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The Fabulous Dorseys

  • 1947
  • Approved
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
656
YOUR RATING
Janet Blair, Jimmy Dorsey, and Tommy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
BiographyMusicMusical

The Dorsey Brothers bandleaders' lives traced from childhood music insisting father to fame rise eventual split furthering careers propelling with their music.The Dorsey Brothers bandleaders' lives traced from childhood music insisting father to fame rise eventual split furthering careers propelling with their music.The Dorsey Brothers bandleaders' lives traced from childhood music insisting father to fame rise eventual split furthering careers propelling with their music.

  • Director
    • Alfred E. Green
  • Writers
    • Richard English
    • Art Arthur
    • Curtis Kenyon
  • Stars
    • Tommy Dorsey
    • Jimmy Dorsey
    • Janet Blair
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    656
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alfred E. Green
    • Writers
      • Richard English
      • Art Arthur
      • Curtis Kenyon
    • Stars
      • Tommy Dorsey
      • Jimmy Dorsey
      • Janet Blair
    • 25User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos35

    Jimmy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Sara Allgood, Buz Buckley, and Bobby Warde in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Paul Whiteman in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Janet Blair, Jimmy Dorsey, and Tommy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Janet Blair, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, and Paul Whiteman in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, and Paul Whiteman in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Jimmy Dorsey and Tommy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    William Bakewell and Janet Blair in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, and Paul Whiteman in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Janet Blair, Jimmy Dorsey, and Tommy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
    Janet Blair, Jimmy Dorsey, and Tommy Dorsey in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)

    Top cast35

    Edit
    Tommy Dorsey
    Tommy Dorsey
    • Tommy Dorsey
    Jimmy Dorsey
    Jimmy Dorsey
    • Jimmy Dorsey
    Janet Blair
    Janet Blair
    • Jane Howard
    Paul Whiteman
    Paul Whiteman
    • Paul Whiteman
    William Lundigan
    William Lundigan
    • Bob Burton
    Sara Allgood
    Sara Allgood
    • Mrs. Dorsey
    Arthur Shields
    Arthur Shields
    • Mr. Dorsey
    Dave Willock
    Dave Willock
    • Foggy
    William Bakewell
    William Bakewell
    • Eddie
    James Flavin
    James Flavin
    • Gorman
    Charlie Barnet
    Charlie Barnet
    • Charlie Barnet
    Bob Eberly
    Bob Eberly
    • Bob Eberly
    Henry Busse
    • Henry Busse
    Helen O'Connell
    • Helen O'Connell
    Mike Pingatore
    • Musician
    Art Tatum
    • Art Tatum
    Ziggy Elman
    Ziggy Elman
    • Musician
    Stuart Foster
    • Musician
    • Director
      • Alfred E. Green
    • Writers
      • Richard English
      • Art Arthur
      • Curtis Kenyon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At about 54:10 into the film, a jam session is featured with the Dorseys and gifted pianist Art Tatum.
    • Goofs
      Although much of the story takes place in the 1920's and 1930's, Jane's fashions, make-up and hair styles are straight out of the late 1940's when this picture was made; likewise the musical arrangements are all strictly mid-1940s, not the same as the previous period in which they are supposedly being played.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Dorsey: There is only one thing worse than being Irish, and that's not being Irish.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits appear in the turning pages of a book.
    • Soundtracks
      To Me
      Lyrics by Don George

      Music by Allie Wrubel

      Sung by Janet Blair (uncredited)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    Lousy biopic barely saved by the music
    The movie tells the story of musician and bandleader brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (played by themselves), from their upbringing in Pennsylvania coal country to modest musical beginnings in small venues, to eventual radio success. Their fiery temperaments cause them to clash with each other often, eventually leading to a split and them each forming their own orchestras, after which they find even more success. Also starring Janet Blair as a childhood friend, singer, and peacemaker between the brothers, and William Lundigan as a composer and piano player for the band, as well as love interest for Blair.

    Tommy the trombone player and Jimmy the saxophone player are excellent musicians but horrible actors. Thus the script focuses more often on the fictional characters played by Blair and Lundigan, neither of whom are much more compelling than the Dorseys. The viewer also begins to notice that not much of dramatic interest happens in the Dorseys lives other than them bickering like brothers do, so the only saving grace is the music, much of it performed by singers and musicians of the day playing themselves in cameos. I'm not familiar with many of them, but the music they perform is fine, and I'm sure will be appreciated by fans of the style.
    helpful•11
    1
    • AlsExGal
    • Sep 24, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 21, 1947 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Fighting Dorseys
    • Filming locations
      • General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Charles R. Rogers Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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