Boisterous, fun-loving, and popular Washington D.C. hostess Sally Adams is appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg, Europe’s smallest country. In Lichtenburg, the Duke and Duchess are negotiating a political marriage for their niece, Princess Maria in exchange for a substantial dowry.
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Musical
Take a Chance (1933) Monte Brice, Laurence Schwab, James Dunn, June Knight, Lillian Roth, Comedy, Musical
Take a Chance was based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name, though only one of the original songs, Eadie Was a Lady, has been retained. The thinnish plot involves the misadventures of a pair of pickpockets, played on Broadway by Jack Haley and Sid Silvers and on film by James Dunn and Cliff “Ukelele Ike” Edwards.
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Absolute Beginners (1986) Julien Temple, Patsy Kensit, Eddie O’Connell, David Bowie, Drama, Fantasy, Musical
A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes’ novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer Colin is hopelessly in love with model Crepe Suzette, but her relationships are strictly connected with her progress in the fashion world. So Colin gets involved with a pop promoter and tries to crack the big time. Meanwhile, racial tension is brewing in Colin’s Notting Hill housing estate…
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Look for the Silver Lining (1949) David Butler, June Haver, Ray Bolger, Gordon MacRae, Drama, Musical, Romance
This musical biopic chronicles the vaudeville-to-Broadway story of 1920s’ star Marilyn Miller (June Haver). From her start on the boards in Findlay, Ohio, Marilyn sings and dances her way to Broadway stardom, frequently in company with her mentor, dancer Jack Donahue (Ray Bolger).
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Frühlingssinfonie / Spring Symphony (1983) Peter Schamoni, Nastassja Kinski, Herbert Grönemeyer, Rolf Hoppe, Biography, Music
‘Spring Symphony” is a story of love, hate and artistic ambitions. Nastassja Kinski and Herbert Gronemeyer star as Clara Wieck and Robert Schumann, star-crossed classical musicians of the nineteenth century trying to overcome the stifling objections of Wieck’s father.
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Mr. Music (1950) Richard Haydn, Bing Crosby, Nancy Olson, Charles Coburn, Comedy, Musical, Romance
Paul Merrick, a writer of hit musicals, prefers to lie in the sun or play golf. He does so until he goes broke and asks to borrow a large sum of money, against future earnings, from his producer, Alex Conway.
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Pagliacci (1948) Mario Costa, Tito Gobbi, Gina Lollobrigida, Onelia Fineschi, Drama, Musical
The fiery performance, conducted by Giuseppe Morelli with the Rome Opera Chorus and Orchestra, knocks all recent digital efforts into a cocked hat. A few cinematic liberties seem permissible to me and this is surely one of the best films of an opera.
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The Real Buddy Holly Story (1985) Richard Spence, Sonny Curtis, Paul McCartney, Larry Holley, Documentary, Music
The complete video biography of rock’n’roll legend Buddy Holly, produced and hosted by Paul McCartney. This entertaining and enlightening show is the most definitive biography of Buddy Holly ever assembled, featuring interviews with members of The Crickets and many of Buddy Holly’s family and friends who knew him best. Includes rare performances and Paul McCartney performs several of Buddy Holly’s songs.
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Three for the Show (1955) H.C. Potter, Betty Grable, Marge Champion, Gower Champion, Musical
This musical reworking of TOO MANY HUSBANDS (1940), features Grable as a top singer and dancer who’s been widowed by WW II. She marries her late husband’s songwriting partner, Gower Champion, but the new marriage is thrown for a loop when Lemmon, her first husband, turns up very much alive and eager to see Grable.
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Pennies from Heaven (1936) Norman Z. McLeod, Bing Crosby, Madge Evans, Edith Fellows, Comedy, Drama, Musical
Larry Poole, in prison on a false charge, promise an inmate that when he gets out he will look up and help out a family. The family turns out to be a young girl, Patsy Smith, and her elderly grandfather who need lots of help.
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