During 1951 to 1955 Jonie Taps made wonderful light hearted musicals for Columbia Pictures. They all had familiar songs and you always felt good when leaving the theatre. Frankie Laine was always the lead and this time he had Terry Moore of "Come Back Little Sheba" and tall Jerome Cowan singing and the love interest. This film was about the radio/television industry with early color television. I just saw this cute musical and it brought a smile to my face. I wish Columbia would release these Frankie Laine/Jonie Tap musicals. Others in the musical series are "Rainbow Round My Shoulder," "Bring Your Smile Along," and "He Laughed Last."
6 Reviews
It's a rare movie that didn't play New York -- and this one is good!
JohnHowardReid22 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Copyright 27 August 1951 by Columbia Pictures Corp. No New York opening. U.S. release: September 1951. Australian release: 22 August 1952. 6,432 feet. 71 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: An established singer (Frankie Lane) helps a young man (Jerome Courtland) build a successful career in television. — Copyright summary.
COMMENT: I suppose there must be a few of my contemporaries who are not fans of Frankie Laine, but I've yet to meet them. This film makes a pleasant enough offering for us fans. Our only complaint is that Frankie doesn't do enough singing on his own account. Jerome Courtland is okay, but Laine is the man we pay to hear!
OTHER VIEWS: A highly entertaining, all-in-color musical, Columbia Pictures' "Sunny Side of the Street", opened yesterday at the Sunnybank Theatre. Advertising for the film uses the line, "Just direct your feet to the Sunny Side of the Street", valid advice, indeed!
The new Columbia picture in SuperCineColor is a tune-filled treat, comedy-crammed and romance-loaded pleasantry. The film features eight (sic) of the greatest stars of stage, screen, radio and television: Frankie Laine, Billy Daniels, Terry Moore, Jerome Courtland and Toni Arden.
Nine songs from the all-time parade of hits are heard in Sunny Side of the Street. Laine sings three of these — the title song from the picture and "I'm Going To Live Till I Die", and he does a duet with Toni Arden in "I May Be Wrong". Other songs heard in the film are "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "Too Marvelous for Words", sung by Billy Daniels; "Let's Fall in Love" and "The Love of a Gypsy", sung by Jerome Courtland; and "Sorrento", sung by Toni Arden.
In addition to Laine's unique and popular vocalizing, so distinctive that he has been given the title "Mr Rhythm" by his fans, the picture casts him prominently as a television star who helps a would-be singer "get a break" on air.
Jerome Courtland and Terry Moore play young sweethearts in the film. The former is a singer trying to make good on television; the latter, secretary to a television executive. Acting as Courtland's agent, Miss Moore arranges an audition with Frankie Laine for the youthful vocalist, getting him a chance to sing — commercials! The high points of interest in the film are, of course, the wonderful song and dance sequences featuring Laine, Daniels, Courtland and Miss Arden. Also in the film are Audrey Long as a debutante, Dick Wesson as a television writer and Lynn Bari as Miss Moore's love-cynical room-mate.
Lee Loeb wrote the screenplay for "Sunny Side of the Street", reportedly taking advantage of the television background of the story for song-and-dance routines, and Richard Quine directed for producer Jonie Taps. - Columbia Press Release.
SYNOPSIS: An established singer (Frankie Lane) helps a young man (Jerome Courtland) build a successful career in television. — Copyright summary.
COMMENT: I suppose there must be a few of my contemporaries who are not fans of Frankie Laine, but I've yet to meet them. This film makes a pleasant enough offering for us fans. Our only complaint is that Frankie doesn't do enough singing on his own account. Jerome Courtland is okay, but Laine is the man we pay to hear!
OTHER VIEWS: A highly entertaining, all-in-color musical, Columbia Pictures' "Sunny Side of the Street", opened yesterday at the Sunnybank Theatre. Advertising for the film uses the line, "Just direct your feet to the Sunny Side of the Street", valid advice, indeed!
The new Columbia picture in SuperCineColor is a tune-filled treat, comedy-crammed and romance-loaded pleasantry. The film features eight (sic) of the greatest stars of stage, screen, radio and television: Frankie Laine, Billy Daniels, Terry Moore, Jerome Courtland and Toni Arden.
Nine songs from the all-time parade of hits are heard in Sunny Side of the Street. Laine sings three of these — the title song from the picture and "I'm Going To Live Till I Die", and he does a duet with Toni Arden in "I May Be Wrong". Other songs heard in the film are "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "Too Marvelous for Words", sung by Billy Daniels; "Let's Fall in Love" and "The Love of a Gypsy", sung by Jerome Courtland; and "Sorrento", sung by Toni Arden.
In addition to Laine's unique and popular vocalizing, so distinctive that he has been given the title "Mr Rhythm" by his fans, the picture casts him prominently as a television star who helps a would-be singer "get a break" on air.
Jerome Courtland and Terry Moore play young sweethearts in the film. The former is a singer trying to make good on television; the latter, secretary to a television executive. Acting as Courtland's agent, Miss Moore arranges an audition with Frankie Laine for the youthful vocalist, getting him a chance to sing — commercials! The high points of interest in the film are, of course, the wonderful song and dance sequences featuring Laine, Daniels, Courtland and Miss Arden. Also in the film are Audrey Long as a debutante, Dick Wesson as a television writer and Lynn Bari as Miss Moore's love-cynical room-mate.
