Words and Music

Movie
Original title	Words and Music
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1948
length	120 minutes
Rod
Director	Norman Taurog
script	Fred F. Finklehoffe ; Story: Guy Bolton , Jean Holloway ; Adaptation: Ben Feiner jr.
production	Arthur Freed
music	Lennie Hayton
camera	Charles Rosher Harry Stradling Sr.
occupation
Mickey Rooney : Lorenz Hart Tom Drake : Richard Rodgers Janet Leigh : Dorothy Feiner Rodgers Betty Garrett : Peggy Lorgan McNeil Marshall Thompson : Herbert Fields Jeanette Nolan : Mrs. Hart Ann Sothern : Joyce Harmon Perry Como : Eddie Lorrison Anders Cyd Charisse : Margo Grant Richard Quine : Ben Feiner Jr. Emory Parnell : Mr. Feiner Sr. Harry Antrim : Dr. Rogers Ilka Grüning : Mrs. Rogers June Allyson : herself, singer Judy Garland : herself, singer Lena Horne : herself, singer Mel Tormé : himself, singer Gene Kelly : himself, dancer Vera-Ellen : herself, dancer

Words and Music is a musical composer portrait by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from 1948 about the collaboration of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart . The largely fictional plot forms the framework for a presentation of the greatest hits of the Broadway composer duo by the best-known MGM stars of the 1940s. The film was produced by Arthur Freed , who two years earlier had great success with the musical biopic Till The Clouds Roll By about Jerome Kern .

action

The story focuses on Lorenz Hart and is told from Richard Rodgers' perspective - from the first meeting of the songwriting team to the longed-for breakthrough on Broadway. While the reserved and disciplined Rodgers gets his dream wife Dorothy, Hart, who is constantly dissatisfied with his work, is rejected by his great love Peggy and falls into depression. The film ends with Hart's death.

Music numbers

• "Manhattan" - sung by Mickey Rooney , Tom Drake (dubbed) and Marshall Thompson
• "There's a Small Hotel" - sung by Betty Garrett
• " Mountain Greenery " - sung by Perry Como , Allyn McLerie
• "Way Out West" - sung by Betty Garrett
• "Where's That Rainbow?" - sung and danced by Ann Sothern
• "On Your Toes" - sung and danced by Cyd Charisse (dubbed) and Dee Turnell
• "This Can't Be Love" - danced by Cyd Charisse and Dee Turnell
• "The Girl Friend" - danced by Cyd Charisse and Dee Turnell
• “ Blue Room ” - sung by Perry Como, danced by Cyd Charisse
• “ Thou Swell ” - sung and danced by June Allyson and The Blackburn Twins
• "With a Song in My Heart" - sounds several times; sung by Tom Drake / Perry Como
• "Where or When?" - sung by Lena Horne
• " The Lady Is a Tramp " - sung by Lena Horne
• "I Wish I Were in Love Again" - sung by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney
• "Johnny One Note" - sung by Judy Garland
• " Blue Moon " - sung by Mel Torme
• "Spring Is Here" - voiced by Mickey Rooney
• Jazz ballet "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" - danced by Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen

Individual evidence

1. ^ Judy Garland Database Film Review: Words and Music ( Memento of the original from October 5, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved October 15, 2007 

Web links

• Words and Music in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Words and Music All Movie Guide
• Words and Music Bright Lights Film Journal
• Review of December 27, 1948 in TIME Magazine starting as the last article on the first page (English)