Perry Como Movies
The son of an Italian immigrants, Perry Como worked as a barber in his Pennsylvania hometown before inagurating his singing career in 1933 with the Ted Weems Orchestra. Rapidly gaining popularity during WWII with his mellow, easygoing ballads, Como was signed to a 20th Century Fox contract, appearing in four films before deciding that the movies weren't for him. He made a successful transition from radio to TV in 1948 as star of The Chesterfield Supper Club. He remained a top-rated video attraction well into the early '60s, most memorably as host of The Kraft Music Hall (1955-1963). So relaxed that it appeared he was about to fall asleep, Como was ideal for the "cool" medium of television. He continued turning out best-selling records throughout his TV career, including Catch a Falling Star, Find a Wheel, and his signature tune Dream Along With Me. After 1963, he starred in the occasional TV special, and in 1970 made a long-overdue return to live performance. Though active into the 1990s, Perry Como never felt the need to return to films, save for his voice-over contribution to 1974's The Odessa File. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Singer and actress Doris Day performs before both the cameras and an adoring live audience in an Emmy-nominated broadcast that originally aired on CBS as The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special in 1971. With special appearances by singer Perry Como and actor Rock Hudson, as well as a collection of songs that include "Secret Love," "Sentimental Journey," and "It's Magic," this television special offers a winning-performance by one of America's most beloved actresses. Deleted scenes and rare outtakes are also included. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Doris Day
The life stories of Broadway tunesmiths Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are prettified for the screen in MGM's Words and Music. Billed fourth, the colorless Tom Drake plays Rodgers, but never mind that: the film belongs to Mickey Rooney, as the dynamic, self-destructive Lorenz Hart. Understandably, Hart's bisexuality is downplayed. According to MGM, his biggest problem in life is that he was never satisfied with his work. We are, however, especially when those great Rodgers & Hart tunes are performed by the likes of Judy Garland, Janet Leigh, Perry Como, Lena Horne, June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Betty Garrett, Ann Sothern, Mel Torme, Allyn McLerie, Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen. The musical highlights include Garland's powerhouse rendition of Johnny One-Note, Kelly's Slaughter on 10th Avenue dance solo, Horne's interpretation of Where or When, Allyson's take on Thou Swell, and, best of all, Rooney's premiere performance of I'll Take Manhattan, which he allegedly had just written on the back of an automobile advertisement! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mickey Rooney, Perry Como, (more)
Doll Face is one of two attempts by 20th Century Fox to make a movie star out of crooner Perry Como (the other was If I'm Lucky). Actually, Como is but a cog in the wheel of the main plot, which involves Doll Face (Vivian Blaine), a stripteaser with artistic pretensions. On the advice of her manager/boyfriend, Mike Hannegan (Dennis O'Keefe), Doll Face undergoes a "refinement" process. The next step for the girl is to write an intellectual autobiography, for which ghostwriter Gerard (Michael Dunne) is engaged. Forget the plot, and concentrate on the production numbers performed with gusto by Blaine, Como, and Carmen Miranda. Doll Face is based on The Naked Genius, a play by Louise Hovick -- better known as striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vivian Blaine, Dennis O'Keefe, (more)
The second of Perry Como's two starring vehicles for 20th Century-Fox, If I'm Lucky is an easygoing remake of 1937's Thanks a Million. Como plays the old Dick Powell role as Allan Clark, an entertainer who is maneuvered into politics by conniving manager Wally (Phil Silvers, in the role originated by Fred Allen). It all begins when Clark, hired to appear at a political rally for bibulous gubernatorial candidate Magonnagie (Edgar Buchanan), wins the hearts of the voters. One thing leads to another, and before long Clark himself is on the way to the governor's chair. With a newly acquired set of scruples, the singer-politico publicly reveals that his backers are crooks, but wins the election all the same! Though the satirical edge of Thanks a Million is muted in the remake, the musical numbers by Perry Como and costar Vivian Blaine help to take up the slack. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Perry Como, Harry James, (more)
The Cole Porter Broadway musical Something for the Boys was brought to the screen by 20th Century Fox with three new non-Porter tunes thrown in. The dated libretto (by Herbert and Dorothy Fields) involves a crumbling Southern plantation which is converted into a home for servicemen's wives. Running the operation are three cousins: Michael O'Shea, Vivian Blaine, and, from the South American branch of the family, Carmen Miranda. When money runs out, the threesome contrive to put on a fundraising show -- which of course looks far too expensive to break even, but since Carmen Miranda's in the picture, who knows. Perry Como makes his movie debut in Something for the Boys singing a handful of pleasant songs, while Judy Holliday shows up in a funny bit as a defense-plant welder with peculiar dental problems. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Carmen Miranda, Michael O'Shea, (more)
