bozzies.com/index.php And check out the story behind the scenes of the relationship between The Brian Sisters and Connee Boswell and memories of working in this MGM short, as recalled by Doris Brian herself: http://bozzies.com/buz/brianSisters.php The short "Sunday Night at the Trocadero" is available as an extra on the DVD of the MGM feature "A Night at the Opera". And of course, it turns up on TCM occasionally.

It sure should have been considered copyright infringement! But that seemed to happen a lot back then. Stations would take parts of popular songs and use them as openings for movie festivals, sports events, local shows, etc. Local Boston station Channel 38 had a show called "Ask the Manager" in the 1970's & 1980's and used the Herbie Mann record of "Memphis Underground" as the opening and closing theme (33 RPM LP played at 45 RPM). They used the Ventures' recording of "Nutty" (a sort of rockin' version of part of "The Nutcracker Suite") as the theme for their Boston Bruins games for many years in the 1970's. Another Ventures song, "The Swingin' Creeper" was used to open their "Bruins Highlights" shows following the games. (Just to name a few examples). Eventually these recordings were replaced with original productions, probably as the copyright owners and/or publishers of the copyrighted selections found out and ordered the stations to stop. Anyone have other examples from their areas?

Anybody who lived in the Boston area in the mid 1960's remember how one of the local TV stations used music from "From Russia With Love" for the opening theme of their late news? It was that cool action music heard about halfway through the movie (I'd go and find my soundtrack album and name the selection... maybe later...) .

Mystery star #4; Shepperd Strudwick, maybe?

I waited a little while before guessing this one, but here goes: is she Marsha Hunt?

I'm not sure of the name of the movie you're describing. But your question reminded me that being a 78 record collector myself, I hate to see scenes in films in which 78 records are broken. I thought I'd list a few other examples: Liberty (1929) - Laurel & Hardy short. Unaccustomed As We Are (1929) - Laurel & Hardy short. Duck Soup (1933) - Marx Brothers feature. Micro-Phonies (1945) - Three Stooges short. The Blackboard Jungle (1955). And I know there are others I'll think of later. Can anyone think of any others? And of course, I hope somebody answers your original question!

There was a short made in 1935 by Warner Bros./Vitaphone called "Keystone Hotel" that attempted to reunite many former Keystone Kops and possibly start a new series. It turned out to be the only one. The idea of a series was abandoned when the stars reportedly demanded too much money. "Keystone Hotel" used to be shown on TNT back before TCM. It's one of many Vitaphone shorts that used to be shown, but we just don't seem to see any more on TCM.

Correct you are! It's Susan Hayward.

Being into 1930's movies not 1970's movies I was unfamiliar with the Mongo reference you said inspired your name. I always thought your name was a reference to the Planet Mongo in the Universal "Flash Gordon" serials (1936, 1938, and 1940). That's the only movie-related Mongo I know. But wherever it came from, so glad you're here! You did a great job on TCM last week, and on everything you do here, too.

Regarding Donald O'Connor's "Me and My Shadow" number I believe his dancing double was Louis DaPron. And, not wishing to pick on Robert Osborne, but in his comments after the movie he made another minor goof. Although the title of the movie was inspired by the hit record by singer Dorothy Shay, she did NOT appear in the movie.