Musicals

The following titles are $10.00 each, including shipping in the US. Please add 75 cents per title for Canadian orders. All titles are considered to be in the PUBLIC DOMAIN, and are sold as a collector’s item. Please see the Home page for shipping and payment information. Only titles with “Available on DVD” after the listing are available on DVD.

At War With the Army

This 1950 comedy has Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin singing, dancing and laughing through World War 2. Based on the play by James Allardice. The movie also stars Pilly Bergin and Mike Kellin. Black and White. Available on VCD.

The Benny Goodman Story

Actually, this is only the story of how he started to play, developed swing music, and got engaged. It doesn't say anything else about his life. Despite some of the sets being badly re‑used (the roof top set in Chicago is identical to the one in New York City, and the speak easy in Chicago looks identical to every small club in the country), it really does have a nice period look to it. The film is only slightly romanticized, which makes it seem even more believable. Color. 1955. Available on VCD.

The Great Rupert

Jimmy Durante stars in this Christmas classic about a down and out show business family that suddenly finds riches through a very talented squirrel. Black and white. 1950. Available on VCD.

Hi De Ho

Cab Calloway stars as “himself” (his character is actually a struggling singer with the same name) in this 1947 All American production. He sings a sequel to his hit song, Minnie The Moocher. The film also features Dusty Fletcher, Ida James, Jeni Le Gon, The Peters Sisters, The Miller Brothers & Lois. Black and white. Available on VCD.

The Inspector General

Danny Kaye stars as an illiterate thief that is mistaken for Napoleon’s Inspector General by a group of even bigger thieves. There are also several long musical numbers. 1949. Color. Available on VCD.

Jack and the Beanstalk

This is the Abbott and Costello version of the classic fairy tale. The beginning and ending sequences are in black and white, just like in The Wizard of Oz. 1952. Available on VCD & DVD.

The Lemon Drop Kid

Bob Hope stars as a con artist that has to raise $10,000 by Christmas to pay off a mobster. Features the song Silver Bells. The movie also stars Tor Johnson, William Frawley, Marilyn Maxwell and Jane Darwell. Black and white. 1951. Available on VCD.

Musical Double Features

Each double feature has two movies, and is ONLY AVAILABLE ON DVD.

Vol 1: Wild Guitar - Arch Hall Jr and Nancy Czar star in this story about the seedier side of the Rock ‘N’ Roll business; The Beatniks - A man that can sing wants to escape his gang and become a recording artist. Both are black & white.

The Pajama Game

Doris Day, John Raitt, and Eddie Foy Jr sing, dance, and tell bad jokes in this musical comedy about union workers that are ready to go on strike for 7 ½ cents an hour. Available on DVD.

Pot O’ Gold

Jimmy Stewart stars in this 1941 musical inspired by Romeo & Juliet. He plays a small town music teacher that’s forced to move to the big city when his store goes bankrupt. His rich, music-hating uncle is determined to turn him into a business man, despite Jimmy’s budding romance with a poor singer. Available on VCD.

Rhythm And Blues Revue

Willie Bryant hosts this revue show of blues, jazz, and comedic talent. The cast includes Sarah Vaughn, Freddie Robinson, Nat King Cole, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Martha Davis, Ruth Brown, Lionel Hampton, Faye Adams, Bill Bailey, Herb Jeffries, Mantan Moreland, Joe “Big Daddy” Turner, Little Buck, and Nipsey Russell. I’m not sure if this was originally a theatrical release, or if it was made for TV. 1955. Available on DVD.

Road To Bali

Bob Hope, Bing Cosby and Dorothy Lamour sing, dance, and joke their way to Bali in this color feature (it's also the only color Road film). Carolyn Jones also makes her screen debut in this film. 1952. Available on VCD.

Road To Rio

Bing Crosby and Bob Hope are musicians who have to save an heiress from a hypnotist that’s out to steal her estate. Black and white. Available on VCD.

Rock ‘N Roll Revue

An all-star cast performs comedy routines and early rock numbers (actually, it’s really jazz & blues, but the producers wanted to cash in on the new, “white” music craze.”). The show is hosted by Willie Bryant, and features performances by Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Larry Darnell, Dinah Washington, The Clovers, Leonard Reed, Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Martha Davis, Little Buck, Mantan Moreland, and Nipsey Russell. I’m not sure if this was originally a theatrical release, or if it was made for TV. It ends very abruptly, so there aren’t any end credits. 1955. Available on DVD.

Something To Sing About

James Cagney stars as a song and dance man that makes it big in the movies, only to lose the love of his life. The movie also stars William Frawley, Evelyn Daw, and Gene Lockhart. 1936. Black and white. Available on VCD.

Swing High, Swing Low

Fred MacMurray stars as a musician just out of the army. Now that he has a chance to make it big, his ego grows along with his fame. Can his girlfriend (Carole Lombard) put up with him much longer? For those that are interested, Lombard does her own singing in this movie. MacMurray, however, had his trumpet playing dubbed by The Victor Young Orchestra. Available on DVD.

Swing Parade Of 1946

The Three Stooges (Moe, Larry & Curly) star in this musical comedy about a young woman that’s trying to break into show business at a club owned by a man who’s father is trying to keep the club from opening. Available on VCD.

‘Til The Clouds Roll By

The life of composer Jerome Kern is partially told in this star-studded musical. Some of the singers in the movie are Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Angela Lansbury, Cyd Charisse, Virginia O’Brien, June Allyson, Kathryn Grayson, Dinah Shore, and Tony Martin. Available on DVD.

The Current Clip

I believe the song is called Twist Fever. It is from Wild Guitar, and is available on Musical Double Feature Vol 1