Three Little Words 1950

Three Little Words
MGM, 1950, Color, 103 minutes, ***½
Released July, 1950

This is a film biography based on the lives and careers of the Tin Pan Alley song-writing team Kalmar and Ruby (many of their songs are still familiar today). It's a fun-filled film with a great cast. From today's perspective it is notable for one of Debbie Reynolds' earliest film appearances, singing (actually lip-syncing to Helen Kane's voice) "I Wanna Be Loved By You" to Carleton Carpenter.

Also of interest is Gloria DeHaven playing the part of her real-life mother singing "Who's Sorry Now." This is also one of the more accurate of the musical biographies, and the film's technical adviser was none other than Harry Ruby. Other musical highlights include Vera-Ellen and Fred Astaire's "Mr. and Mrs. Hoofer at Home," Vera-Ellen's "Come On, Papa" and Arlene Dahl's "I Love You So Much."

The film begins with the statement, "Back around 1919, a couple of fellows met in Tin Pan Alley and formed a song-writing team. They were Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby -- real people -- whose songs became a real part of America. This picture deals with some of their songs and some of their adventures."

This was Debbie Reynolds' MGM film debut.


Produced by: Jack Cummings
Directed by: Richard Thorpe
Screen Play by: George Wells
Based on the Lives and Songs of Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Technical Advisor: Harry Ruby
Songs: "Three Little Words," "Where Did You Get That Girl," "I Wanna Be Loved by You," "Come On Papa," "I Love You So Much," "My Sunny Tennessee," So Long! Oo-Long (How Long You Gonna Be Gone?)," "Thinking of You," "Nevertheless I'm in Love with You"
Music Director: André Previn
Musical Direction: André Previn
Orchestrations: Leo Arnaud
Dances Created and Directed by: Hermes Pan
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Arthur Krams
Costumes by: Helen Rose
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Harry Jackson
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe
Montage Sequence by: Peter Ballbusch
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch
Film Editor: Ben Lewis

Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Score - Musical (André Previn)

Cast: Fred Astaire [Bert Kalmar], Red Skelton [Harry Ruby], Vera-Ellen [Jessie Brown Kalmar], Arlene Dahl [Eileen Percy], Keenan Wynn [Charlie Kope], Gale Robbins [Terry Lordel], Gloria DeHaven [Mrs. Carter DeHaven (her real-life mother)], Phil Regan [Himself], Harry Shannon [Clanahan], Debbie Reynolds [Helen Kane], Paul Harvey [Al Masters], Carleton Carpenter [Dan Healy], George Metkovich [Al Schacht], The Great Mendoza [Himself], Additional Cast: Billy Gray [Boy], Pat Flaherty [Coach], Pierre Watkin [Philip Goodman], Syd Saylor [Barker], Elzie Emanuel [Black Boy], Sherry Hall [Pianist], Pat Williams [Assistant], Charles Wagenheim [Waiter], Tony Taylor [Kid], Phyllis Kennedy [Mother], Donald Kerr [Stage Manager], Beverly Michaels [Francesca Ladovan], Bert Davidson [Director], William Tannen [Director], George Sherwood [Director], Harry Barris [Guest Piano Player], Alex Gerry [Marty Collister], Helen Kane [singing voice of Debbie Reynolds], Anita Ellis [singing voice of Vera-Ellen]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "Three Little Words" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Where Did You Get That Girl (sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen dubbed by Anita Ellis); [0:07] She's Mine, All Mine (sung by The Lady Killers Quartet); [0:14] Mr. and Mrs. Hoofer at Home (instrumental danced by Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen); [0:23] "The Shores of Araby" (sung by Red Skelton, Fred Astaire helps him work on the lyric); [0:25] My Sunny Tennessee (sung by Fred Astaire and Red Skelton and it turns into "My Sunny Tennessee"); [0:28] "Three Little Words" (a few bars demonstrated by Red Skelton for Fred Astaire - he continues to work on this tune all through the film); [0:31] So Long! Oo-Long (How Long You Gonna Be Gone?) (sung by Fred Astaire and Red Skelton in music store); [0:32] Who's Sorry Now? (beautifully sung by Gloria DeHaven); [0:36] Test Dance (instrumental danced tentatively by Fred Astaire, includes reprise of "Where Did You Get That Girl," sung and danced by Fred Astaire to test his leg); [0:39] Come On Papa (sung and danced by Vera-Ellen and Men's Chorus, Vera-Ellen dubbed by Anita Ellis); [0:42] Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You) (sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen, Vera-Ellen dubbed by Anita Ellis); [0:49] All Alone Monday (sung by Gale Robbins in nightclub); [0:42] You Smiled at Me (excerpt sung by Arlene Dahl); [0:54] All Alone Monday (sung by Gale Robbins in the show "The Ramblers"); [1:03] I Wanna Be Loved By You (played on piano and sung by Fred Astaire, with Debbie Reynolds throwing in Boo-Boop-Ah-Doo); [1:04] I Wanna Be Loved By You (sung by Helen Kane dubbing for Debbie Reynolds); [1:06] Montage (Up in the Clouds from "Five O'Clock Girl" excerpts sung by Chorus); [1:07] Thinking of You (sung by Anita Ellis dubbing for Vera-Ellen, beautifully danced by Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen); [1:14] Hooray for Captain Spalding (short excerpt sung by Red Skelton and Fred Astaire -- used in the stage comedy "Animal Crackers" by the Marx Brothers [also used in the film]); [1:16] "I Love You So Much" (a few bars sung by Red Skelton, and lyric tried with the "Three Little Words" melody); [1:17] I Love You So Much (sung and danced by Arlene Dahl and Men's Chorus); [1:21] "The Shores of Araby" (excerpt sung by party guests); [1:27] Thinking of You (excerpt sung by Arlene Dahl); [1:30] You Are My Lucky Star (short excerpt sung by Phil Regan); [1:34] Fred Astaire and Red Skelton try to work on lyric for "Three Little Words"; [1:37] Medley: My Sunny Tennessee / Who's Sorry Now / I Wanna Be Loved by You / Thinking of You / So Long! Oo-Long / Nevertheless (sung by Fred Astaire and Red Skelton); [1:40] Three Little Words (excerpt sung by Fred Astaire, reprised by Phil Regan)