Peggy Ryan Movies
American entertainer Peggy Ryan came from a large vaudevillian family, billed as the Merry Dancing Ryans; she was onstage from infancy and in films from age 6 (The Wedding of Jack and Jill [1930]). Peggy's peak movie years were 1941-1945, during which she was costarred in several lightweight musicals with fellow Universal contractee Donald O'Connor. Ryan and O'Connor usually played teenaged sweethearts who found themselves hoofing away at the drop of an orchestra leader's baton (though O'Connor was larger and more mature looking, Ryan was in fact the older of the two). So locked in was Ms. Ryan with her costar that, while she was performing a musical number with Lou Costello in Here Come the Co-Eds (1945), Costello airily remarked "I feel just like Donald O'Connor." Ryan and O'Connor were also a popular fixture of USO tours, at least until O'Connor himself was put into uniform. Her film career faltered as she grew older, though Ryan remained in musicals until 1953's All Ashore, in which she appeared opposite Mickey Rooney. After running her own dance school, Peggy Ryan retired to Hawaii, returning before the cameras occasionally in the Honolulu-filmed TV series Hawaii 5-O. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1939
This comedy is set in New York and centers upon a singing Irish cop who causes quite a sensation among two producers when he sings at the annual Policeman's Ball. For a long time, they have been looking for a voice for their new cartoon feature, "Paddy the Pig," and the cop is just perfect. The policeman is tickled pink at the prospect of being a star and begins telling all his friends about his good fortune (he has no idea what they plan to do with his voice). Eventually he ends up marrying one of the producers, who still hasn't told him the truth. Suddenly the night of the big premiere finally arrives and all of the policeman's old friends and colleagues are there. As it begins, the policeman is appalled and humiliated to see that he has been mocked and has become a laughing stock. He immediately spurns his new wife and goes back to the police force. Time passes, and fortunately, the two reunite and settle their differences. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phil Regan, Jean Parker, (more)
- 1937
In this comedy drama, a newspaper report discovers that a popular religious cult is really a scam. Unbeknownst to him, his wife is messing around with his managing editor. When he finds out, he leaves them and begins his own affair with the female reporter he has secretly loved all along. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Murphy, Josephine Hutchinson, (more)
- 1937
In this musical set in swingin' Manhattan, an heiress plans a ballet in the famous Moonbeam ballroom located atop a 100-story skyscraper. Unfortunately, the attending audience is quite bored until someone starts the place swinging. Musical numbers include: "Blame It on the Rhumba," "Where Are You?" "Jamboree," "Top of the Town," "I Feel That Foolish Feeling Coming On," "There's No Two Ways About It," "Fireman Save My Child" (Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Murphy, Hugh Herbert, (more)
