You Were Never Lovelier- A 1942 Musical Movie Starring Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire- Directed by William Seiter

You Were Never Lovelier- A 1942 Musical Movie Starring Rita Hayworth and Fred Astaire- Directed by William Seiter


Available on Internet Archives


A delightful way to spend 90 minutes


War Time Restrictions meant it had to be shot in black and white


Great Music with a Latin theme, Rita Hayworth, lots of comic twists..

Pal Joey - A 1957 Musical Comedy- directed by George Sidney- Starring Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak, and Frank Sinatra

 

Pal Joey - A 1957 Musical Comedy- directed by George Sidney- Starring Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak, and Frank Sinatra 

Rita Hayworth, Kim Novak, Sinatra Sings and an adorable dog. Set in the theatre world of San Francisco-what not to like?

Pal Joey tells the story of Joey Evans (Sinatra), a charming but ambitious nightclub singer who dreams of opening his own club. He gets involved with two women: Vera Simpson (Hayworth), a wealthy widow who becomes his patron, and Linda English (Novak), a young dancer who falls in love with him.

The film was a critical and commercial success, and it won four Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Song for "The Lady Is a Tramp". Sinatra won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role.

Some of the other notable songs in the film include "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered", "My Funny Valentine", and "You're My Baby".

The film was shot on location in San Francisco, and it features some stunning cinematography.

Cover Girl is a 1944 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Charles Vidor, and starring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. The film tells the story of a chorus girl given a chance at stardom when she is offered an opportunity to be a highly paid cover girl. It was one of the most popular musicals of the war years.

 Available on YouTube 

Cover Girl is a 1944 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Charles Vidor, and starring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. The film tells the story of a chorus girl given a chance at stardom when she is offered an opportunity to be a highly paid cover girl. 

If you like beautiful women, especially if Rita Hayworth entralls you, then Cover Girl is for you. Gene Kelly plays her on and off boyfriend. 

 Primarily a showcase for Hayworth, the film has lavish modern and 1890s costumes, eight dance routines for Hayworth, and songs by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin, including "Long Ago (and Far Away)".

Cover Girl was Columbia's first Technicolor musical, and songwriter Arthur Schwartz's first venture into producing.

Tonight and Every Night - A 1945 Musical -directed by Victor Saville and starring Rita Hayworth, Lee Bowman and Janet Blair. - Set in London During the Blitz - From Columbia Pictures

Tonight and Every Night - A 1945 Musical -directed by Victor Saville and starring Rita Hayworth, Lee Bowman and Janet Blair. - Set in London During the Blitz - From Columbia Pictures

 
Available on YouTube

Tonight and Every Night is set in a London Theater during the Blitz. The theater manager is determined to keep things going even when they have to preform some nights in the subways as bombs crash above them.

Rita Hayworth was the number one "pin up girl" for American troops in World War Two.  In Gilda we saw her in black-and-white, it was glorious to see her in Technicolor.

The film portrays wartime romance and tragedy in a London musical show, loosely modelled on the Windmill Theatre in Soho, that determined not to miss a single performance during the Blitz. Hayworth plays an American showgirl from Saint Louis who falls in love with an RAF pilot played by Bowman.

The film opens with the bombing of London during the Blitz. The Music Box Theatre, a London musical show, is determined to keep performing, even as bombs fall around them. Rosalind Bruce (Hayworth), an American showgirl, is new to the theater and is initially reluctant to perform under such dangerous conditions. However, she soon falls in love with RAF pilot Paul Lundy (Bowman), and her resolve to keep performing strengthens.

The film follows the couple's romance as they navigate the challenges of wartime London. Paul is often away on missions, and Rosalind is left to worry about his safety. The theater is also not immune to the war, and it is damaged in a bombing raid. However, the performers continue to put on shows, determined to bring some joy to the people of London.

Tonight and Every Night was a critical and commercial success. It was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Music, Original Song (for "Anywhere") and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture. The film is considered a classic of the wartime musical genre, and it features some of Hayworth's most iconic performances.

Here are some of the things that make Tonight and Every Night a special film:

The film's setting during the Blitz is both realistic and suspenseful. The bombing scenes are particularly well-done, and they help to create a sense of urgency and danger.

The performances by Hayworth and Bowman are both excellent. Hayworth is particularly radiant in the musical numbers, and she brings a lot of emotional depth to the role of Rosalind.

The film's score is by George Duning and Marlin Skiles, and it is one of the best of any wartime musical. The songs are catchy and memorable, and they help to create a sense of hope and optimism in the face of adversity

Mel Ulm

Gilda- - A 1946 Film Directed by King Vidor - Starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford -run time 1 hour 50 Minutes - distributed by Columbia Pictures

 

Available on YouTube 

Just seeking group reactions

"Gilda is not a musical, even though Hayworth was a musical star for the audiences of 1946. Although she had appeared in nonmusicals as she climbed to stardom (Only Angels Have Wings, Susan and God, The Lady in Question), she had reached the top through her wonderful dancing (and extraordinary glamour) in two musicals with Fred Astaire (You’ll Never Get Rich, You Were Never Lovelier), one with Gene Kelly (Cover Girl), one 20th Century–Fox color success, My Gal Sal, and Columbia’s Tonight and Every Night. To express Gilda’s frustrations, it was suitable for Hayworth to sing (dubbed) and dance. Yet Gilda, the movie, is a film noir with danger, suicide, murder, corruption, Nazis, and barely submerged sexuality. Gilda, a nonmusical, is nevertheless defined by the musical performance of “Put the Blame on Mame.” In fact, Rita Hayworth’s career has also been defined by it" from Movie Musicals by Jennifer Basinger

"Elements of film noir in Gilda: Rita Hayworth is perhaps the best example of a femme fatale in all of film noir. There is definitely a sinister underworld that includes Ballin Mundson and the German mobsters. Most of the action takes place at night. Lots of night clubs and jazz music Double crosses and betrayals galore between the three leads Guns play a huge part. ..Rita Hayworth did not do her own singing in this film. Her songs were actually sung by singer Anita Ellis." From Memorable Film Noir Movies of the 1940s and 1950s by Gary Koca

The film's plot is set in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Johnny Farrell (Glenn Ford) is a small-time American gambler who is caught cheating at blackjack in a casino. He is rescued by Ballin Mundson (George Macready), the casino's owner, who offers him a job as his assistant. The two men become friends, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that Gilda (Rita Hayworth), Mundson's new wife, is Farrell's former lover.

Gilda is a complex and ambiguous character. She is both alluring and dangerous, and she seems to enjoy playing with the men around her. She is also a victim of her own circumstances, and she is ultimately unable to escape the cycle of violence and betrayal that surrounds her

Gilda was a critical and commercial success when it was released in 1946. It was praised for its stylish visuals, Hayworth's performance, and the film's exploration of themes of sexuality and power. The film has since been cited as one of the greatest film noirs ever made, and it has had a lasting influence on popular culture.

Mel Ulm