Film Festival: Weddings, Hollywood Style Palm Beach Story (1942) gets off to a madcap start during the opening credits! A maid faints. A pastor paces and looks at his watch. A groom and best man hurry into a taxi. A beautiful woman is tied up in a closet. A bride hails a taxi. The wedding…
1942
Lisa’s Home Bijou: Panama Hattie wartime musical
Film Festival: The Islands and Tropicana Panama Hattie (1942) was a hit Broadway play with songs by Cole Porter, starring Ethel Merman, and getting laughs through the unusual casting of 3 comedians as sailors. The play got the Hollywood treatment as a vehicle to support wartime vigilance for spies and raising money through war bonds….
Lisa’s Home Bijou: Song of the Islands musical film
Film Festival: The Islands and Tropicana Song of the Islands (1942) shows the influence of cowboys on the Hawaiian cattle ranches. Ranches in Hawai’i brought an interesting mix of people to the islands. The Hawaiian culture has a strong expression in music and dance, both showcased in this film, with Betty Grable adding extra glamour…
Lisa’s Home Bijou: Springtime in the Rockies
Film Festival: Latin Flavor Carmen Miranda’s vivaciousness and unique style are showcased in the 1942 film, Springtime in the Rockies. Portuguese by birth, Carmen Miranda emigrated to Brazil with her family as a youngster. As a teen she began working as a milliner and sang a bit on the radio. Although Carmen never grew past…
Lisa’s Home Bijou: You Were Never Lovelier
Film Festival: Latin Flavor In You Were Never Lovelier (1942), Rita Hayworth plays a Buenos Aires princess in the style of “Taming of the Shrew.” Margarita Cansino was a dark-haired beauty that first was noticed as her father Eduardo’s ballroom dance partner. In her late teens she made a few movie appearances (Charlie Chan in Egypt). Then…