Show Business

Show Business


RKO, 1944, B/W, 92 minutes, ***

Released May, 1944



A sort-of biopic of Eddie Cantor, though it's more fun than fact. Cantor plays himself, and George Murphy, Joan Davis, Connie Moore and Nancy Kelly round out the principle cast. Musical highlights include the cleverly staged "I Want a Girl," Cantor, Murphy, Davis and Moore's comic rendition of The Sextet (from "Lucia di Lammermoor"), and of course, "Makin' Whoopee."



Produced by: Eddie Cantor

Directed by: Edwin L. Marin

Assistant Director: Clem Beauchamp

Screen Play by: Joseph Quillan and Dorothy Bennett

Additional Dialogue by: Irving Elinson

Story by: Bert Granet

Musical Director: C. Bakaleinikoff

Vocal Directors: Ken Darby, George Duning

Orchestra Arrangements: Gene Rose

Musical Numbers Created and Staged by: Nick Castle

Song: "You May Not Remember" by George Jessel and Ben Oakland

Art Directors: Albert S. D'Agostino, Jack Okey

Set Decorations: Darrell Silvera, Al Fields

Gowns by: Edward Stevenson

Makeup Artist: Mel Berns

Recorded by: Jean L. Speak

Rerecorded by: James G. Stewart

Director of Photography: Robert de Grasse

Special Effects by: Vernon L. Walker

Montage: Harold Palmer

Edited by: Theron Warth



Cast: Eddie Cantor [Eddie Martin], George Murphy [George Doane], Joan Davis [Joan Mason], Nancy Kelly [Nancy Gaye], Constance Moore [Constance Ford], Don Douglas [Charles Lucas], Bert Gordon [Himself], Gene Sheldon [Himself], Pat Rooney [Himself], Jesse and James [Themselves], George Jessel [Himself], Forbes Murray [Director], Bert Moorhouse [Desk Clerk], Shirley O'Hara, Dorothy Malone, Daun Kennedy, Elaine Riley [Girls], Jerry Maren [Midget], Joseph Vitale [Caesar], Claire Carleton [Nurse], Russ Clark [Army Doctor], Chef Milani [Head Waiter], Ralph Dunn [Taxi Driver], Myrna Dell, Mary Meade, Ruth Valmy, Gloria Anderson, Dorothy Garner, Shelby Payne, Barbara Coleman, Kay Morley, Doris Sheehan, Alice Wallace [Show Girls], Stymie Beard [Harold], Harry Harvey, Jr. [Page Boy], Billy Bester [Call Boy]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "Makin' Whoopee" / "It Had to Be You" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] They're Wearing 'em Higher in Hawaii (sung by George Murphy, danced by George Murphy and Chorus Girls); [0:08] The Curse of an Aching Heart (sung and danced by Eddie Cantor); [0:14] It Had to be You (sung by George Murphy, danced by George Murphy and Connie Moore); [0:27] I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl Who Married Dear Old Dad) (sung and danced by Eddie Cantor, George Murphy, Connie Moore and Joan Davis); [0:30] unidentified instrumental (danced by George Murphy and Connie Moore); [0:39] Chi mi frena ("The Sextet" from the opera LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, comedy rendition by George Murphy, Eddie Cantor, Connie Moore and Joan Davis, dubbed by record); [0:42] Alabamy Bound (sung by Eddie Cantor, danced by Eddie Cantor, George Murphy and Connie Moore); [0:49] Dinah (sung and danced by Eddie Cantor, George Murphy, Connie Moore, Joan Davis and Chorus Girls); [0:53] You May Not Remember (Nancy Kelly and two unidentified male singers); [0:58] I Don't Want to Get Well (Eddie Cantor and George Murphy); [1:05] You May Not Remember (Nancy Kelly); [1:11] It Had to Be You (sung by Connie Moore and George Murphy in montage of scenes); [1:22] Makin' Whoopee (Eddie Cantor and Chorus Girls); [1:26] It Had to Be You (George Murphy)