Words and Music (1948)

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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,… 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

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 2 min.
Directed By: Joan Tosoni, Norman Taurog
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 31, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Jul 13, 2004
Studio: MGM Home Entertainment

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

When Judy shows up for her two numbers the movie lives, a very few of the other numbers are okay but the rest is some of the worst stuff MGM ever turned out. Mickey Rooney is just awful.

Cast

            Mickey Rooney as Lorenz "Larry" Hart

            Perry Como as Eddie Lorrison Anders

            June Allyson as Guest Star

            Judy Garland as Guest

            Lena Horne as Herself

            Gene Kelly as Himself

            Ann Sothern as Joyce Harmon

            Tom Drake as Richard "Dick" Rodgers

            Cyd Charisse as Margo Grant

            Betty Garrett as Peggy Lorgan McNeil

            Janet Leigh as Dorothy Feiner Rodgers

            Marshall Thompson as Herbert Fields

            Mel Tormé as Specialty

            Vera-Ellen as Herself

            Jeanette Nolan as Mrs. Hart

            Richard Quine as Ben Feiner Jr.

            Clinton Sundberg as Shoe Clerk

            Dee Turnell as Herself

            Harry Antrim as Dr. Rodgers

            Emory Parnell as Mr. Feiner

            Helen Spring as Mrs. Feiner

            Edward Earle as James Fernby Kelly

            The Blackburn Twins
            
            John K. Butler
            
            Ilka Gruning as Mrs. Rodgers

            Allyn Ann McLerie
            
            Sig Frohlich
            
            Joni Mitchell
            
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