Ralph Edwards Movies
Susan Hayward pulls out all the stops, and then some, in this cinemadaptation of singer Lillian Roth's autobiography I'll Cry Tomorrow. In as harshly realistic a manner as possible in the still censor-dominated Hollywood of 1955, the film recounts Roth's rise to fame, her precipitous fall and her tearful comeback. The fact that Roth loves not wisely but too well is only part of the problem (only two of her eight husbands are portrayed in the film); contributing factors to her self-destruction also included her witchlike "stage mother" (Jo Van Fleet) and the pressures of fame and fortune. The principal reason for Roth's fall from the height of fame to the depths of squalor and despair is booze -- at least until she begins to pull herself together with the help of Alcoholics-Anonymous representative Burt McGuire (Eddie Albert). The story concludes with a testimonial staged in Roth's honor on the TV series This is Your Life (the original of which still exists in kinescope form). Having been personally coached by the real Lillian Roth, Susan Hayward does an excellent job of copying the singer's unique style. Though Hayward did not win an Oscar for her performance, she did cop the "Best Actress" prize at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, (more)
- 1954
Host Ralph G. Edwards surprised the famous comic team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in this episode of his popular show, This Is Your Life. Many of Laurel and Hardy's acquaintances from childhood and co-workers from their days at Hal Roach Studios appear and reminisce about their experiences working with the team. The most interesting thing about this episode, though, is that Oliver Hardy clearly does not recognize or remember several of the people he was supposed to have been close to (but graciously doesn't let these people know it), and it is obvious that Stan Laurel is not happy about the whole situation at all. ~ Brian Gusse, Rovi
- 1947
The Broadway musical Beat the Band was boiled down to B-picture terms in this RKO Radio programmer. The plot concerns Damon (Philip Terry), a bandleader who finds himself financially embarrassed when he returns from WW2. In order to earn enough money to reassemble his orchestra, Damon poses as a famed Italian voice teacher. His first pupil is would-be songstress Ann (Frances Langford), whose family fortune figures prominently in Damon's comeback scheme. Ralph Edwards, emcee of the then-popular radio series "Truth or Consquences," provides comic relief as Damon's crooked business manager. The musical highlights include a "hot" arrangement performed in a boiler room by the Gene Krupa Orchestra. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frances Langford, Ralph Edwards, (more)
- 1946
In this WW II romance, a small-time nightclub singer who works in a little Manhattan nightclub has a one-night stand with a handsome fly-boy. The next day, the B-29 pilot is sent to the Pacific and once there, his crew mischievously paints the picture of the singer upon his plane with the words "The Bamboo Blonde" beneath it. The pilot takes off to become one of the most fearsome fighters of the war, earning himself considerable renown back home. Ever the entrepreneur, the nightclub owner sees a chance to make big bucks off of the singer. He succeeds and she becomes famous. Later the pilot returns, but though he wants to be with his Bamboo Blonde he cannot for he is engaged to another -- at least for the moment. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frances Langford, Ralph Edwards, (more)
- 1945
Every so often, RKO Radio got the notion to launch a series of annual musical extravaganzas a la MGM's Broadway Melody and Paramount's Big Broadcast films. Despite the disappointing results of such earlier efforts as Radio City Revels and New Faces of 1937, RKO gamely tried again with 1945's Radio Stars on Parade. The film's ostensible leading actors are played by Abbott & Costello wannabes Wally Brown and Alan Carney, who play a couple of agents attempting to bestow radio stardom upon singer Sally Baker (Frances Langford). Along the way, our heroes stumble into a broadcast of Ralph Edwards' popular comedy quiz show Truth or Consequences, easily the film's highlight. With no budget for new songs, RKO dug up several compositions heard in previous films, notably McHugh-Loesser's "Can't Get Out of This Mood" and McHugh-Adamson's "Don't Believe Everything You Dream" and "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wally Brown, Alan Carney, (more)
- 1942
Victor Mature and Lucille Ball top the star-studded cast of RKO Radio's Seven Days Leave. Mature plays Johnny Grey, an eternally smiling GI who suddenly falls heir to $100,000. There's just one catch: Johnny must marry heiress Terry (Ball), whom he's never met, within a seven-day period. Once this familiar premise has been set up, the film segues into an unending parade of supporting comedians and specialty performers, including Harold Peary (in his traditional "Great Gildersleeve" radio persona), Ralph Edwards (shown hosting his popular airwaves quizzer Truth or Consequences), announcer Charles Victor (likewise emceeing his Court of Missing Heirs radio program), singers Ginny Simms and Marcy McGuire, south-of-the-border entertainer Mapy Cortes, and bandleaders Freddy Martin and Les Brown. Also on tap are a brace of future TV favorites, Peter Lynd Hayes and Arnold Stang. The choreography is by director-to-be Charles Walters, making his Hollywood debut. Seven Days Leave should not be confused with the 1944 RKO Radio "B" Seven Days Ashore. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Victor Mature, Lucille Ball, (more)
