The genius of Richard A. Whiting
The films that had music and songs written for them by Richard A. Whiting from 1928-1938
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- DirectorBusby BerkeleyStarsDick PowellRosemary LaneLola LaneRonny Bowers, a saxophonist in Benny Goodman's band, has won a talent contest and a ten week contract with a film studio. On his first evening he is supposed to go with the studio's star Mona Marshall to a movie premiere. But she doesn't want to go, so the bosses decide to use a double for her: Virginia. When Mona finds out next morning that happened, she insisted to fire her double and Ronny. Ronny finds work as a singing waiter in a drive-in, and is spotted by a director of the same studio, who wants him to lend his voice for a leading actor in a musical. After the first screening Louella Parsons invites him to sing on her program, "Hollywood Hotel". He accepts, not knowing that Ronny Bowers does not want to lend him his voice again. So everybody starts to play his little game to solve his own problems.A classic movie that Richard A. Whiting wrote the incredible and iconic song "Hooray for Hollywood"
- DirectorWilliam KeighleyStarsDick PowellFred Waring and His PennsylvaniansTed HealyA former student who is now a big Broadway show producer with three flops to his reputation, is invited back to direct the College's annual student stage show.Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer together wrote the score to this classic film, the songs included "Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?" and "You've Got Something There"
- DirectorRichard WallaceStarsMaurice ChevalierSylvia BeecherRussell SimpsonMaurice, a humble Parisian junk dealer who sells some of his wares at the Flea market, saves a boy from drowning. The boy's aunt Louise is grateful and wins Maurice's affections, but the lad's grandfather despises him. The jaunty junk man gets a great offer to sing in an important show and launch a theatrical career, but Louise is against it and at length, he must choose between the two.This was Maurice Chevalier's first English speaking film, which introduced the Richard A. Whiting and Leo Robin classic "Louise"
- DirectorGeorge CukorErnst LubitschStarsMaurice ChevalierJeanette MacDonaldGenevieve TobinAn unhappily married couple try to come between a happy one.One of two Ernst Lubitsch classics for which Richard A. Whiting contributed to the score. Whiting and Leo Robin together wrote the title song "One Hour With You"
- DirectorErnst LubitschStarsJeanette MacDonaldJack BuchananClaud AllisterA countess flees to Monte Carlo on the day of her wedding, where she is courted by a count posing as a hairdresser.This was one of two Ernst Lubitsch classics that Richard A. Whiting wrote the music for. This film introduced the iconic song "Beyond the Blue Horizon" the music to that song includes railroad noises and sounds from the scene, this was the first time that technique had ever been done, it was Whiting's wonderful music that made the scene possible.
- DirectorRay EnrightStarsRuby KeelerLee DixonAllen JenkinsTwo songwriters want to cast a British star in their new show.This film introduced the iconic song "Too Marvelous for Words" Written by Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer.
- DirectorLudwig BergerStarsMaurice ChevalierFrances DeeO.P. HeggieWaiter Albert is incompetent is in conflict with the owner and his daughter. However a surprise inheritance means he must keep his job by day while escorting a glamorous socialite by night.This Maurice Chevalier film is not very well known today except for its introduction of the classic song "My Ideal" written by Richard A. Whiting and Leo Robin.
- DirectorVictor SchertzingerStarsCharles 'Buddy' RogersKathryn CrawfordJosephine DunnA songwriter hires three chorus girls to show him the "underside" of big-city life.A classic Charles "Buddy" Rogers film which brought about the major song hit "My Future Just Passed" written by Richard A. Whiting and George Marion Jr.
- DirectorSidney LanfieldStarsAlice FayeAdolphe MenjouGregory RatoffNightclub singer Joan Warren's agent Nicky puts her into situations designed to advance her career.This film garnered an Academy Award nomination for best original song for the song "When Did You Leave Heaven" written by Richard A. Whiting and Walter Bullock.
