ΤΗΕ FABULOUS DORSEYS

The Fabulous Dorseys
United Artists, 1947, B/W, 89 minutes
Released February, 1947

The musical lives of Big Band leaders Tommy and Jimmy, as they fight their way to the top while fighting with each other, trombone and clarinet at the ready.

The boys portray themselves in this biographical film that's strong on song. Among the many musical highlights are "Green Eyes," "Running Wild," and "Marie." Outstanding personalities guest starring Art Tatum, Charlie Barnet, Ziggy Elman, Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell.

A superb showcase of the Big Band Era.

This film is apparently in the public domain, so all VHS tapes and DVDs are print-mastered. The quality of at least some of these is not very good. A must-see for Big Band fans!

Producer: John W. Rogers
Director: Alfred E. Green
Screenplay: Art Arthur, Richard English and Curtis Kenyon
Music Director: Louis Forbes
Song Score: various
Choreography: Charles Baron
Art Direction: Duncan Cramer
Set Decoration: Robert Priestley
Gowns: Maria P. Donovan
Men's Wardrobe: Morrie Friedman
Special Effects: Alfred Schmid
Cinematography: James Van Trees
Film Editing: George Arthur

Cast: Tommy Dorsey [Himself], Jimmy Dorsey [Himself], Janet Blair [Jane Howard], Paul Whiteman [Himself], William Lundigan [Bob Burton], James Flavin [Gorman], William Bakewell [Eddie], Dave Willock [Foggy], Sara Allgood [Mrs. Dorsey], Arthur Shields [Mr.Dorsey], Bobby Warde [Tommy as a Boy], Buz Buckley [Jimmy as a Boy], Ann Carter [Jane as a Girl], Jackie Searl [Joe], James Taggart [Phil], Hal K. Dawson [Artie], Andrew Tombes [De Witt], Sherry Sherwood [Herself], Tom Dugan [Waiter], Edward Clark [Hotel Clerk], Jack Roper [Radio Station Attendant], Bess Flowers [Lady in Concert Audience], Charlie Barnet, Ziggy Elman, Bob Eberly, Mike Pingatore, Helen O'Connell, Henry Busse, Art Tatum, Ray Bauduc, Stuart Foster, Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra [Themselves]

Musical Program: Green Eyes (Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra with vocals by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly); Marie (Stuart Foster and Janet Blair with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra); I'll Never Say "Never Again" Again (The Dorsey Brothers); I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra); Art's Blues; At Sundown; Dorsey Concerto; Everybody's Doing It; The Object of My Affection; Running Wild; To Me; When You and I Were Young, Maggie; Waitin' at the Gate for Katy (background instrumentals)