Jonie Taps Movies
Producer and studio executive Jonie Taps spent most of his career with Columbia Pictures. At one time he was the vice president and executive assistant to studio founder and president Harry Cohn. In Hollywood Taps is remembered for having founded the California branch of the Friars Club with actor George Jessel. A native of New York City and the son of music publisher David Taps, he studied at Syracuse University before entering the music industry and rising to become the general manager of Shapiro-Bernstein Music Publishing Company. He joined Columbia in 1945 to handle the music work for The Jolson Story. Taps retired from the studio in 1974. He spent the rest of the decade working as the California Friars Club's entertainment director producing celebrity roasts for figures ranging from Gene Kelly to Johnny Carson. Taps died of natural causes at age 89 in Santa Fe, NM. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1957
Musical comedy star Betty Garrett goes dramatic big-time in the hostage drama Shadow on the Window. Betty plays Linda Atlas, the mother of seven-year-old Petey Atlas (portrayed by Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers). When Petey witnesses a murder committed by a trio of juvenile delinquents, he wanders off in a state of shock. The three punks (John Barrymore Jr., Corey Allen and Gerald Sarricini) kidnap Linda, who's also witnessed their crime, holding her prisoner to keep the boy from talking -- if and when he recovers. Meanwhile, the authorities launch a frenzied manhunt in search of the catatonic boy, led by Petey's dad, police officer Tony Atlas (Phil Carey). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Philip Carey, Betty Garrett, (more)
- 1956
In this amiable imitation Guys and Dolls, Alan Reed plays a big-time 1920s gangster who is rubbed out by his enemies. In his will, Reed bequeaths his nightclub to chorus girl Lucy Marlow--which doesn't sit too well with Lucy's policeman boyfriend (Richard Long). Frankie Laine plays the tough-but-lovable nightclub manager who first squabbles with Marlow, then falls in love with her. To let us know that the story is all in fun and we shouldn't worry about the ultimate fate of hero and heroine, the film is related in flashback, narrated by Laine. He Laughed Last is directed by Blake Edwards in the buoyant spirit of Edwards' earlier musical-comedy collaborations with director Richard Quine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Laine, Lucy Marlow, (more)
Tyrone Power stars in this tear-jerking biography of the beloved but short-lived pianist and bandleader Eddy Duchin. Boston-born Eddy Duchin (Tyrone Power) moves to New York City to pursue a career as a pharmacist. However, Eddy is also a skilled piano player, and when he meets pretty socialite Marjorie Oelrichs (Kim Novak) who hears him play, she encourages him not to short-change his musical abilities. Marjorie helps get Eddy a job playing at the Central Park Casino; his playing goes over well with the crowd, and Eddy goes over well with Marjorie. Able to support himself full-time with his music, Eddy asks Marjorie for her hand in marriage; she accepts, and soon Marjorie is expecting a child. Tragically, she dies while giving birth to their son Peter; Eddy, shattered by the experience, finds himself unconsciously blaming Peter for Marjorie's passing, and leaves the boy behind with his family and their nanny, Chiquita (Victoria Shaw), while Eddy and his manager Lou Sherwood (James Whitmore) head out for the first of many lengthy world tours. Years later, while serving in the Navy during World War II, Eddy realizes the error of his ways, and begins a long and difficult reconciliation with Peter (Rex Thompson), while falling in love with Chiquita. Eddy and Chiquita marry and budding pianist Peter joins Eddy on stage for an emotional duet; however, Eddy's new contentment with life is cut short when he contracts leukemia. Pianist Carmen Cavallaro dubbed in Duchin's piano parts for non-musician Tyrone Power. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tyrone Power, Kim Novak, (more)
- 1955
Three for the Show is a musical remake of the 1940 comedy Too Many Husbands, which in turn was based on a play by Somerset Maugham. In her next-to-last film, Betty Grable plays Julie, a popular musical comedy stars whose husband Marty (Jack Lemmon) is reported missing in action during WW2. After an appropriate waiting period, Julie makes plans to marry Marty's best friend Vernon (Gower Champion), even though she still carries a torch for her "late" husband. After the wedding, who should show up but Marty, demanding his rights as a husband. At first appalled, Julie eventually begins to enjoy the notion of two husbands. In the original film, the plot was never resolved; in the remake, Marge Champion plays a sidelines character named Gwen, so it's a safe bet that Vernon will lose out to Marty in the Julie sweepstakes. Most of the songs in Three for the Show are old standards, written by such notables as the Gershwin brothers, Gene Austin and Hoagy Carmichael. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Betty Grable, Marge Champion, (more)
- 1955
Blake Edwards made his directorial debut in the bubbly musical comedy Bring Your Smile Along. The story, written by Edwards and his longtime associate-mentor Richard Quine, gets under way when New England schoolmarm Nancy Willows (Constance Towers) heads to New York, there to try her luck as a lyricist. Teaming with aspiring composer Martin Adams (Keefe Brasselle), Nancy pens several hit tunes for crooner Jerry Dennis (Frankie Laine). Martin would like to make his collaboration with Nancy a little more intimate, but she happens to have a fella back home, David Parker (William Leslie). Since David is as likeable as Martin, Nancy really has a problem. Lucy Marlow, who the previous year had shown up briefly in A Star is Born, is "introduced" as comedy-relief character Marge Stevenson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Laine, Keefe Brasselle, (more)
