Born to Sing (1942)

Show promoter Cartwright has stolen the songs that Frank wrote while he was in the big house. The boys go to Cartwright to get Frank credit for his work, and Cartwright has them arrested ... See full summary »

Director:

Edward Ludwig

Writers:

Franz Schulz (story) (as Franz G. Springer), Franz Schulz (screenplay) (as Franz G. Springer)

Stars:

Virginia Weidler, Ray McDonald, Leo Gorcey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Virginia Weidler	...	Patsy Eastman
Ray McDonald	...	Steve
Leo Gorcey	...	'Snap' Collins
Douglas McPhail	...	Murray Saunders
Rags Ragland	...	'Grunt'
Sheldon Leonard	...	Pete Detroit
Henry O'Neill	...	Frank Eastman
Larry Nunn	...	Mike Conroy
Margaret Dumont	...	Mrs. E. V. Lawson
Beverly Hudson	...	Maggie Cooper
Richard Hall	...	Mozart Cooper
Darla Hood	...	'Quiz Kid'
Joe Yule	...	Ed Collera
Lester Matthews	...	Arthur Cartwright
Ben Carter	...	'Eight-Ball'

Storyline

Show promoter Cartwright has stolen the songs that Frank wrote while he was in the big house. The boys go to Cartwright to get Frank credit for his work, and Cartwright has them arrested for extortion, of which they are innocent. Luckily, they are in the same paddy wagon as Pete and when his gang springs Pete, the boys are sprung. The only way that they can prove now that the songs are Frank's is to put on a show before Cartwright show 'Melody for You' opens. The boys and Patsy find a theater, paint the scenery and put all the kids in the neighborhood to work on the show. Pete Detroit makes sure that Cartwright's show does not open on the same night and that his cabs bring in an audience.

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Plot Keywords:

swastika | reformatory | newsboy | car horn | blackface | 

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Taglines:

Hear the Thrilling BALLAD FOR AMERICANS ( original poster)

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film received its initial television broadcasts in Cincinnati Monday 20 May 1957 on WXIX (Channel 19) (Newport KY), and in Los Angeles Thursday 30 May 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11) followed by Philadelphia Monday 10 June 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), by New Haven CT 18 June 1957 on WNHC (Channel 8), by Chicago 26 June 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), by Amarillo 3 July 1957 on KFDA (Channel 19), by Portland OR 13 July 1957 on KGW (Channel 8), by Hartford CT 11 September 1957 on WHCT (Channel 18), by Honolulu 22 September 1957 on KHVH (Channel 13), by Miami 16 October 1957 on WCKT (Channel 11) and by Phoenix 2 February 1958 on KPHO (Channel 5); it first aired in San Francisco 23 September 1958 on KGO (Channel 7); its earliest documented telecast in New York City took place 9 May 1961 on WCBS (Channel 2).

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Soundtracks

You Are My Lucky Star
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed

User Reviews

Fun B movie with an enthusiastic cast!!!

This is such an interesting film, if as the previous comments attest to, some details that even I never knew, IE: The finale that was originally part of the WPA (ask kids today what THAT was!) and the Federal Theater Project's contribution to the Depression. What I found interesting/sad/macabre, was how many of the young actors in that film met an early demise. On the IMDb site itself:

1)Virginia Weidler: Heart attack, age 41

2)Larry Nunn: Self inflicted gun shot wound, age 49

3)Ray McDonald: Death by choking on food in hotel room, age 34

4)Ben Carter, age 35

5)Leo Gorcey: Liver failure, age 53

6)Douglas McPhail: poison, after 1st failed suicide attempt,age 30

7)Rags Ragland: uremic poisoning, age 40

8)Darla Hood: died in North Hollywood following a relatively minor

operation of acute hepatitis under "mysterious

circumstances", age 47

9)Richard Haydel, age 22 Was this film cursed? Or did actors die quicker then?

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 February 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mocidade do Barulho

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1