Gale Sherwood Movies
- 1947
One of the most ambitious productions ever turned out by Monogram studios, Song of My Heart represented the directorial debut of screenwriter Benjamin Glazer. The film unfolds the life story of Peter Ilytich Tschaikovsky, with Swedish actor Frank Sundstrom in the title role. Avoiding the sensualism and sensationalism of Ken Russell's later Tschaikovsky biopic The Music Lovers (wisely, given the censorial limits of 1947), Glazer's film tastefully concentrates on the Russian composer's romantic relationship with his patroness Amalya (Audrey Long). Though he achieves great professional success on the concert stage, Tschaikovsky finds personal happiness and contentment only when he is on the verge of death. The huge cast includes such diverse personalities as Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Mikhail Rasumny, Gale Sherwood, Jimmie Dodd, and even veteran western heavy Lane Chandler. Deemed too good to be released with the Monogram imprimatur, Song of My Heart was handled by the studio's "prestige" division, Allied Artists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Drew Allen, Robert Barron, (more)
Blonde Savage was directed by one "S. K. Seeley"-who at closer examination turns out to be Steve Sekely hiding behind an alias. The story is the old saw about a blonde white woman who is raised from infancy by a savage jungle tribe. This time, it's a girl named Meelah (Gale Sherwood) who resides as a goddess amongst an entourage of African natives. While working for diamond mine owner Mark Harper (Douglass Dumbrille), transport pilots Steve (Leif Erickson) and Hoppy (Frank Jenks) crash-land near Meelah's domain. Upon discovering that the "blonde savage" is actually the daughter of Harper's murdered partner, they set about to bring their employer to justice. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leif Erickson, Gale Sherwood, (more)
- 1940
Though he lacked the casual charisma of his brother Bing, bandleader Bob Crosby starred in a series of reasonably successful films of his own. In Let's Make Music, Crosby and his "Bobcats" turn a dreadful football-victory song penned by elderly schoolmistress Malvina Adams (Elisabeth Risdon) into a hit by treating it as a novelty tune. When Malvina is brought to New York to capitalize on her unexpected success, she is accompanied by her pretty niece Abby (Jean Rogers), who is determined that her aunt won't be exploited or humilated. Sure enough, Abby and Crosby fall in love during Malvina's fifteen minutes of fame. Comedy relief is supplied by Yiddish Art Theater veteran Joseph Buloff, soon to gain Broadway immortality as Ali Hakim in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma. The songs in Let's Make Music include the enduring Crosby classic "Big Noise From Winnetka". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Rogers, Bob Crosby & Orchestra, (more)
- 1939
This musical drama follows a young ghetto kid who dreams of being a classical musician like his idol Jascha Heifetz. He first hears the renowned violinist after finding a ticket to Carnegie Hall on the sidewalk one day. The young man is so inspired by what he hears that he enrolls in Professor Lawson's inner-city music school. Unfortunately, the school teeters on the brink of bankruptcy. Fortunately the determined young boy convinces his street buddies to help him plead with Heifetz to help them save the school by doing a benefit concert. The master violinist agrees and saves the day. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jascha Heifetz, Andrea Leeds, (more)
