George Murphy, Ginny Simms, Charles Winninger, Gloria DeHaven, Lena Horne, Nancy Walker, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson
Screening in glorious Technicolor, Roy Del Ruth’s backstage musical is packed with extraordinary delights.
Broadway producer Johnnie Demming (played by future US Senator George Murphy) is struggling to find a star for his latest attraction. When starlet Helen Hoyt (Ginny Simms) blows into town, he thinks she’d be perfect, but Helen isn’t convinced Johnnie has a hit on his hands. To make matters worse, Johnnie’s vaudevillian father (Charles Winninger) doesn’t want to be in the show – instead beginning one of his own, and trying to steal some of the very talent Johnnie hopes to attract…
Enjoy Lena Horne’s sensational renditions of ‘Somebody Loves Me’ and ‘Brazilian Boogie’, Tommy Dorsey leading the big band brass, and dazzling performances from pianist Hazel Scott and the breathtaking singing and dancing Ross Sisters.
Screening on a 35mm Technicolor dye transfer print from the BFI National Archive.
Please note: this film will screen in the evening at BFI Southbank in a screening also open to the public, for which the ICO will have a limited number of comps available. The screening will be introduced by Robin Baker, Head Curator, BFI National Archive.