My Gal Sal (1942)

Chronicles the early life of gay nineties-era songwriter Paul Dresser as he outgrows his job as carnival entertainer and moves up into New York society, writing one hit song after another. ... See full summary »

Director:

Irving Cummings

Writers:

Theodore Dreiser (story), Seton I. Miller (screenplay),

Stars:

Rita Hayworth, Victor Mature, John Sutton

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rita Hayworth	...	Sally Elliott
Victor Mature	...	Paul Dresser
John Sutton	...	Fred Haviland
Carole Landis	...	Mae Collins
James Gleason	...	Pat Hawley
Phil Silvers	...	Wiley
Walter Catlett	...	Col. Truckee
Mona Maris	...	Countess Rossini
Frank Orth	...	McGuiness
Stanley Andrews	...	Mr. Dreiser
Margaret Moffatt	...	Mrs. Dreiser (as Margaret Moffat)
Libby Taylor	...	Ida
John Kelly	...	John L. Sullivan
Curt Bois	...	De Rochemont
Hermes Pan	...	Dancing Partner

Storyline

Chronicles the early life of gay nineties-era songwriter Paul Dresser as he outgrows his job as carnival entertainer and moves up into New York society, writing one hit song after another. Despite his egotistical behavior, he manages to woo and win Sally Elliott, one of the more popular songstresses of the day.

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Plot Keywords:

1890s | character name in title

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Königin vom Broadway

Filming Locations:

Stage 16, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Studio head Darryl F. Zanuck originally wanted Carole Landis to play Sally Elliot, but she refused to dye her hair red and declared she'd play it as a blonde. The movie mogul promptly moved her to a secondary role and borrowed Rita Hayworth from Columbia, since Alice Faye, expecting her first daughter, could not take the part.

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Quotes

Paul Dresser: Look. If you don't like my act, why don't you get out of here.
Fred Haviland: Like it? Why, you're the hit of the show.
Sally Elliott: It's one of the funniest acts I ever saw.
Paul Dresser: Funny? What's funny about it?
Sally Elliott: Wasn't it?
Paul Dresser: You know very well it wasn't, nobody else was laughing.
Sally Elliott: But there was two pianos. And that suit. What could you expect?
Paul Dresser: What's wrong with my suit?
Sally Elliott: It's all right if you can stand the noise.

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Soundtracks

"ON THE GAY WHITE WAY"
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics Leo Robin
Performed by Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Nan Wynn), Hermes Pan and Chorus

User Reviews

Nostalgic gay '90s period musical...standard but fun...

RITA HAYWORTH and VICTOR MATURE make a pleasant co-starring team, although it's hate at first sight, proof positive that true love never does run smooth...at least not in these sort of backstage musicals where the paper-thin plot depends upon the boy-loses-girl-until-final-reel contrivances.

Rita has a temper to match her red hair and when she tears up all of Mature's clothes, he does the same to her. And so it goes. They fuss and feud all over the screen until the last moment--but it's all done with such style and charm that you can't resist it.

Alice Faye was supposed to do Rita's role but she was expecting a baby so Rita signed on. As usual, someone else dubs her singing but her dancing is a sheer delight and the technicolor costumes are showcased in all of the musical numbers.

Given short shrift in the cast is CAROLE LANDIS, with almost nothing to do after a bright start, and handsome JOHN SUTTON has a thankless role as Rita's would be suitor. Too bad Fox could never find a worthy starring role for him.

Fun to watch (if you like musicals) and easy to take.