- 1954
Auto mechanic and wannabe race-car driver Eddie Shannon (Mickey Rooney) allows himself to be led perilously astray in Drive a Crooked Road. Responding to the come-hither looks of sexy Barbara Mathews (Dianne Foster), Eddie is inveigled into participating in a bank heist. Things then go from bad to worse to awful for both Eddie and Barbara, victims of circumstance in a larger-scale scheme masterminded by hoodlums Steve Norris (Kevin McCarthy) and Harold Baker (Jack Kelly). Without ever justifying their actions, Drive a Crooked Road manages to engender plenty of audience sympathy for the hapless hero and heroine. The film was written by Blake Edwards and directed by Richard Quine, the same team responsible for such Mickey Rooney comic vehicles as All Ashore and Sound Off! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Dianne Foster, (more)
- 1953
Co-written by director Richard Quine and Blake Edwards, All Ashore has so many excellent individual components that one wishes the sum total was better than it is. Mickey Rooney, Dick Haymes and Ray McDonald play a trio of eternally broke sailors, on shore leave at Catalina Island. Because of his propensity for getting into trouble, Rooney is the drudge of the group. Even so, it is Rooney who stands the best chance of succeeding when all three gobs set their sights on lovely millionaire's daughter Barbara Bates. McDonald's perennial dancing partner Peggy Ryan is on hand for a few musical numbers, while Haymes gets to display his rich singing voice as he woos Jody Lawrance. Highlights include an elaborate "opera bouffe" dream sequence and a running gag involving a pianist with twelve fingers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Dick Haymes, (more)
- 1953
A Big Apple nightclub singer inherits a riverboat from his late grandfather and learns, via flashback, the interesting story of how his granddaddy acquired the craft. When he won a bet during a fight over possession of the boat, the crafty old gambler not only acquired the riverboat but also the rights to the loser's granddaughter. When the singer learns of this he goes to the now-old loser, and with the help of the granddaughter, who has grown into a beautiful and talented young woman, reconciles with him. Together the three decide to turn the rickety old boat into a fabulous showboat. Songs include: "Cruisin' Down the River," "There Goes That Song Again" "Pennies From Heaven" and "Father Dear." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dick Haymes, Audrey Totter, (more)
- 1952
In this musical, a determined young woman with stars in her eyes defies her auntie and heads for Hollywood where she gets a messenger job at a major studio in hope of being discovered. Her dreams are soon realized and she is signed to appear in an upcoming film. Her snooty aunt is appalled and outraged until the picture's stars offer to perform at the aunt's charity ball. Songs include: "There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder" (Dave Dreyer, Billy Rose, Al Jolson), "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson), "She's Funny That Way" (Neil Moret, Richard Whiting), "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" (Harry Barris, Ted Koehler, Billy Moll), "The Last Rose of Summer"(Thomas Moore, R.A. Milliken), "Wonderful, Wasn't It?" (Hal David, Don Rodney), "Girl in the Wood" (Neal Stuart, Terry Gilkyson), and "Pink Champagne" (Bob Wright, George Forrest). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Laine, Billy Daniels, (more)
- 1952
Sound Off stars Mickey Rooney as Mike Donnelly, a brash, obnoxious nightclub entertainer who is taken down a peg or two when he's drafted into the army. When not crossing swords with tough sergeant Crockett (Gordon Jones), Mike has to contend with the poison-pen vitriol of columnist Barney Fisher (Arthur Space). Out of love for pretty WAC lieutenant Colleen Rafferty (Anne James), Mike tries to straighten himself out and adhere to army protocol, but not before a riotous climactic tank chase. Though Sound Off covers familiar comic territory, star Mickey Rooney delivers the laughs with freshness and gusto. The most appealing aspect of the film is the characterization of the clichéd drill sergeant: Gordon Jones is almost lovable as he struggles manfully to get the recalcitrant Rooney to cooperate with Uncle Sam. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Anne James, (more)
- 1951
Pop-music favorites Frankie Laine and Billy Daniels head the cast of The Sunny Side of the Street. Terry Moore plays Betty Holloway, receptionist at a major TV station. Hoping to secure a break for her singer boyfriend Ted Mason (Jerome Courtland), Betty enlists the aid of Laine. Mason's career really takes off when a team of TV writers discover that he's the childhood sweetheart of Gloria Pelly (Audrey Long), the daughter of an important sponsor. For a while, it looks as though poor Betty has lost Ted to Gloria, but there's still a few reels (and production numbers) left to go. Also featured in the cast are TV commercial spokeswoman Toni Arden as herself, and, in a minor role, future Gunsmoke co-star Amanda Blake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie Laine, Billy Daniels, (more)
- 1950
When You're Smiling is distinguished by the presence of several top recording artists of 1950. The wafer-thin plotline concerns the misadventures of Texan Gerald Durham (Jerome Courtland), who arrives in the Big City to learn the ropes of the music business. Durham not only ends up with a recording contract, but also wins heroine Peggy Martin (Lola Albright) in the bargain. So much for the story. The principal selling card of When You're Smiling consists of the guest-star turns by Frankie Laine, Bob Crosby, The Modernaires, The Mills Brothers, Kay Starr and Billy Daniels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jerome Courtland, Frankie Laine, (more)
