The Road to Hollywood (1947)

Exploitation film-maker Bud Pollard appears on screen to tell us of Bing Crosby's rise to fame, using scenes from four early Crosby shorts to illustrate his fictional biography.

Directors:

Bud Pollard, Del Lord,

Writers:

John E. Gordon (adaptation), Harry McCoy (material),

Stars:

Bing Crosby, Luis Alberni, Bud Pollard

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bing Crosby	...	Character in Sennett Shorts (archive footage)
Luis Alberni	...	The Marquis, from 'I Surrender Dear' (archive footage)
Bud Pollard	...	Himself (Host / Narrator)
Ann Christy	...	Betty Brooks, from 'Dream House' (archive footage)
Patsy O'Leary	...	Ethel Bangs, from 'One More Chance' / Mrs. McCullough, from 'I Surrender Dear' (archive footage)
George C. Pearce	...	Mary's Father, from 'Billboard Girl' (archive footage)
Arthur Stone	...	Ethel's Uncle Joe, from 'One More Chance' / Jerry, Bing's friend from 'I Surrender Dear' (archive footage)
Dick Stewart	...	Jerry, Bing's Chum from 'Billboard Girl' (archive footage)
Lincoln Stedman	...	Whitman, Mary's Fiancé, from 'Billboard Girl' (archive footage)
Kathrin Clare Ward	...	Mother Brooks, from 'Dream House' (archive footage)
James Eagles	...	Mary's Brother, from 'Billboard Girl' (archive footage)
Matty Kemp	...	Percy Howard, Bing's Rival, from 'One More Chance' (archive footage)
Eddie Phillips	...	Reginald Duncan, from 'Dream House' (archive footage)
Marion Sayers	...	Peggy, Bing's Sweetheart, from 'I Surrender Dear' (archive footage)
Julia Griffith	...	Ethel's Mother, Bing's Future Mother-in-Law, from 'I Surrender Dear' (archive footage)

Storyline

Exploitation film-maker Bud Pollard appears on screen to tell us of Bing Crosby's rise to fame, using scenes from four early Crosby shorts to illustrate his fictional biography.

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Plot Keywords:

blackface | singer | actor

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 July 1947 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mack Sennett Comedies

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited from I Surrender Dear (1931)

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Soundtracks

"One More Chance (Reprise)"
Performed by Bing Crosby

User Reviews

Early And I Mean Early Bing Crosby

The Road to Hollywood is a compilation of bits and songs from the Mack Sennett shorts that Bing Crosby appeared in during the time he was between the Paul Whiteman band and his first feature film starring role in The Big Broadcast.

Probably in 1947 Bing Crosby was at the high point of his career. At that time he was number one in films, in record sales, and on the radio and no one has ever duplicated that success, albeit even with radio's successor television. He was probably the best known entertainer in the world at that time, it's first truly international star.

There are some Crosby fans who consider his early work during the days of his crooning rivalry with Rudy Vallee and Russ Columbo to be his best and one can make an argument for it.

If you feel that way, here is a great opportunity to see some Crosby performances of early solo hits he had like I Surrender Dear, Just One More Chance, Out of Nowhere, etc. In fact it was when William Paley heard Bing's record of I Surrender Dear that he made up his mind to sign him for a 15 minute radio show on CBS. The rest is history.

For Crosby fans, a must.