Kathryn Grayson

Show Boat

by user
May 4, 2022March 29, 2023

Show Boat (1951) starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner

Product description of Show Boat

One of the greatest Broadway musicals comes to the screen in this tale of music, racial bigotry and enduring love as outsized as the American heartland set aboard a Mississippi River Show Boat. Magnolia Brown has grown up onboard a sailing theater, plying the river from town to town to entertain people, and she has always dreamed of a life on stage. When the star’s, Julie LaVerne part African American ancestry is revealed and she is forced to leave, Magnolia steps in to take Julie’s place on stage.

Magnolia soon falls in love with her leading man, the handsome gambler and rogue, Gaylord Ravenal (Howard Keel—Kiss Me Kate, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), and the two marry, have a daughter and live happily–for a while. But Ravenal’s gambling debts force Magnolia to find a job, and Julie LaVerne again leaves her starring role–this time voluntarily–to give Magnolia the break she needs, an opportunity that leads to stardom.

It Happened in Brooklyn

by user
August 10, 2018January 2, 2022

It Happened in Brooklyn (1947) starring Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Peter Lawford, Jimmy Durante, Gloria Grahame

Synopsis of It Happened in Brooklyn

“Everybody is miserable in Brooklyn!” declares Anne Fielding, a pretty music teacher. It may start out that way, but Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Jimmy Durante, and Peter Lawford bring plenty of music, romance, and laughter to New York’s most colorful borough. Anne (Grayson) has to teach music because her opera career started off on the wrong note. Army private Dannie Miller (Sinatra) is too shy to let anyone hear him sing. Jamie, an English duke’s grandson (Lawford), is too stuffy to fit in. And Nick, the janitor (Durante), has never known love. But they all discover anything is possible if they believe in each other and the spirit of Brooklyn.

Ziegfeld Follies

by user
February 4, 2018September 22, 2021

Ziegfeld Follies (1945) starring William Powell, Red Skelton, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Lucille Ball, Lena Horne, Kathryn Grayson and many more

Ziegfeld Follies is an attempt at recreating the spectacle of Flo Ziegfeld’s famous Broadway shows … And so the film is a series of unrelated musical and comedy routines. They’re unconnected except by the narration of the ghostly Flo Ziegfeld (played by William Powell) as he sits back in Heaven, thinking of the spectacles that he could create with then-current stars. The various acts include:

Till the Clouds Roll By

by user
January 1, 2018September 24, 2023

Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) starring Robert Walker, Van Heflin, Paul Langton, Dorothy Patrick

A fictionalized biography of composer Jerome Kern, that begins with a short version of his famous Show Boat musical, with much of his life told in flashback, including his partnership with Oscar Hammerstein. It’s historical accuracy is poor, but Till the Clouds Roll By makes up for it with numerous musical numbers by the great singers of the day.

The Vanishing Virginian

by user
June 2, 2017November 1, 2022

The Vanishing Virginian (1942), starring Frank Morgan, Kathryn Grayson

Frank Morgan stars in a rare leading role in The Vanishing Virginian and does it well. It’s a sweet, tender story – with moments of bitter-sweetness. The funeral scene for Josh is truly touching, as well as giving Kathryn Grayson an opportunity to sing beautifully.

Anchors Aweigh [Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly]

by user
March 5, 2016August 14, 2022

Editorial review of Anchors Aweigh (1945) courtesy of Amazon.com

Photo of Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson and Gene Kelly from -- 'Anchors Aweigh''. — Photo of Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson and Gene Kelly from — ‘Anchors Aweigh”, originally published in Screenland April 1945.

Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra teamed up for their first of three musical comedies in this frothy confection of sailors on leave in Hollywood, with gawky, shy young Sinatra tagging along with his worldly buddy Kelly, who promises to show him the ropes. Overlong at more than two hours, this meandering production is light on story, and more than a little sentimental, but full of first-rate entertainment. Sinatra croons “I Fall in Love Too Easily” and “What Makes the Sunset,” chirpy costar Kathryn Grayson sings “All of a Sudden My Heart Sings,” classical pianist Jose Iturbi provides a little highbrow interlude, and Gene Kelly dances with cartoon mouse Jerry (of Tom and Jerry fame) when not chasing dames.

Thousands Cheer

by user
April 16, 2015September 18, 2022

Thousands Cheer (1943) starring Gene Kelly, Kathryn Grayson

Thousands Cheer is a musical romance, set in the U.S.A. during World War II. The first half of the movie deals with Kathryn Roberts (played by Kathryn Grayson). She’s a concert singer who is retiring from the stage to work on putting on shows for the Army, to help morale. This is also designed to let her bond with her father, an Army colonel. Whom she hasn’t seen since she was a baby, after her parents’ divorce.

Lovely to Look At, starring Red Skelton, Howard Keel

by user
February 19, 2012June 12, 2022

movie review of Lovely to Look At (1952) starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Red Skelton, Ann Miller

Lovely to Look At is a combination romance, musical, comedy, and fashion show — no, really. It’s the story of three Americans (Al Marsh played by Red Skelton, Tony Naylor played by Howard Keel, Jerry Ralby played by Gower Champion). They are looking for financial backers for the Broadway show they want to put on … unsuccessfully. They are out of options, when Al’s Aunt Roberta dies. She left him with partial ownership of a fashionable Paris dress shop.