Earl Carroll Vanities

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Movie
Original title Earl Carroll Vanities
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1945
length 95 minutes
Rod
Director Joseph Santley
script Frank Gill junior
production Albert J. Cohen
for Republic Pictures Corp.
music Walter Scharf
camera Jack Marta
cut Richard L. Van Enger
occupation

Earl Carroll Vanities is a 1945 American musical film directed by Joseph Santley based on a story by Cortland Fitzsimmons .

action

Princess Drina of Turania, a tiny country in Europe, comes to New York with her mother Elena, her fiancé Grand Duke Paul, Finance Minister Baron Dashek and her butler Vonce. Her small country urgently needs a loan and so the princess seeks out the American bankers Thayer and Weems, who are visibly impressed by the young women.

While Drina's mother is conducting further negotiations to get the financial situation of the troubled little country back under control, the princess, who spent part of her education in the USA, meets Tex Donnelly, the owner of a nightclub. A short time later she witnesses how Tex's friend Woody Herman and his orchestra wait in vain for star singer Claire Elliott. It is a special evening as the famous impresario Earl Carroll, who stages musicals on Broadway , is in the audience. He is looking for a singer for his new musical revue "Vanities" and therefore wants to see Claire Elliott. Claire has sprained her ankle, however, and Tex persuades Drina to do her part on the show written by her collaborator Danny Baldwin. Carroll is so impressed by Drina's performance that he only wants to take over the show with all the actors and songs when Drina is there. Danny's attempt to explain to him that Claire is actually the star of his show comes to nothing. Danny accuses Drina, whose real identity he doesn't know, of trying to steal her job from Claire. When Drina is back at the hotel, her mother also reprimands her for not showing enough commitment for Turania.

It has now become clear to Danny that he will have to rehearse with Drina for at least the next two weeks while Claire heals her ankle injury. Drina wants to annoy Danny, who has always treated her so condescendingly, and refuses, only Tex gets her to cooperate. During the rehearsals Claire is also impressed by Drina's great talent, which Danny has meanwhile also won over. It's not easy for him because he and Claire are a couple. Drina's fiancé supports her artistic ambitions and helps her to avert important but rather boring appointments so that she can go to rehearsals. Danny finds Drina more and more liking and assures her that his love for Claire is only a habit. The jealous Claire, however, who knows of Drina's true identity, passes her knowledge on to Danny. Drina assures Danny that a career in show business would mean a lot to her. Meanwhile, Claire has informed Drina's mother Elena and Finance Minister Dashek about Drina's activities. Elena insists that her daughter must part with Danny and the theater immediately and without any explanation for the good of her country. Drina apparently agrees, and Danny believes she has given up on her plans as the regal lifestyle means more to her. Claire takes on her role on the show. The bank that wants to grant Turania the loan is also a sponsor of Earl Carroll's shows and is interested in seeing Drina on stage with her great talent. So it happens that not only the credit is granted, but also Drina is on stage on the opening night of the show and can celebrate a huge success. Danny hugs his princess enthusiastically.

Production and Background

The shooting extended from October 24 to December 5, 1944. The film premiered on March 31, 1945 in New York . On April 5, 1945 it was then generally shown in cinemas in the United States.

In addition to Walter Scharf as musical director, Albert Newman, Kim Gannon , Woody Herman , Ralph Burns and Walter Kent were responsible for the music in the film. Sammy Lee staged the dances. Earl Carroll was a successful composer, playwright, director, and nightclub owner throughout his career. The film is also based on Carroll's successful Vanities Shows and his Sketchbook productions, directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Carl Brisson and Victor McLaglen . As early as 1940, Carroll produced the film A Night at Earl Carroll’s (for Paramount Pictures ), which is also set in a nightclub.

Music numbers

  • Apple Honey (Woody Herman, Ralph Burns) performed by Woody Herman to His Orchestra
  • Who Dat Up There? (Walter Kent, Bob Russell) performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra
  • Endlessly (Walter Kent, Kim Gannon), presented by Constance Moore
  • Riverside Jive (Albert M. Newman), presented by Constance Moore
  • I've Been Good for So Long (Walter Kent, Kim Gannon), presented by Constance Moore
  • Rockabye Boogie (Walter Kent, Kim Gannon) performed by Constance Moore, Pinky Lee, Tommy Ivo, Woody Herman and Woody Herman and His Orchestra
  • The Last Man in Town (Walter Kent, Kim Gannon), performed by Pinky Lee and Eve Arden
  • You Beautiful Thing, You (Walter Kent, Kim Gannon)

Awards / nominations

1946 were Walter Kent and Kim Gannon in the category "Best Song" with her song Endlessly nominated from the movie for an Oscar, but which of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and the song It Might as Well Be Spring from the musical film carnival of love ( State Fair) went.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Earl Carroll Vanities (1945) - Notes. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved December 4, 2019 .