Yes, we’re back with yet another slate of fun musical numbers from films that you may not have seen or even heard about. So, pay close attention as we set the Wayback Machine to a time when the big screen was routinely filled with song and dance.
“Fairy on the Clock” from “Elstree Calling” (1930)
American percussionist Teddy Brown was the biggest star in this musical revue from early in the British sound film era. Well, maybe not the biggest in terms of star power, but certainly in regards to circumference. Nonetheless, he was a genius at the xylophone, a lot of fun on the drums, and a uniquely charismatic personality.
“Toreador Song” from “Metropolitan” (1935)
Notable as the first production of the merged 20th Century Fox studio (which previously consisted of 20th Century Pictures and Fox Film Corporation), this was the rare Golden Age film that offered opera selections without the Marx Brothers or cartoon characters. The highlight was the great baritone giving a wonderfully florid interpretation of the “Toreador Song” from “Carmen” – without subtitles, no less!
“Pig Foot Pete” from “Keep ‘Em Flying” (1941)
Academy Award trivia buffs know that the song “Pig Foot Pete” received an Oscar nomination in connection with the 1942 Olsen and Johnson extravaganza “Hellzapoppin’,” which was a major error since the song was not from that film but from the 1941 Abbott and Costello romp “Keep ‘Em Flying.” However, how many people know the Martha Raye rendition of the song from its source film? Well, here it is:
“It’s Only Money” from “Double Dynamite” (1951)
This RKO film was shot in 1948 but not released until 1951 – a delay created by Howard Hughes’ purchase of the studio. And while Frank Sinatra and Groucho Marx are endearing in this funny Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn song, we must admit this could be the worst rear projection effects are among the most worst in Hollywood history.
“Once in Love with Amy” from “Where’s Charley?” (1952)
The film adaptation of Frank Loesser’s musical adaptation of “Charley’s Aunt” has been out of circulation for so many years that most people have never seen it, and perhaps didn’t know it existed. “Where’s Charley?” was a popular film in its day, and Ray Bolger’s rendition of this tune became his theme song for many years.
“Unchained Melody” from “Unchained” (1955)
You probably know “Unchained Melody” from the melodramatic version by the Righteous Brothers, but the song was first heard in this plaintive interpretation by the great opera baritone Todd Duncan in this B-level movie set in a medium security prison.
“I’m Going to Scotland” from “Let’s Be Happy” (1957)
The vivacious Vera-Ellen concluded her film career with this British musical where she plays a Vermont resident who travels to her ancestral homeland in Scotland. Vera-Ellen was a peerless dancer, but she was not the best singer – the voice you hear in this clip was dubbed by Joan Small.
“Has Anybody Seen Our Ship?” from “Star!” (1968)
“Star!” was a critical and commercial disappointment when it was first released in the U.S. in 1968, but over time there has been a greater appreciation of the film. Certainly, this number was a highlight, with Julie Andrews and Daniel Massey recreating one of the classic stage revue sketches by Gertrude Lawrence and Noel Coward.
“Marieke” from “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” (1975)
This American Film Theatre adaptation of the Off-Broadway musical predated MTV in its use of surreal and jolting imagery in the visualization of songs. The great stage and cabaret singer Elly Stone gave her only film performance in this production, offering Brel’s song in English and Dutch lyrics.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” from “All This and World War II” (1976)
This film had one of the strangest concepts of all time – cover versions of Beatles songs presented against newsreel footage from World War II. The sole hit tune from the soundtrack was this Elton John spin on the psychedelic classic, which was presented against the aerial warfare of the 1940s conflict.
Photo: Martha Raye performing “Pig Foot Pete” in “Keep ‘Em Flying” (1941).