Swing Fever (1943)

Lowell Blackford (Kay Kyser) is blessed with a gift of music,but also cursed with a hereditary "evil eye" which hypnotizes people,and he is virtually a recluse. He goes in search of a ... See full summary »

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Matt Brooks (story), Joseph Hoffman (story)

Stars:

Kay Kyser, Marilyn Maxwell, William Gargan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kay Kyser	...	Lowell Blackford
Marilyn Maxwell	...	Ginger Gray
William Gargan	...	'Waltzy' Malone
Nat Pendleton	...	'Killer' Kennedy
Lena Horne	...	Lena Horne
Curt Bois	...	Nick Sirocco
Morris Ankrum	...	Dan Conlon
Andrew Tombes	...	Dr. Clyde L. Star
Maxie Rosenbloom	...	'Rags'
Clyde Fillmore	...	Mr. Nagen
Pamela Blake	...	Lois
Lou Nova	...	Kid Mandell
Jack Roper	...	'Sledgehammer'
Harry Babbitt	...	Vocalist with Kay Kyser's Orchestra
Sully Mason	...	Sully

Storyline

Lowell Blackford (Kay Kyser) is blessed with a gift of music,but also cursed with a hereditary "evil eye" which hypnotizes people,and he is virtually a recluse. He goes in search of a Broadway publisher for a symphonietta he has written, and ends up crashing an audition at the Swing Publishing Company, where he meets torch singer Ginger Gray (Marilyn Maxwell) and her fiance and promoter, Waltzy Malone (William Gargan). Ginger accidently walks off with his music and he follows her to a gym where Waltzy's fighter, "Killer" Kennedy (Nat Pendleton), has just been kayoed by his sparring partner. Waltzy learns of Lowell's hypnotic power and believes that Kennedy can win the championship if Lowell uses his power against the champ. He arranges for Lowell to lead the band at the club where Ginger sings. The latter objects to the role she is to play in getting Lowell to use his "evil eye" but Waltzy persuades her to go along by telling Lowell that Kennedy is her brother and it means everything ...

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Plot Keywords:

gym | singer | doctor | kidnapping | juggling | 

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Taglines:

Dance! Sing! It's So JOYOUS!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was first telecast in Los Angeles Thursday 18 April 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11) , followed by Altoona PA 2 May 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), by New Haven CT 10 May 1957 on WNHC (Channel 8), by Philadelphia 23 May 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), by Tucson 26 June 1957 on KVOA (Channel 4), by Chicago 1 July 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), by Honolulu 28 July 1957 on WHVH (Channel 13), by Minneapolis 19 October 1957 on KMGM (Channel 9), and by San Antonio 5 December 1957 on WOAI (Channel 4); it first aired in San Francisco 19 December 1958 on KGO-TV (Channel 7) and in Seattle 14 January 1959 on KING (Channel 5); its earliest documented telecast in New York City did not take place until 16 August 1963 on WCBS (Channel 2).

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Soundtracks

Sh-! Don't Make a Sound
Written by Sunny Skylar
Sung by Marilyn Maxwell
Played by Kay Kyser and His Band

User Reviews

MGM HASN'T A CLUE W/ SWING FEVER!

It's a shame Kay Kyser's 5 picture deal w/ RKO ended with AROUND THE WORLD('43), because when MGM signed him for this one film, they dropped the ball big time. It's a poor story that barely features Kyser's great band, and has an overlong production number, MISSISSIPPI DREAMBOAT. I think this is the first onscreen appearance of Lena Horne, who sings a song then disappears, but i could be mistaken about that. Blonde and sexy Marilyn Maxwell plays Kyser's love interest, which seemed a bit far-fetched until Kyser's real life widow, Georgia Carroll, informed me Kay and Marilyn dated seriously in real life! THERE IS A CLASSIC VISUAL GAG where Kyser's rehearsing his band and identifies a couple of strangers playing along. Kyser (as Lowell Blackford) doesn't recognize them, but tells them they can't play his music very well. The camera pans over to TOMMY DORSEY and HARRY JAMES who leave the bandstand, complaining " No one can play this music. This guy'll never get anywhere. Besides, he looks too much like KAY KYSER!!" Best line in the film! In conclusion, SWING FEVER never reaches fever pitch, and the dummies at MGM never tried again w/ Kyser, who, by the way was a big big star at this time. Good posters, though!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Right About Face

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:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1