Beverly Hudson Movies
- 1944
In this musical, a youthful trombonist is thrilled when he is allowed to play with Benny Goodman's Orchestra. Afterward he becomes insufferably egotistical and tries to start his own swing band. It's his girl friend's idea, and unfortunately he fails. He then returns to his old mill job. Fortunately, he is given another chance to play with Benny and the boys. Musical numbers include: "I'm Making Believe," (Mack Gordon, James V. Monaco), as well as "Chug-Chug-Choo-Choo-Chug," "Hey Bub, Let's Have a Ball," "Ten Days with a Baby" (Gordon, Monaco), "I Found a New Baby" (Jack Palmer, Spencer Williams), "Jersey Bounce" (Robert B. Wright, Bobby Plater, Tiny Bradshaw, Edward Johnson), "Let's Dance" (Fanny Baldridge, Gregory Stone, Joseph Bonine), "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise" (Gene Lockhart, Ernest Seitz), "Mozart's Clarinet Quintet" (performed by Goodman and strings), "No Love, No Nothing" (Leo Robin, Harry Warren), "Rachel's Dream" (Benny Goodman), and "I Yi Yi Yi Yi, I Like You Very Much" (Gordon, Warren) ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Benny Goodman Orchestra, Linda Darnell, (more)
- 1943
Our Gang member Janet Burston believes that her family is neglecting her, so she decides to run away from home. The other gang members try to help Janet get adopted (or "adapted") by a more agreeable family, choosing a kindly elderly couple (Sarah Padden and Harry C. Bradley) for the honor. But when the old couple discover that Janet is a runaway, they decide to teach her a lesson by creating a home atmosphere so unpleasant and demanding that she'll be begging to return to her own kinfolk. The only noteworthy aspect of this Our Gang copy is the supporting-cast presence of British actress Elspeth Dudgeon, who previously played the centenarian patriarch of the eccentric Femm family in the 1932 horror classic The Old Dark House. The one-reel Family Troubles was originally released on April 3, 1943. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bobby Blake, Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas, (more)
- 1943
True to Life stars Dick Powell as a radio writer in search of saleable material. He comes up with a weekly sitcom about a typical American family. To soak up inspiration, he hangs around the household of waitress Mary Martin and her parents (Ernest Truex, Mabel Paige), transcribing their conversations for use on the air. When Mary listens to the radio and discovers that Powell's attentions towards her are strictly professional, she runs to the arms of Franchot Tone. But Powell convinces her that his ardor is genuine--while musical fans are disappointed that only one song has been sung in the whole of True to Life. Devotees of two-reel comedies will note the presence of veteran second bananas Billy Bletcher and Bud Jamison as two of the "family members" in Dick Powell's radio series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Martin, Franchot Tone, (more)
- 1943
For this entry in the popular Henry Aldrich series, bumbling typical high school student Henry (Jimmy Lydon) catches sight of the new band teacher Louise Elliott (Marian Hall) and really likes what he sees. Quickly developing a mad crush on her, Henry goes so far as to join the band just to be near her. Although he's initially upset that she likes "square" music, she surprises him with her diversity -- it turns out she can play a mean boogie woogie when necessary. Hoping to impress the teacher, Henry agrees to take up the violin. Henry, of course, does not have a violin, which means he has to try to convince the rather tightfisted Mr. Aldrich to buy one. His task is made easier when Miss Elliott makes the request herself and Mr. Aldrich sees for himself why Henry is so anxious to impress his teacher. Henry gets the violin, but in typical fashion, it somehow gets switched with the priceless instrument of a visiting concert violinist. Before Henry discovers the mix-up, he somehow misplaces the rare violin -- and must then track it down and recover it before it's too late. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith, (more)
- 1942
Venerable minstrel-show impresario Walter Wills makes his third and final Our Gang appearance in the one-reel comedy Doin' Their Bit. Hoping to entertain the military troops stationed in Greenpoint, Mr. Wills organizes the Our Gang kids into a junior USO troupe. In addition to performing a distressingly unfunny "boot camp" sketch (which attempts to garner laughs by making jokes about "dead Japs"), the gang participates in a brace of production numbers, slickly choreographed by Bud Murray. In the final analysis, the regular Our Gang members are virtually expendable: Most of the entertaining is done by a batallion of talented young dancers and singers. Doin' Their Bit was originally released on July 18, 1942. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George "Spanky" McFarland, Mickey Gubitosi, (more)
- 1942
This happy musical chronicles the exploits of a suicidal composer who is desolate after someone swiped his newest musical comedy. He is saved by three young people who join up with the writer's daughter and put on the production. With the help of a pugnacious cab driver, they manage to draw their audience from the composer's rival. Featured in the show is the extravaganza number "Ballad for Americans", which was directed by Busby Berkely. Other songs include "I Hate the Conga", "Alone", "You Are My Lucky Star", and "I Love Ya". ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Virginia Weidler, Ray McDonald, (more)
