Herb Magidson Movies
Lyricist Herb Magidson started out writing songs for stage revues and musicals. Later his songs appeared in feature films. His song "The Continental" from The Gay Divorcee earned Magidson an Oscar. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1947
In the sixth and final Thin Man whodunit, Nick (William Powell) and Nora Charles (Myrna Loy) look into the mysterious killing of bandleader Tommy Drake (Phillip Reed). The police quickly hone in on the owner of a gambling ship, Phil Brant (Bruce Cowling), who was about to lose Drake's band to a competitor. Also among the many and varied suspects are: Phil's new wife, socialite Janet Thayar (Jayne Meadows); the band's voluptuous vocalist, Fran Page (Gloria Grahame); and the troubled clarinetist, Buddy Hollis (Don Taylor). With the assistance of jive-talking "Clinker" Krause (Keenan Wynn) and the clever terrier Asta, Nick and Nora are soon able to gather all the suspects at the reopening of the floating gaming establishment. In between the skullduggery and the usual wisecracks, Gloria Grahame performs a sultry version of Herb Magidson and Ben Oakland's "You're Not So Easy to Forget." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Ames, Warner Anderson, (more)
- 1940
The vice squad takes on escort services in this crime drama. Two services are depicted. One escort agency is legitimate, offering fine upstanding girls with no funny business. The other agency has a more tawdry reputation (though the none of the women there are prostitutes) and makes most of its money by blackmailing clients. The trouble begins when a basically good woman finds herself mixed up with the bad escort service. Fortunately, an investigating officer is looking into both of them and saves her from a criminal's life and fate. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anita Louise, Roger Pryor, (more)
- 1937
In this musical comedy, an irresponsible young heir is betrothed to the singing daughter of a wealthy matron. Unfortunately, the willful young is not even slightly interested in her "fiance," preferring the attentions of another instead. Unfortunately, the other man has a big problem. Though he really loves the girl, he will lose his $3 million inheritance if he marries her before the age of 30. Complicating matters is the private detective assigned to keep him from getting to involved with women such as the heroine. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Penner, Gene Raymond, (more)
- 1937
Theatrical agents Russ Matthews (Ralph Bellamy) and Al Tinker (Robert Armstrong) try to make a quick buck by promoting bibuolous vaudeville fortune-teller Dr. Fothergill (Raymond Walburn) as a genuine prophet. Amazingly, Fothergill's predictions come true, and soon his advice is being solicited by such shady types as gangster boss Cronin (Ed Pawley). This not only threatens the future existence of Matthews and Tinker, but also puts a crimp in Matthews' romance with girl reporter Carol Wilson (Betty Furness). The vaudeville and radio background of It Can't Last Forever affords several opportunities to inject specialty acts into the storyline. Among these is a personable trio of juvenile singers called the Dandridge Sisters, featuring 14-year-old Dorothy Dandridge in one of her first screen roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Bellamy, Betty Furness, (more)
- 1936
Previously filmed in 1928, the old Willard Mack stage melodrama The Noose was updated and streamlined in 1936 as I'd Give My Life. Hoping that his son Nick (Tom Brown) will follow in his footsteps, jaded gangster-gambler Buck Gordon (Robert Gleckler) arranges to have the boy thrown into reform school. The kid is saved from a life of crime when Buck's ex-wife (Janet Beecher) marries Governor Bancroft (Sir Guy Standing). Enraged that his plans have been thwarted, Buck blackmails his former wife, threatening to reveal her shady past to her present husband. Rushing to his mother's defense, Nick shoots and kills Buck then refuses to explain his motives -- even as he is sentenced to hang for his crime. Frances Drake co-stars as Nick's sweetheart Mary, the role played on Broadway by Barbara Stanwyck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guy Standing, Frances Drake, (more)
In MGM's three-hour-plus The Great Ziegfeld, William Powell stars as the titular theatrical impresario, whose show business empire begins when he stage-manages a tour for legendary strongman Sandow (Nat Pendleton). With nary a penny in the bank, he charms European stage star Anna Held (Luise Rainer) to headline his "Follies", and later marries the luscious Ms. Held. From 1907 onward, Ziegfeld stages annual editions of Broadway's most fabulous revue, dedicated to "Glorifying the American Girl" but also giving ample time to develop the comic talents of Fanny Brice (played by herself), Will Rogers, Eddie Cantor and many others. Eventually, Ziegfeld abandons Ms. Held in favor of other beauties, setting the stage for the "telephone scene" which won Luise Rainer the first of her Oscars. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Powell, Myrna Loy, (more)