Lee Loeb wrote the screenplay for "Sunny Side of the Street", reportedly taking advantage of the television background of the story for song-and-dance routines, and Richard Quine directed for producer Jonie Taps. - Columbia Press Release.
It is the Sunnier Side of Movie Making-Sunny Side of the Street ***
edwagreen28 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Frankie Laine belts out the title song as he becomes a mentor to Jerome Courtland, an aspiring singer who starts out at a television station as a guide, only to be fired when he is taken away from his post by Terry Moore. A regretful Moore takes on Courtland as his agent in this lively song fest.
The songs sung are just delightful. Add Lynn Bari as a friend of Moore, who works at the station. Bari loses her usual mean status in films and takes on a wise-cracking attitude of being anti-man, until such time that she may catch one.
The story becomes one of jealousy as Courtland meets up with an old flame. The latter just happens to be the daughter of a peanut butter magnate searching to land a show and be its sponsor. Who shall Courtland choose in the end, the boss's daughter or Moore?
The songs sung are just delightful. Add Lynn Bari as a friend of Moore, who works at the station. Bari loses her usual mean status in films and takes on a wise-cracking attitude of being anti-man, until such time that she may catch one.
The story becomes one of jealousy as Courtland meets up with an old flame. The latter just happens to be the daughter of a peanut butter magnate searching to land a show and be its sponsor. Who shall Courtland choose in the end, the boss's daughter or Moore?
It's all about the music.
grammy319 December 2003
Columbia's B musicals with Frankie Laine-Billy Daniels, etc., were all about the music. The plots are just there to, however haltingly, keep things going. Pert Terry Moore pushes tall, gangly, handsome Jerome Courtland to become a singing star. Why not? Courtland (with solos on "Let's Fall In Love", "The Love of a Gypsy" and a duet with Laine on the title song)has a fine voice, if not the performing charisma of the two leads. Daniels, a surprise smash in his first Columbia, keeps up the good work with a warm, relaxed rehearsal in an empty night club with pianist-backup singer Benny Payne, of "Too Marvelous For Words" and "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", later goes full-tilt on "I Get A Kick Out of You". Great camera work on all of Daniels' moments. Laine also gives his usual earnest, energetic and unique approach to his songs, including "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die", "I May Be Wrong" (with Toni Arden, who also gets a solo spot), and a bit of "Pennies From Heaven". Oh. Round tv screens, too! Almost impossible to find on videotape.
A movie made in the transition from radio to television
HallmarkMovieBuff21 July 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This 1951 Columbia musical features contemporary stars and enjoyable songs, with a paper-thin plot of the "B" variety. Besides the title tune, songs include "I'm Gonna Live Till I Die," "I May Be Wrong {but I think you're wonderful}," and "Return to Sorrento," sung in Italian by Toni Arden.
Ted Mason (Jerome Courtland) is a singer with some small-time radio experience who tries to break into TV with the help of coworker Betty Holloway (Terry Moore), who becomes his girl friend and "agent". (I never quite caught her official role at the station.)
Betty brings Ted to the attention of Frankie Laine (playing himself), who encourages Ted, and tells him that he has the sound down for radio, but for TV he'll need to present a more confident visual appearance to sell his songs. (Indeed, Courtland has the smooth voice of a 1940s big band singer, and the good-looks of the Disney star he would later become.)
A series of situations transpire, designed by station operatives to get Ted his own show (and by the movie's producers to feature musical numbers by artists appearing in the movie).
One situation involves bringing in one of Ted's old girl friends, Gloria "Googie" Pelley (Audrey Long), who just happens to be the boss' daughter, and interrupts the romance blooming between Betty and Ted. (Every plot needs some conflict, right?)
Eventually, we get to the end, wherein Courtland and Laine duet the title tune, joining the old (crooner Mason) and new (vocally distinctive Laine), to bring the radio-to-TV transition theme full circle.
"Average," with an extra point for the music.
Ted Mason (Jerome Courtland) is a singer with some small-time radio experience who tries to break into TV with the help of coworker Betty Holloway (Terry Moore), who becomes his girl friend and "agent". (I never quite caught her official role at the station.)
Betty brings Ted to the attention of Frankie Laine (playing himself), who encourages Ted, and tells him that he has the sound down for radio, but for TV he'll need to present a more confident visual appearance to sell his songs. (Indeed, Courtland has the smooth voice of a 1940s big band singer, and the good-looks of the Disney star he would later become.)
A series of situations transpire, designed by station operatives to get Ted his own show (and by the movie's producers to feature musical numbers by artists appearing in the movie).
One situation involves bringing in one of Ted's old girl friends, Gloria "Googie" Pelley (Audrey Long), who just happens to be the boss' daughter, and interrupts the romance blooming between Betty and Ted. (Every plot needs some conflict, right?)
Eventually, we get to the end, wherein Courtland and Laine duet the title tune, joining the old (crooner Mason) and new (vocally distinctive Laine), to bring the radio-to-TV transition theme full circle.
"Average," with an extra point for the music.
You got it, Airfast!
froward-497532 April 2018
Airfast hit the nail on the head when he commented "you always felt good when leaving the theatre after seeing one of his movies". I saw it when I was 15, and I was walking on air after leaving the local cinema screening in Liverpool, England.
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