Words and Music 1948

Words and Music


MGM, 1948, Color, 119 minutes, ***½

Released December, 1948




Lavish production numbers, smart tunes and a constellation of celebrities to deliver them in elegant style - that's Words and Music, the 1948 film starring Mickey Rooney as Lorenz Hart and Tom Drake as Richard Rodgers.



Rodgers and Hart's was a prolific partnership that produced a score of Broadway shows and numerous tunes for Hollywood. The fruits of their labor are heralded here, as Perry Como croons "Mountain Greenery," June Allyson teases a crew of knights with "Thou Swell," Lena Horne coos "Where or When," then picks up the beat for a snappy "The Lady Is a Tramp." All this is capped by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in a smartly-choreographed duet of "I Wish I Were in Love Again" and Gene Kelly high-kicking his way through a dazzling "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," featuring Vera-Ellen.



Producer Arthur Freed's legendary credits include Singin' in the Rain, Gigi and An American in Paris, and his Words and Music is a must for every collector of great screen musicals.

This biopic of the legendary song-writing team Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart is rather depressing and largely fictional. Just ignore all that. Watch it for the music! It's a fantastic Rodgers & Hart concert! Too many great numbers to single any out any highlights - they're all wonderful!



Produced by: Arthur Freed

Directed by: Norman Taurog

Screenplay: Fred Finklehoffe

Story by: Guy Bolton and Jean Holloway

Adaptation by: and Ben Feiner, Jr.

Based in the Lives and Music of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

Musical Direction: Lennie Hayton

Orchestration: Conrad Salinger

Vocal Arrangements: Robert Tucker

Musical Numbers Staged and Directed by: Robert Alton

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Jack Martin Smith

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Richard A. Pefferle

Women's Costumes by: Helen Rose

Men's Costumes by: Valles

Hair Styles Created by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer, John A. Williams

Director of Photography: Charles Rosher, Harry Stradling

Special Effects: Warren Newcombe

Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus

Associate: James Gooch

Film Editors: Albert Akst and Ferris Webster



Cast of the Story: Perry Como [Eddie Lorrison Anders], Mickey Rooney [Lorenz "Larry" Hart], Ann Sothern [Joyce Harmon], Tom Drake [Richard "Dick" Rodgers], Betty Garrett [Peggy Lorgan McNeil], Janet Leigh [Dorothy Feiner], Marshall Thompson [Herbert Fields], Jeanette Nolan [Mrs. Hart], Richard Quine [Bob Feiner, Jr.], Clinton Sundberg [Shoe Clerk], Harry Antrim [Dr. Rodgers], Ilka Gruning [Mrs. Rodgers], Emory Parnell [Mr. Feiner], Helen Spring [Mrs. Feiner], Edward Earl [James Fernby Kelly], Guest Stars: June Allyson, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Mel Torme, Vera-Ellen, Dee Turnell, Emory Parnell, Helen Spring, Edward Earl, The Blackburn Twins, Allyn McLerie



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played and sung by The MGM Studio Orchestra and Chorus); [0:09] Manhattan [from "Garrick Gaieties"] (sung by Mickey Rooney with Tom Drake at the Piano [onscreen], then sung by Mickey, Tom Drake and Marshall Thompson); [0:17] There's a Small Hotel [from "On Your Toes"] (sung by Betty Garrett at party); [0:20] Mountain Greenery [from "Garrick Gaieties"] (sung by Perry Como, Allyn McLerie and Chorus, danced by Chorus -- really cute number); [0:32] Way Out West [from "Babes in Arms"] (sung by Betty Garrett at speakeasy); [0:34] Where's That Rainbow [from "Peggy Ann"] (sung and danced by Ann Sothern and Chorus); [0:43] On Your Toes [from "On Your Toes"] (sung and danced by Cyd Charisse and Dee Turnell); [0:45] This Can't Be Love [from "The Boys from Syracuse"] (instrumental danced by Chorus Girls); [0:46] Girl Friend [from "The Girl Friend"] (instrumental danced by Cyd Charisse, Dee Turnell and Chorus Girls); [0:53] Blue Room [from "The Girl Friend"] (sung by Perry Como and Chorus, danced by Cyd Charisse); [1:04] Thou Swell [from "A Connecticut Yankee"] (sung and danced by June Allyson and The Blackburn Twins); [1:10] With a Song in My Heart [from "Spring Is Here"] (sung by Tom Drake at the piano); [1:12] With a Song in My Heart [from "Spring Is Here"] (played by Orchestra behind montage); [1:13] Where or When [from "Babes in Arms"] (sung by Lena Horne); [1:15] The Lady Is a Tramp [from "Babes in Arms"] (sung by Lena Horne); [1:27] I Wish I Were in Love Again [from "Babes in Arms"] (sung and danced by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney); [1:29] Johnny One Note [from "Babes in Arms"] (sung by Judy Garland); [1:34] Blue Moon [popular song] (sung by Mel Torme); [1:38] Spring Is Here [from "I Married an Angel"] (spoken by Mickey Rooney); [1:43] Slaughter on Tenth Avenue [from "On Your Toes"] (ballet danced by Gene Kelly, Vera-Ellen and Chorus); [1:56] Finale: With a Song in My Heart (introduction by Gene Kelly, sung by Perry Como and Chorus with montage of clips from many of the numbers in the movie); [2:00] With a Song in My Heart (played by Orchestra behind end credits)