I’d kind of assumed that with all the wonderful ghosty-themed programming going on over TCM this month, they wouldn’t have time to also fit in a bounty of musicals, but somehow they did! In fact, they’re so rare that I’ve seen almost none of them, and will have to leave you to your own devices. Some interesting folks in there though, so perhaps you’ll find a new discovery?
Friday October 3
2:00pm / Thousands Cheer (1948)
Kathryn Grayson and Gene Kelly in a wartime romance. Literal acrobatic work from Kelly on the trapeze, and a lengthy revue number featuring a bevy of MGM stars.
Monday October 6
6:00am / Swing High, Swing Low (1937)
Up-and-down musical drama starring Fred MacMurray and Carole Lombard.
4:30am / The Phantom Tollbooth (1969)
Chuck Jones animation from the classic children’s book.
Wednesday October 8
3:45am / Two Tickets to Broadway (1951)
Part of TCM’s October celebration of Janet Leigh. Here she plays a small-town girl with dreams of Broadway success.
Friday October 10
7:30am / Sally (1930)
Marilyn Miller is the orphan girl who makes good in this film version of a Ziegfeld musical sensation.
9:15am / Spring Is Here (1930)
The first Rodgers and Hart show to be made into a film. A girl must choose between the nice guy and the bad boy.
Tuesday October 14
11:15am / Stingaree (1934)
Bandit Richard Dix kidnaps opera singer Irene Dunne, falls in love, makes her a star.
5:00pm / Silver Skates (1943)
Ice skate musical that features, among others, a nine-year-old Kenny Baker (of later Star Wars fame).
Sunday October 19
8:00am / Holiday In Mexico (1946)
Ambassador’s daughter Jane Powell spends a holiday in Mexico, falling for José Iturbi… and maybe someone more appropriate.
Monday October 20
7:30am / Rio Rita (1929)
Another Ziegfeld export, with Bebe Daniels and John Boles. Note that this is not the later Abbott and Costello version.
2:00am / Lili (1953)
Another orphan making good, but she’s French this time… so she must be Leslie Caron.
Friday October 24
6:00am / The Devil’s Brother (1933)
Laurel and Hardy support bandit Dennis King in this operetta, and probably don’t get into any trouble or mixups.
Sunday October 26
6:00am / Irene (1940)
Irish shopgirl Anna Neagle falls for wealthy playboy Ray Milland.
8:00am / New Moon (1940)
We’re back to the MacDonald and Eddys! This one’s set in Louisiana amongst French aristocracy.
It will be interesting to see Marilyn Miller.
Oh, please do give Sally a view for a rare glimpse of the great Marilyn Miller. The film only survives in black and white (so her make up looks awful and hard), but there is one sequence that survives in color and she looks lovely. Thanks for the reminder!