Words and Music (1948)
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64% of users liked it
(873 ratings)
The life stories of Broadway tunesmiths Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are prettified for the screen in MGM's Words and Music. Billed fourth, the colorless Tom Drake plays Rodgers, but never mind that: the film belongs to Mickey Rooney, as the dynamic, self-destructive Lorenz Hart.… More The life stories of Broadway tunesmiths Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are prettified for the screen in MGM's Words and Music. Billed fourth, the colorless Tom Drake plays Rodgers, but never mind that: the film belongs to Mickey Rooney, as the dynamic, self-destructive Lorenz Hart. Understandably, Hart's bisexuality is downplayed. According to MGM, his biggest problem in life is that he was never satisfied with his work. We are, however, especially when those great Rodgers & Hart tunes are performed by the likes of Judy Garland, Janet Leigh, Perry Como, Lena Horne, June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Betty Garrett, Ann Sothern, Mel Torme, Allyn McLerie, Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen. The musical highlights include Garland's powerhouse rendition of Johnny One-Note, Kelly's Slaughter on 10th Avenue dance solo, Horne's interpretation of Where or When, Allyson's take on Thou Swell, and, best of all, Rooney's premiere performance of I'll Take Manhattan, which he allegedly had just written on the back of an automobile advertisement! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Joan Tosoni, Norman Taurog
- Genres
- Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Dec 31, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
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Cast
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Mickey Rooney
as Lorenz "Larry" Hart
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Perry Como
as Eddie Lorrison Anders
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June Allyson
as Guest Star
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Judy Garland
as Guest
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Lena Horne
as Herself
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Gene Kelly
as Himself
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Ann Sothern
as Joyce Harmon
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Tom Drake
as Richard "Dick" Rodgers
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Cyd Charisse
as Margo Grant
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Betty Garrett
as Peggy Lorgan McNeil
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Janet Leigh
as Dorothy Feiner Rodgers
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Marshall Thompson
as Herbert Fields
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Mel Tormé
as Specialty
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Vera-Ellen
as Herself
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Jeanette Nolan
as Mrs. Hart
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Richard Quine
as Ben Feiner Jr.
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Clinton Sundberg
as Shoe Clerk
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Dee Turnell
as Herself
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Harry Antrim
as Dr. Rodgers
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Emory Parnell
as Mr. Feiner
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Helen Spring
as Mrs. Feiner
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Edward Earle
as James Fernby Kelly
- The Blackburn Twins
- John K. Butler
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Ilka Gruning
as Mrs. Rodgers
- Allyn Ann McLerie
- Sig Frohlich
- Joni Mitchell
