Vaughn Monroe Movies
A major recording star of the 1940s, known as "Old Leather Tonsils," band leader Vaughn Monroe gave the world such standards as "Racing with the Moon," "When the Lights Go on Again (All Over the World)," and "My Devotion." In 1949, he recorded "Riders in the Sky" and someone at Republic Pictures felt he might be Western star material. Monroe had already appeared with his band in 1944's Meet the People and Carnegie Hall (1947) but Singing Guns was crafted as a star vehicle with the rather stolid Monroe as a sort of Wild West Robin Hood. His 1948 hit "Mule Train" was heard on the soundtrack and Republic lavished not only color on the production but also awarded the novice actor such able supporting players as Walter Brennan, Ward Bond and, as his leading lady, the beautiful Ella Raines. This was clearly no B-Western, and neither was The Toughest Man in Arizona (1952), which had Joan Leslie, Victor Jory, Jean Parker, and a youngish Harry Morgan in support. Although a better singer than actor, Monroe nevertheless handled himself well and both films were well directed by R.G. Springsteen, whose no-nonsense approach saved many a humdrum Western. But it was perhaps a little late in the day for the veteran performer to switch careers, and neither film did the expected business. Venturing into the new field of television, Monroe later became a pitchman for RCA Victor. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide- 1985
More old time favorites including the ever popular "Chatanooga Choo Choo." ~ All Movie Guide
- 1962
Singer Vaughn Monroe guest-stars as shy Ponderosa ranchhand Hank Meyers. In love with schoolteacher Abigail Jones (Eileen Ryan), Hank is too timid to reveal his feelings to her. Thus, in true "Miles Standish" fashion, Hank asks Adam Cartwright to act as go-between-with the expected results. Norma Varden and Diana Darrin round out the supporting cast as Ma Nutley and Margie, respectively. Originally broadcast on March 4, 1962, "The Wooing of Abigail Jones" was written by Norman Lessing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, (more)
- 1960
Jo Stafford, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Charlie Barnet and Freddie Slack are among the performers featured in this collection. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1952
In his second and last Western for Republic Pictures, former bandleader Vaughn Monroe plays a marshal returning to Tombstone with a wanted gun-runner (Victor Jory) when he stumbles upon a woman (Joan Leslie) and a couple of children, apparently the only survivors of an Indian raid on a wagon train. The woman's cowardly husband, a telegrapher (Harry Morgan), had managed to escape and is now helping the gun-runner's siblings (Ian MacDonald and Lee MacGregor) to both free their brother and attack a valuable shipment of silver. When Monroe comes gunning for the bandits, he learns that the supposedly dead husband of the woman he has grown to love is still alive. There is a final shootout and the marshal comes face-to-face with his rival, now a murderer. Learning that her husband is to be tried in Prescott, Leslie loyally leaves to be with him despite the fact that she has fallen in love with Monroe. But, as Monroe's young daughter (Diana Christian) predicts, "she'll be back." In between the action, Monroe finds time to perform "Hound Dog," "Bay at the Moon," "A Man's Best Friend is His Horse," and the ballad "The Man Don't Live Who Can't Die Alone." ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vaughn Monroe, Joan Leslie, (more)
- 1950
Singer-bandleader Vaughn ("Racing with the Moon") Monroe made a tentative stab at movie stardom in 1950. Singing Guns casts Monroe as western outlaw Rhiannon, who robs from the rich and keeps it. Rhiannon's particular target is a gold mine that he feels rightfully belongs to him. Whether it does or doesn't, it takes three people -- saloon gal Nan Morgan (Ella Raines), doctor/minister Dr. Mark (Walter Brennan) and sheriff Caradac (Ward Bond) -- to capture Our Hero. Though he's a passable actor, Monroe's strong suit remains his mellow baritone, which he displays in four different musical numbers, one of which is his Hit-Parade success "Mule Train." Singing Guns is based very loosely on a novel by Max Brand. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vaughn Monroe, Ella Raines, (more)
Auteur theorists who've charted the career of "cult" director Edgar G. Ulmer have seldom mentioned Carnegie Hall, simply because it was more expensive than most of Ulmer's films and thus can't be regarded a "low-budget masterpiece." The wafer-thin plotline concerns a young immigrant woman (Marsha Hunt) who takes a job as a Carnegie Hall cleaning woman. Her love of music leads her to a better job in the Hall, and after several years she rises to the position of concert organizer. The woman uses her clout to promote her own son's career as a pianist. Carnegie Hall showcases a number of celebrated musicians. Selections include: Arthur Rubinstein performing Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat, Jascha Heifetz performing Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G Major by Tchaikovsky, Ezio Pinza singing both the drinking song from Don Giovanni and one of the arias from Simon di Boccanegra, Lily Pons singing The Bell Song from Lakme by Delibes, and Jan Peerce singing O Sole Mio.The film also includes musical performances by Bruno Walter,Rise Stevens, Gregor Piatagorsky, Harry James, Vaughn Monroe, Leopold Stokowski, and others. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emile Boreo, Marsha Hunt, (more)
A Carnegie Hall employee who dreams of success for her young son raises him in the legendary concert venue in hopes that inspiration will shine through the music in this film featuring performances by Bruno Walter, Risë Stevens, Jan Peerce, Ezio Penza, Leopold Stokowski and many more. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1944
MGM's musical extravaganza Meet the People top-bills two future powerful TV executives: Dick Powell and Lucille Ball. Ball plays a popular but stuck-up Broadway star who leaves the bright lights to become a welder in a shipyard. Here she meets and falls in love with coworker Powell. This being a wartime musical, the plotline is periodically abandoned for the guest-star turns of the likes of Virginia O'Brien, Bert Lahr, Spike Jones and His City Slickers, Vaughn Monroe, and Mata and Hari. Buried beneath this cornucopia of corn is a stage play by Louis Lantz, upon which Meet the People was supposedly based. (Note: some sources mistakenly list Edward Dmytrk as the director of this film). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucille Ball, Dick Powell, (more)
