Briefly Lyrical

[MilesArcher]

Do you know this one?

Change keys, it really doesn't matter.

It's just a lot of silly chatter.

Hold on, we're coming to the patter 

 

[starliteyes]

Of course I do!  It's This Is a Happy Little Ditty, sung and danced to by Shirley Temple, Bill Robinson, Joan Davis and Bert Lahr in Just Around the Corner.

 

[MilesArcher]

 Somehow I figured you might get this one, Starliteyes.  I bet you were singing along when you watched the clip too.  The songs for this movie were written by Harold Spina and Walter Bullock.  They also wrote songs for another of Shirley's movies, "Little Miss Broadway". 

Good work, Starlit.   Thanks for the clip.  Now it's your turn.

[starliteyes]

The world is young, it's spring again

And I can laugh and sing again

[starliteyes]

Hint:  The song was sung in a movie that was nominated for Best Picture. 

[MilesArcher]

The song is "It's Raining Sunbeams".  It was written by Frederick Hollander and Sam Coslow for the 1937 film "100 Men And A Girl", where it was sung by Deanna Durbin in one of her early pictures.  Here she is:

 

 

 

[starliteyes]

That is correct, Miles.  Now it's your turn.

[MilesArcher]

Thanks.  This next one may be familiar.  Do you know it?

When a girl meets boy,
Life can be a joy,
But the note they end on,
Will depend on little pleasures they will share,
So let us compare. 

 

 

 

[starliteyes]

That's the introduction to How About You?, sung and danced to by Mickey & Judy in Babes on Broadway.  It was written by Burton Lane & Ralph Freed and was nominated for an Oscar.

 

 

[MilesArcher]

Very good, Star.  Judy and Mickey were at the top of their game in this one.  She was 19 and he was 21 when it was released.  Too bad they couldn't stay that age forever.

Thanks for the clip, Starlit.  You're up next.

[starliteyes]

I've got an island, it's very lazy

If I should ever leave it I'd be crazy

[starliteyes]

The star of this movie had made many films, but this was the his/her first musical.

[starliteyes]

The star did his/her own singing, but did not sing this particular song.

[MilesArcher]

The song is "An Occasional Man" which was written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin for the 1955 film "The Girl Rush".  Rosalind Russell was the female star, but this number was performed by Gloria DeHaven with some dancers.  In this clip, you may recognize one of the dancers as Don Crichton.  He later was a lead dancer on many TV shows, including "The Carol Burnett Show". 

 

 

You may have also noticed Marion Lorne playing the ever confused Aunt Clara, years before "Bewitched". 

[starliteyes]

Right you are, Miles, and did you know that Marion Lorne was also a regular, along with Carol Burnett, on The Garry Moore Show?

Your turn to stump us now.

[MilesArcher]

Here's one you probably haven't heard in a while.

Red Riding Hood and Buster Brown
The jumping jack jumped into town
From far and near they’re coming here
Church bells ringing, ringing 

 

 

 

[starliteyes]

From the lyrics, I'm going to guess that it's The Wedding of the Painted Doll, which was sung off-screen by James Burrows while a number of chorus people cavorted around in various costumes onstage in The Broadway Melody, Best Picture Oscar winner of 1929.  The music was by Nacio Herb Brown and the lyrics were by Arthur Freed.  

[MilesArcher]

You are correct Starlit,  It's hard to find a clip, but there's one in this cartoon clip.  

 

 

It was originally shot in color, but only a black and white copy exists.  The preacher in the clip is sure acrobatic.  

Good work, Star.  You're up next.

[starliteyes]

My heart was a desert

You planted a seed

[starliteyes]

Hint:  Although the song was not introduced by him, it became the theme song for a famous comedian.

[Princess of Tap]

The only theme song of a comedian that I can think of is Jack Benny's "Love in Bloom".

It's one of those Robin and Rainger songs written for Bing Crosby in a 1934 Paramount movie, " She Loves Me Not". Bing sang it with Kitty Carlisle.

I love the song and really enjoyed watching Jack Benny on television. It Never occurred to me that the song Had lyrics.

[starliteyes]

Congratulations, Princess, on figuring it out!  It was introduced by Bing Crosby, but became identified with Jack Benny.  Now that you know the song has lyrics, you should be able to enjoy it even more.

Now it's your turn.

[Princess of Tap]

Next:

"Fine at the start, then left with a heart that is breaking"

[starliteyes]

The song is Nevertheless, written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, who were played by Fred Astaire and Red Skelton in Three Little Words, the bio-pic about them.  In the film, it's sung by Fred Astaire, Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Anita Ellis) and Red Skelton and danced to by Fred and Vera.

 

[Princess of Tap]

9 hours ago, starliteyes said:

The song is Nevertheless, written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, who were played by Fred Astaire and Red Skelton in Three Little Words, the bio-pic about them.  In the film, it's sung by Fred Astaire, Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Anita Ellis) and Red Skelton and danced to by Fred and Vera.

 

 Thanks, Star, for the clip. I always liked that song.

Take it away!