Brad Taylor Movies
Republic Pictures expected great things from this handsome, dimpled leading man, whom the studio placed under contract in April of 1944. He had been going nowhere at Columbia under the name of Stanley Brown, playing mostly young villains in Westerns, but the change of moniker and a starring role opposite vivacious Ruth Terry in the musical Sing, Neighbor, Sing, a typically cornpone Republic offering that also featured Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys, promised a brighter future. It was not to be, however; after a few supporting roles, the studio dropped his option and Taylor left films for good. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi- 1944
Definitely no relation to the 1980 Louis Malle film of the same name, 1944's Atlantic City is a tuneful Republic musical, not quite an "A" picture but certainly not a "B". Brad Taylor (who formerly acted at Columbia under the name of Stanley Brown) stars as Brad, an early-20th-century entrepreneur who decides to transform the sleepy oceanside community of Atlantic City, New Jersey into a mecca for vacationers and thrill-seekers. One of Taylor's visionary notions is the creation of a bathing-beauty contest, and that's where prim-and-proper heroine Marilyn Whitaker (Constance Moore) comes in. The plot is essentially an excuse to trot out several venerable entertainers doing their tried-and-true specialties. Guest stars include Belle Baker, Paul Whiteman, Louis Armstrong, Buck & Bubbles, and Joe Frisco, not to mention Al Shean (of Gallegher and Shean) and Gus Van (of Van and Schenck). Also adding to the general frivolity are Jerry "Ahhh, Yes!" Colonna and up-and-coming Dorothy Dandridge. Atlantic City demonstrated that Republic could make a 20th Century-Fox style musical even without Betty Grable. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Constance Moore, Brad Taylor, (more)
- 1945
In this drama, an aspiring playwright gets a job in a New York City restaurant favored by celebrities in hopes of getting a break. Unfortunately, most of them believe that the waiter lacks the talent to make it big. Only an aspiring songwriter, and a former waitress who has become a famous Hollywood radio star, really believe in him. When the ex-waitress drops by the restaurant to say hello, she and the others decide to play a trick on an arrogant producer by making him believe the waiter has written a sure-fire hit. They succeed and the producer puts on the show. The singer gets to be the star. When the show becomes a smash, everyone is surprised. Songs include: "Hitchhike To Happiness," "For You And Me," "Sentimental," and "My Pushover Heart." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Al Pearce, Dale Evans, (more)
- 1944
Brad Taylor, Republic's newest leading man (after a long tenure at Columbia as "Stanley Brown"), heads the cast of the bucolic musical Sing, Neighbor, Sing. Taylor plays wolf-in-sheep's-clothing Bob Reed, who poses as an elderly English psychologist in order to fleece the populace of a backwoods community and woo the pretty young ladies. When the genuine psychologist (Charles Irwin), shows up, Reed is in deep you-know-what, but heroine Virginia Blake (Ruth Terry) loves him anyway. Featured country-western performers include Roy Acuff and His Smoky Mountain Boys, Lulubelle and Scotty, the Milo Twins and Carolina Cotton. Republic specialized in this sort of cornpone fare throughout the 1930s and 1940s, thrilling the hinterlands while aggravating the so-called sophisticates. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brad Taylor, Ruth Terry, (more)
- 1945
Republic's Swingin' on a Rainbow utilizes a plotline that had already done service in several of the studio's previous budget musicals. Would-be songwriter Lynn Ford (Jane Frazee) comes to the Big City, demanding $1000 from bandleader Jimmy Rhodes (Richard Davies). It seems that Rhodes has scored a hit with one of Lynn's songs, which he has plagiarized. While hunting Rhodes down, Lynn meets a personable young man named Steve Ames (Brad Taylor) -- who, unbeknownst to her, is the pen-pal lyricist with whom she's been collaborating for the past year. Former comedy great Harry Langdon makes his final film appearance in a Robert Benchley-esque supporting role; Langdon died while rehearsing a song-and-dance number for the film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jane Frazee, Brad Taylor, (more)
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