Rose of Washington Square

Rose of Washington Square


20th Century-Fox, 1939, B/W, 86 minutes, ***

Released May, 1939



 Loosely based on the life of Fanny Brice. The "Rose of Washington Square" production number,  includes a segment in which Alice and the chorus line flip cigarettes onto the floor only to have them magically reappear in their hands again. Great music, good story, great fun. Don't miss it!



In Charge of Production: Darryl F. Zanuck

Associate Producer: Nunnally Johnson

Directed by: Gregory Ratoff

Screen Play by: Nunnally Johnson

Based on a Story by: John Larkin and Jerry Horwin

Music and Lyrics:

"Rose of Washington Square" by James F. Hanley and Ballard MacDonald

Music Direction: Louis Silvers

Dances Staged by: Seymour Felix

Art Direction: Richard Day, Rudolph Sternad

Set Decorations: Thomas Little

Costumes: Royer

Sound: Eugene Grossman, Roger Heman

Photography: Karl Freund

Film Editor: Louis Loeffler



Cast: Tyrone Power [Bart Clinton], Alice Faye [Rose Sargent], Al Jolson [Ted Cotter], William Frawley [Harry Long], Joyce Compton [Peggy], Hobart Cavanaugh [Whitey Boone], Moroni Olsen [Buck Russell], E. E. Clive [Barouche Driver], Louis Prima [Band Leader], Charles Wilson [Mike Cavanaugh], Hal K. Dawson, Paul Burns [Chumps], Ben Welden [Toby], Horace MacMahon [Irving], Paul Stanton [District Attorney], Harry Hayden [Dexter], Charles Lane [Sam Kress], Adrian Morris [Jim], John Hamilton [Judge], Winifred Harris [Mrs. Russell], Additional Cast: Igor and Tanya [Specialty Dancers], Chick Chandler [Master of Ceremonies], Murray Alper [Candy Butcher], Ralph Dunn [Officer], Edgar Dearing [Lieutenant], Robert "Buddy" Shaw [Reporter], James Flavin [Guard], Leonard Kibrick [Newsboy], Irene Wilsen [Miss Lust], Bert Roach [Mr. Paunch], Maurice Cass [Mr. Mork], Bess Flowers [Dinner Guest]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "Rose of Washington Square" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Pretty Baby (sung by Al Jolson); [0:03] I'm Sorry I Made You Cry (sung by Alice Faye); [0:05] Ja-da (sung by Alice Faye and Chorus); [0:07] The Vamp (sung by Alice Faye and Chorus); [0:16] Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody (sung by Al Jolson); [0:20] Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye (sung and danced by Al Jolson); [0:25] Shine On, Harvest Moon (instrumental played by Louis Prima and His Band at night club); [0:26] I'm Just Wild About Harry (sung by Alice Faye with Louis Prima and His Band); [0:30] The Curse of an Aching Heart (excerpt sung by Tyrone Power and Alice Faye); [0:33] California, Here I Come (sung by Al Jolson); [0:41] I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak (sung by Alice Faye); [0:53] Rose of Washington Square (production number sung by Alice Faye, danced by Igor and Tanya and Chorus, danced by Alice Faye and Chorus -- a true classic!); [1:03] I'm Always Chasing Rainbows (instrumental arrangement used in background score); [1:16] My Mammy (sung by Al Jolson); [1:20] My Man (sung by Alice Faye)