LADY BE GOOD

Lady Be Good
MGM, 1941, B/W, 110 minutes, ***
Released September, 1941

Songwriting / romantic duo Robert Young and Ann Sothern break up but, in the best film musical tradition, sing their way back together. The Academy Award winning song "The Last Time I Saw Paris" highlights a score that includes "Fascinating Rhythm," "So Am I," "You'll Never Know." With Eleanor Powell, Red Skelton, Lionel Barrymore; look for a young Doris Day.

Fun movie! Eleanor Powell dancing with a dog to "Oh Lady, Be Good." Really cute!

Produced by: Arthur Freed
Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod
Screen Play by: Jack McGowan, Kay Van Riper and John McLain
Based on an Original Story by: Jack McGowan
Music by: George Gershwin
Lyrics by: Ira Gershwin
"The Last Time I Saw Paris" (by) Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, II
Additional Songs by: Roger Edens and Arthur Freed
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Musical Continuity (for Eleanor Powell): Walter Ruick
Vocals and Orchestrations: Leo Arnaud, George Bassman, Conrad Salinger
Musical Numbers Directed by: Busby Berkeley
Musical Prsentation: Merrill Pye
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: John S. Detlie
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Gowns by: Adrian
Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: George Folsey, Oliver T. Marsh
Film Editor: Fredrick Y. Smith

Awards: Won Best Song Academy Award ("The Last Time I Saw Paris")

Cast: Eleanor Powell [Marilyn Marsh], Ann Sothern [Dixie Donegan], Robert Young [Eddie Crane], Lionel Barrymore [Judge Murdock], John Carroll [Buddy Crawford], Red Skelton [Joe "Red" Willet], Virginia O'Brien [Lull], Tom Conway [Mr. Blanton], Dan Dailey, Jr. [Bill Pattison], Reginald Owen [Max Milton], Rose Hobart [Mrs. Carter Wardley], Phil Silvers [M.C.], Berry Brothers [James Berry, Warren Berry, Nyas Berry, Specialty Dancers], Connie Russell [The Singer], Additional Cast: Doris Day [Debutante], Edward Gargan [Policeman], Bess Flowers [Banquet Guest]

Musical Program: [0:00] Oh Lady Be GoodLady Be Good (sung by Mens Chorus behind titles); [0:07] You'll Never Know (ballad and swing versions sung by Ann Sothern); [0:29] Your Words and My Music (sung by Ann Sothern and Robert Young); [0:40] Your Words and My Music (sung by John Carroll); [0:43] Your Words and My Music (sung by Virginia O'Brien); [0:47] You'll Never Know (sung and danced by the Berry Brothers); [0:53] Oh Lady Be Good (sung by Ann Sothern with Robert Young at the piano [onscreen] as they compose the song, then sung by Robert Young and Ann Sothern); [0:57] Monatge / Medley (Oh Lady Be Good (played and sung by various musicians as the song becomes a major hit); [1:03] The Last Time I Saw Paris (sung by Ann Sothern with Robert Young at the piano onscreen); [1:13] Oh Lady Be Good (danced by Eleanor Powell and her dog - really cute number!); [1:34] Fascinating Rhythm (sung by Connie Russell, danced by the Berry Brothers, danced by Eleanor Powell, sung by Chorus); [1:50] Oh Lady Be Good (sung by Red Skelton, Virginia O'Brien, John Carroll, Ann Sothern and Robert Young)