Sensations of 1945 (1944)

Director:

Andrew L. Stone

Writers:

Frederick J. Jackson (story) and
Andrew L. Stone (writer) ...

Release Date:

30 June 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot Keywords:

Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Eleanor Powell	...	Virginia 'Ginny' Walker
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Junior Crane
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Dan Lindsay
Eugene Pallette	...	Gus Crane
Mimi Forsythe	...	Julia Westcolt
Lyle Talbot	...	Randall
Hubert Castle	...	Olaf, The Great Gustafson
W.C. Fields	...	Himself, W.C. Fields
Sophie Tucker	...	Herself, Sophie Tucker
Dorothy Donegan	...	Herself, Dorothy Donegan
The Christianis	...	Themselves, The Christianis
The Pallenberg Bears	...	Themselves, The Pallenberg Bears
Cab Calloway	...	Himself, Cab Calloway (as Cab Calloway and His Band)
Woody Herman	...	Himself, Woody Herman (as Woody Herman and His Band)
David Lichine	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Sensations (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:Btl

Company:

Andrew L. Stone Productions

Trivia:

Eleanor Powell's final starring role in a movie. After this, she would make only cameo appearances in films.

Goofs:

Factual errors: A routine theater projector is used to project a Cab Calloway short subject on a New York City billboard several blocks away. Because of the focus and intensity of light required, this would be an impossibility anywhere, let alone in a well-lit area like Times Square.

Soundtrack:

Wake Up Man, You're Slippin

Poor attempt at musical review

Another of those flimsy stories coupled with most forgettable musical numbers. Powell and O'Keefe as battling publicists are quite forgettable. However, there are two shining moments. Hubert Castle is the most incredible tightrope walker you will ever see - his "drunken walk" on the wire has to be the most spectacular piece of balancing ever recorded on film. He has to be seen to be believed. The other is Sophie Tucker doing a turn near the end of the film. Her magnetism, her professionalism, her sheer talent at being herself - well, charisma is not learned - you have it or you don't. A great lesson for all would-be cabaret artists. A sad note: W.C. Fields in his last film cameo is completely forgettable.