msladysoul Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Some may know, some may not but dear Frances Langford has passed away at 91. The great singer of the war who travelled alongside Bob Hope to entertain the troops and no one did it better and wholeheartedly as Frances Langford. She was a movie star in her own right but her voice was the greaest. She was a little lady but with a big irresistible voice. She filled out in the 40's and became a blonde and more sensual. May she rest in peace. I wish she would of wrote a book. How do you all feel about Frances Langford? A great singer of classic Hollywood? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brackenhe Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Yes, there's several postings on Gone without Fanfare. I'm not too familiar with her except for Yankee Doodle Dandy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kak122760 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 I think it's a shame this isn't getting more press. I didn't hear about it until late last night, so don't know if it made the evening news, but I heard nothing on the morning shows today. In my paper she didn't even rate a picture, just a brief listing on the obituary page. She was pretty much everywhere with Hope during WWII, and I think her passing deserves more recognition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 I love the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy. I'm not sure which part Frances Langford played, but I'm sorry to hear she passed away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
path40a Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 In Yankee Doodle Dandy, Frances Langford was the singer who sang "Over There" - Cagney (Cohan) was on the stage with her in front of some WW I soldiers and the power went out so he asked a few of the men to turn on their truck lights to illuminate the stage. Then, the film goes into a montage of billboards from Cohan's various productions through the years while she sings each of their hit songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardny4me Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 I have only seen 2 of her films, BORN TO DANCE and YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, but I was familiar with her from clips shown of those World War 2 Bob Hope tours. I have always wanted to see a film in which she appeared called HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, maybe now it might be shown somewhere. Oh, and I recall seeing her in a really early Christmas episode of The Honeymooners, where she played herself and was introduced as "Trixie's friend from Vaudeville", and then belted out a few numbers in the Kramden's apartment, LOL. Still despite her longevity and her impressive work with the USO during World War 2, I still think the odds are about 50/50 that she gets mentioned in that In Memoriam segment at next year's Oscars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vecchiolarry Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Hi, Yes, if she gets mentioned on the "In Memorium" section at the Oscars, I'll fall off my chair. Now-a-days, the farther away your fame, the least likely you are to be remembered. Except by people like us, who value talent and selflessness such as Miss Langford showed the WWII troops... Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayresorchids Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 > In Yankee Doodle Dandy, Frances Langford was the > singer who sang "Over There" - Cagney (Cohan) was on > the stage with her in front of some WW I soldiers and > the power went out so he asked a few of the men to > turn on their truck lights to illuminate the stage. > Langford's character is based on Nora Bayes, though not really identified as such (though Cagney does call her "Nora" at one point). AFI catalogue: When "Over There" was introduced by Nora Bayes at Camp Merritt, Long Island (Cohan remembered the location as Fort Myer) in 1917, all the lights went out during the performance, but the show continued after the headlights of nearby parked cars and trucks were turned on the stage. This incident is reproduced in the film, with Frances Langford, billed as "The Singer," performing the song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
path40a Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Thanks for that fascinating piece of trivia, ayresorchids! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deborahwakid11 Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Hi, Larry: You and me both, especially when you consider all of the people who got left off at this year's ceremony. Of course, they did find time to include that director of such cinematic gems as "Beyond the Valley of Dolls" and other soft-porn classics, as well as somebody's agent. I seriously doubt they will remember Frances Langford next year in the In Memorium. I probably won't be watching, anyway. The movies this year have really, really stunk, worse than usual. Actually, my favorite thing with Frances Langford is that hilarious radio show she did, called the "Bickersons." Don Ameche played her husband. The repartee and chemistry between the two was amazing. I bought my mother the radio shows for Christmas, and she and I were laughing our heads off. Simply hilarious. Deborah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vecchiolarry Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Hi Deborah, As you probably know, I count the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as dunces and don't expect much of them. They wouldn't know true talent if they were beaten over the head with it. The "In Memoriam" part is my most critical as these people who've died paved the way and pioneered the motion picture industry. All of them should be honoured. I'm just thankful that Mercedes McCambridge made it onto the list, even though they showed her back and the back of her head looking into a mirror - strange! - but she got on!!!! BTW, did you know that that pontificating, overinflated dork called Roger Ebert wrote "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls"??? and, now he is a 'movie critic' trying to tell us what's a good movie and what's not. Incredible!!!! Hope you're well, Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deborahwakid11 Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Hi, Larry: Pontificating, overinflated dork or POD! I like it. Ebert (ans his late partner) were too big for their britches for years. A lot of the stuff they liked back then was garbage. And, to think, Ebert has also been given a Pulitzer, of which Siskel was was envious of for a long time. They cannot have very high standards for the Pulitzer, if they give an award to a guy who wrote a piece of junk like "Beyond Valley of Dolls." I think I'll refer to good old Roger as POD from now on. Oh, by the way, Larry, I have some more bad news for you. We were discussing about the Walk of Fame and how it takes some people longer than others to get a star (aka Marjorie Main). Well, guess who just got one of those Stars. Why, POD himself, the first of his profession. Egads! I just wanted to break it to you gently. They even had a Roger Ebert day today in Chicago. Makes you kind of nautious, don't you. Getting back to Frances Langford, I remember when Bob Hope died, they had a bunch of tributes to him. One showed him entertaining the troops. Bob goes, "I want you boys to see what you are fighting for." Out came Frances Langford to sing and entertain the boys. She was a real treat, such a delight, nothing at all like Blanche Bickerson. Oh, for the days, when there were real comedies being broadcast on the air, not these so-called comedies filled with a bunch of brain-dead people. Now, we are also tormented with nauseating commercials. You mentioned in another group about the "Notebook." I heartily concur with your feelings on that. Another movie, I think, in that vein, is "Cinderella Man." Other than that, the summer has been a waste of time, movie wise. Take care. Deborah Take care. Deborah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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