Hit Parade of 1943 (1943)

One of the many films made at Republic with a year attached to the "Hit Parade" title, which came from the "Hit Parade" radio program sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. On reissue all of... See full summary »

Director:

Albert S. Rogell

Writers:

Frank Gill Jr. (original screenplay), Frances Hyland (additional dialogue)

Stars:

John Carroll, Susan Hayward, Gail Patrick

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Carroll	...	Rick Farrell
Susan Hayward	...	Jill Wright
Gail Patrick	...	Toni Jarrett
Eve Arden	...	Belinda Wright
Melville Cooper	...	Bradley Cole
Walter Catlett	...	J. MacClellan Davis
Mary Treen	...	Janie
Tom Kennedy	...	Westinghouse
Astrid Allwyn	...	Joyce Germaine
Tim Ryan	...	Brownie May
Jack Williams	...	The Harlem Sandman
Dorothy Dandridge	...	Count Basie Band Singer
Albert Whitman	...	Dancer, Pops (as Pops & Louie)
Louis Williams	...	Dancer, Louie (as Pops & Louie)
The Music Maids	...	Singing Group

Storyline

One of the many films made at Republic with a year attached to the "Hit Parade" title, which came from the "Hit Parade" radio program sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. On reissue all of the entries underwent a title change from "Hit Parade of 19??" to, usually, a title of a song contained in the film, as happened in the case of this film when it was reissued as "Change of Heart" in 1949, and not known under that title until 1949. Not reissuing the film under the original title of "Hit Parade of 1943" had a two-fold purpose; the audiences of that era were not much interested in seeing a film twice, and a changed title-even when the original title was clearly shown in (very) small print in the ads and on the posters---had a chance of being seen again by that segment of the ticket-buying public who didn't read the small print. The plot here is just a trifle---Susan Hayward ghost writes songs for composer John Carroll, whose charms evidently outweighed his song-writing ability---...

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Plot Keywords:

song | dancing | radio program | dancer | radio | 

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Taglines:

THE PEAK OF SWING PLAYED BY THE RHYTHM KING! (original poster - all caps)

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Genres:

Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Change of Heart

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min 67 min (1949 re-release)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995)

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Soundtracks

"Change of Heart"
(uncredited)
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Harold Adamson
Sung by John Carroll

User Reviews

The 20 Year Old Dorothy Dandridge

Although this was a dull film, the 20 year old Dorothy Dandridge was outstanding in this token production for marginalised performers. It was good to get Dandridge alongside of Susan Hayward, but as a self contained film it was diabolical.