Lillian Russell (1940)
- Starring:
- Alice Faye, Don Ameche, (more)
- Director(s):
- Irving Cummings
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell is the sanitized musical biopic of the legendary (and much-married) 19th century musical comedy star. Discovered in 1880 by bandleader Tony Pastor (Leo Carrillo), Lillian Russell (Alice Faye) wastes no time rising to fame and fortune on the Broadway stage. Along the way, she curries the favor of such eligible bachelors as newspaperman Alexander Moore (Henry Fonda), composer Edward Solomon (Don Ameche), and railroad tycoon Diamond Jim Brady (Edward Arnold). She marries the first two, and has a high old time (albeit chastely) with the third. The story ends with Russell's retirement in 1912, and her reunion with the one true love of her life. The film's hands-down highlight is a timeworn but classic routine involving those two Broadway comedy giants Joe Weber and Lew Fields, both of whom had appeared on-stage with the real Lillian Russell. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 127 mins
Complete Cast of Lillian Russell
- Alice Faye - Lillian Russell
- Henry Fonda - Alexander Moore
- Warren William - Jesse Lewisohn
- Helen Westley - Grandma Leonard
- Ernest Truex - Charles Leonard
- Claud Allister - Arthur Sullivan
- Una O'Connor - Marie
- Elyse Knox - Lillian Russell's Sister
- Hal K. Dawson - Chauffeur
- Robert Emmett Keane - Jeweler
- Tom London - Frank
- Charles Tannen - Reporter
- Alex Pollard - Waiter
- Leyland Hodgson - Hotel Clerk
- Frank Darien - Coachman
- A.S. Byron - Policeman
- Joe Weber - Himself
- Cecil Cunningham - Mrs. Hobbs
- William Haade - Soldier
- Paul McVey - Stage Manager
- William B. Davidson - Grover Cleveland
- Philip Winter - Tenor
- Don Ameche - Edward Solomon
- Edward Arnold - Diamond Jim Brady
- Leo Carrillo - Tony Pastor
- Dorothy Peterson - Cynthia Leonard
- Nigel Bruce - William Gilbert
- Lynn Bari - Edna McCauley
- Diane Fisher - Dorothy
- Joan Valerie - Lillian Russell's Sister
- Charles Halton - Dr. Dobbins
- Harry Hayden - Mr. Sloane, Newspaper Editor
- Ferike Boros - Mrs. Rose
- Milburn Stone - Reporter
- Lew Fields - Himself
- Thaddeus Jones - Mose
- Joseph Cawthorn - Leopold Damrosch
- Eddie Foy, Jr. - Eddie Foy, Sr.
- Robert "Buddy" Shaw - Man
- Paul E. Burns - Soldier
- Irving Bacon - Soldier
- Floyd Shackelford - Valet
- Frank Thomas - Official
- Director(s):
- Irving Cummings
- Writer(s):
- William Anthony McGuire
- Producer(s):
- Darryl F. Zanuck
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