- 1935
Edmund Lowe stars as big-time gambler King Solomon, so named because of his fairness and sagacity. Naturally, our hero has several enemies to whom fair play is anathema. One of these is gangster boss Ice Larson (Edward Pawley), who demands Solomon's cooperation as payment for a gambling debt. But Solomon becomes Larson's best pal when he clears the man of a phony kidnapping charge by romancing Nikki Bradbury (Louise Henry), the wealthy and gorgeous ex-kidnap victim. All of this does not rest well with King Solomon's ever-lovin' girlfriend, whose name is -- what else? -- Sheba (Dorothy Page). Bespectacled crooner Pinky Tomlin, of "The Object of My Affections" fame, guest-stars as "himself." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edmund Lowe, Dorothy Page, (more)
Based on Dwight Taylor and Cole Porter's play of the same name, The Gay Divorcee centers on Mimi (Ginger Rogers), a woman seeking a divorce from her husband. Mimi travels to an English seaside resort, pursued by the love-stricken Guy (Fred Astaire), whom she mistakes for the hired correspondent in her divorce case. Among the many musical numbers featured are "Night and Day," the only song from the original Broadway musical included in the film, and "The Continental," which won the first ever Academy Award for Best Song. Directed by Mark Sandrich, the film features supporting performances by Alice Brady and Edward Everett Horton. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, (more)
- 1930
In this romantic adventure, a feisty young woman (Velez) toys with the affections of a railroad worker (Withers) and a Mountie (Blue). She ends up with Withers and decides to accompany him to the city. Unfortunately, the other workers around her do not want her to go. As the lovers try to flee, Withers kills a man and the Mountie and his pal Rin Tin Tin begin their pursuit. The murderous duo end up shooting a dangerous river rapids and nearly losing their lives. In the end the Mountie lets the lovers go to find their happiness. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monte Blue, Lupe Velez, (more)
- 1929
Basically a filmed vaudeville presentation, The Show of Shows was Warner Bros.' entry in the "all star, all talking, all singing and all dancing" sweepstakes of 1929. Though slightly better than MGM's Hollywood Revue of 1929, the Warners entry pales in comparison to Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 and Paramount on Parade, due mainly to the film's master of ceremonies, the insufferable Frank Fay. Some of the individual acts seen in Show of Shows were pretty good, notably Winnie Lightner's delightful Singing in the Bathtub (a spoof of Hollywood Revue of 1929's Singin' in the Rain) and John Barrymore's brilliant rendition of Richard III's soliloquy from Shakespeare's Henry VI. Also easy to take was "Floradora Sextette," featuring such luminaries as Myrna Loy, Patsy Ruth Miller and cross-eyed comedian Ben Turpin, and "Eight Sister Acts," including such Hollywood siblings as Dolores and Helene Costello, Sally Blane and Loretta Young and Shirley Mason and Viola Dana (also teamed in this number are Ann Sothern and Marion Byron, who were not sisters). But for the most part, the acts are on a par with "Skull and Crossbones," a boring production number showcasing entertainer Ted Lewis, and "Recitations," a one-joke affair in which three different anecdotes (related by Frank Fay, Louis Fazenda, Lloyd Hamilton and Bea Lillie) are melded into one. Show of Shows was originally released in two-color Technicolor but now exists only in black in white, save for the "Chinese Fantasy" number featuring crooner Nick Lucas and Warner Bros. contractee Myrna Loy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1929
This college musical chronicles the travails of a college football star who wants to quit playing. To stop him, the conniving coach enlists the aid of a flirtatious co-ed who tries to use her many charms to coerce the lad into staying on the team. She succeeds and the boy falls deeply in love with her. When she realizes that he is serious, she stops seeing her latest beau, and the professes her love to the football player. This inspires him to go on and win the big game. Songs include: "One Minute Of Heaven," "I Gotta Have You," "Hello Baby," "Huddlin'." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Loretta Young, (more)