- DirectorLloyd BaconStarsDick PowellPat O'BrienPriscilla LaneAn actor can only get a radio job if he can prove that he's an authentic cowboy.This is a very early Ronald Reagan film with a catchy soundtrack written by Richard A. Whiting and Johnny Mercer. It included the big hit "Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride."
- DirectorNorman Z. McLeodStarsJohnny DownsBetty BurgessJack HaleySouthern California's Hotel Coronado caters to, and is frequented by, members of the social upper-crust. Although she lives on the wrong side of the San Diego tracks, in a tent-city with her father Otto and ditzy sister Violet, June Wray is a singer with the Eddy Duchin Orchestra who play at the hotel. Johnny Marvin, an aspiring songwriter and the son of a wealthy automobile manufacturer, is staying at the hotel, and the moment June and Johnny meet, they fall instantly in love. Trouble arises when Johnny's father objects to the romance, and complications and help arrive in the form of two Marine-hating sailors, Chuck Hornbostel and "Pinky" Falls, when Chuck marries June's sister Violet.This is a film which featured the Eddy Duchin Orchestra introducing several wonderful songs including the Richard A. Whiting and Sam Coslow hits "How Do I Rate With You" and "You Took My Breath Away"
- DirectorJohn CromwellA. Edward SutherlandStarsHal SkellyNancy CarrollDorothy RevierWhen a vaudeville comic and a pretty young dancer have little luck in their separate careers, they decide to combine their acts; to save money on the road, they get married.An adaptation of a stage show titled "Burlesque" the soundtrack was written by Richard A. Whiting, Leo Robin, and Sam Coslow. It included the major hit "True Blue Lou" which was later recorded by such artists as Ethel Waters and Tony Bennett.
- DirectorNorman TaurogStarsJack OakieGeorge BurnsGracie AllenSpud Miller hopes to save his struggling radio station by winning a broadcast competition, with the help of the Radio Eye, an invention that can display live events from anywhere in the world.One of the early Big Broadcasts, which featured such actors as Bing Crosby, George Burns, and Jake Oakie. The soundtrack was mostly written by the songwriting team of Richard A. Whiting, Ralph Rainger, and Leo Robin.
- DirectorFrank TuttleStarsNancy CarrollHelen KaneStanley SmithA chorus girl inherits a men's college where her boyfriend is a star football player.This film brought us the landmark song "My Sweeter Than Sweet" written by Richard A. Whiting and George Marion Jr.
- DirectorLeo McCareyStarsJack OakieJeanette MacDonaldRichard 'Skeets' GallagherDress designer Joan Wood, who's heavily in debt, has created costumes for a Broadway show that is exported to Argentina. With the money she wants to pay her debts, but there was a mistake: she is receiving the money in Buenos Aires, not in New York. Her friend Wally Wendell, whose grandfather does not approve of his relationship with her, wants him to marry a girl he hasn't seen for some years named Constance Cook, whose grandfather is the owner of a ship traveling to Buenos Aires and Constance is one of the passengers. Wally's friend Basil has caused a freak accident with Voltair McGuines' cab, who wants his money for the damage. Basil asks Wally, but he has been disinherited and lost all credit by his grandfather, because he still wants Joan.A predictable plot but wonderful acting and a fantastic soundtrack written by Richard A. Whiting and George Marion Jr.
- DirectorGeorge AbbottStarsCharles MackGeorge MoranEvelyn BrentGeorge's partner in vaudeville quits their act, claiming that Betty has broken his heart. George then teams up with Charlie, a stranded trouper, and Irving becomes their manager. Later, in New York, the "Two Black Crows" star in their own revue and save money to build their own theater on Broadway. Betty comes to the theater with her lover, who poses as a cousin and induces George to hire her. He showers her with jewels and money. She tries to persuade George to invest in oil stock her lover is selling, and though their act is a success, Charlie fires Betty. When Charlie and Betty's lover quarrel, Charlie is injured.The Ethel Waters hits "Shoo Shoo Bogie Boo" and "Do I know What I'm Doing (While I'm In Love)" were written for this film by Richard A. Whiting and Leo Robin and Sam Coslow.