by Gary Giddins
The Big Broadcast Directed by Frank Tuttle. Written by George Marion Jr., from a play, Wild Waves, by William Ford Manley. Photographed by George Folsey. Songs by Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger; Sam Lewis-Joe Young-Harry Akst; Harry Barris-Gordon Clifford; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Stuart Erwin, Leila Hyams, Sharon Lynne, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Spec O’Donnell, George Barbier, Major Sharp and Minor, Arthur Tracy, Mills Brothers, Boswell Sisters, Kate Smith, Donald Novis, Cab Calloway, Vincent Lopez, Eddie Lang.
1933
Sing Bing Sing (Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Babe Stafford. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, Harry McCoy, and Lew Foster. Songs by Harold Arlen-Ted Koehler; Joe Young-Carmen Lombardo;Gus Kahn-Harry Woods. Cast: Bing Crosby, Florine McKinney, Franklin Pang-born, Irving Bacon, Arthur Stone.
Blue of the Night (Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Leslie Pearce. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, Harry McCoy, and Lew Foster. Songs by Roy Turk-Fred Ahlert-Bing Crosby; Milton Ager-Ed Nelson-Al Hoffman—Al Goodhart; Gerald Marks—Benny Davis; Edward Heyman-Dana Suesse. Cast: Bing Crosby, Margie Babe Kane, Franklin Pangborn, Toby Wing, Bud Jamison.
Hollywood on Parade Z3: No.1 (S,C) “The Old Ox Road” sung by Bing Crosby.
Hollywood on Parade Z3: No.4 (S,C) “Boo Boo Boo” sung by Bing Crosby and Jack Oakie; “Buckin’ the Wind” sung by Crosby.
Hollywood on Parade Z3: No.7 (S,C) Bing appears in a skit with John Barrymore, Harry Langdon, others.
Please (S) Produced and directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom. Written by Dean Ward and Vernon Dent. Songs by Leo Robin—Ralph Rainger; Al Dubin—Harry Warren; Victor Young-Ned Washington—Bing Crosby; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Kornman, Vernon Dent.
College Humor Directed by Wesley Ruggles. Written by Claude Binyon and Frank Butler, from a story by Dean Fales. Photographed by Leo Tover. Songs by Arthur Johnston—Sam Coslow; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Mary Carlisle, Richard Arlen, Mary Kornman, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Lona Andre, Joseph Sauers (Sawyer), Grady Sutton.
Too Much Harmony Directed by A. Edward Sutherland. Produced by William LeBaron. Written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Harry Ruskin. Photographed by Theodor Sparkuhl. Songs by Arthur Johnston—Sam Coslow. Cast: Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Judith Allen, Skeets Gallagher, Harry Green, Lilyan Tashman, Ned Sparks, Kitty Kelly, Grace Bradley, Mrs. Evelyn Offield Oakie, Henry Armetta.
Going Hollywood (MGM) Directed by Raoul Walsh. Produced by Walter Wanger. Written by Donald Ogden Stewart, from a story by Frances Marion. Photographed by George Folsey. Songs by Nacio Herb Brown—Arthur Freed. Cast: Marion Davies, Bing Crosby, Fifi D’Orsay, Ned Sparks, Stuart Erwin, Patsy Kelly, Sterling Holloway, Bobby Watson, Radio Rogues, Lennie Hayton.
1934
Just an Echo (S) Produced and directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom. Written by Dean Ward, Vernon Dent. Songs by Harry Woods—Jimmy Campbell—Reg Connelly; Joe Young-Carmen Lombardo; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Kornman, Vernon Dent.
We’re Not Dressing Directed by Norman Taurog. Produced by Benjamin Glazer. Written by Horace Jackson, Francis Martin, and George Marion Jr., from a play, The Admirable Crichton, by Sir J. M. Barrie. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Mack Gordon-Harry Revel. Cast: Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard, Ethel Merman, Leon Errol, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Ray Milland, Jay Henry.
She Loves Me Not Directed by Elliott Nugent. Produced and written by Benjamin Glazer, from a play by Howard Lindsay and a novel by Edward Hope. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Leo Robin—Ralph Rainger; Mack Gordon—Harry Revel. Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins, Kitty Carlisle, Eddie Nugent, Henry Stephenson, Lynne Overman, George Bar-bier, Warren Hymer, Judith Allen.
Here Is My Heart Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Louis D. Lighton. Written by Edwin Justus Mayer and Harlan Thompson, from a play, The Grand Dutchess and the Waiter, by Alfred Savoir. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger; Robin-Lewis Gensler. Cast: Bing Crosby, Kitty Carlisle, Roland Young, Alison Skipworth, Reginald Owen, Akim Tamiroff, William Frawley, Cecilia Parker, Marian Mansfield.
1935
Mississippi Directed by A. Edward Sutherland. Produced by Arthur Horn-blow Jr. Written by Francis Martin and Jack Cunningham, adapted by Herbert Fields and Claude Binyon, from a play, Magnolia, by Booth Tarkington. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart; Stephen Foster. Cast: Bing Crosby, W. C. Fields, Joan Bennett, Gail Patrick, Queenie Smith, Claude Gillingwater, John Miljan, Five Cabin Kids.
Two for Tonight Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Douglas MacLean. Written by George Marion Jr. and Jane Storm, from a play by Max and J. O. Lief. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Mack Gordon—Harry Revel. Cast: Bing Crosby, Joan Bennett, Mary Boland, Lynne Overman, Thelma Todd, James Blakely, Douglas Fowley, Ernest Cossart.
The Big Broadcast of 1936 (C) “I Wished on the Moon” sung by Bing Crosby.
1936
Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (MGM) (S,C) “With Every Breath I Take” sung by Bing Crosby.
Anything Goes Directed by Lewis Milestone. Produced by Benjamin Glazer. Written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, from their play. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Cole Porter; Hoagy Carmichael-Edward Heyman; Leo Robin-Frederick Hollander; Robin-Richard Whiting. Cast: Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Charles Ruggles, Ida Lupino, Arthur Treacher, Grace Bradley, Robert McWade, Margaret Dumont.
Rhythm on the Range Directed by Norman Taurog. Produced by Benjamin Glazer. Written by Walter DeLeon, Francis Martin, Sidney Salkow, and John C. Moffitt, from a story by Melvin J. Houser. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Billy Hill; Johnny Mercer; Sam Coslow; Leo Robin-Richard Whiting; Robin-Frederick Hollander; Gertrude Ross—Badger Clark. Cast: Bing Crosby, Frances Farmer, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, Lucille Webster Gleason, Samuel S. Hinds, George E. Stone, Warren Hymer, Leonid Kinsky, Martha Sleeper, Louis Prima, Sons of the Pioneers.
Pennies from Heaven (Columbia) Directed by Norman Z. McLeod. Produced by Emmanuel Cohen. Written by Jo Swerling, from a story, “The Peacock Feather,” by Katherine Leslie Moore. Photographed by Robert Pittack. Songs by Johnny Burke-Arthur Johnston. Cast: Bing Crosby, Madge Evans, Edith Fellows, Louis Armstrong, Donald Meek, John Gallaudet, Tom Dugan.
1937
Waikiki Wedding Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr. Written by Frank Butler, Don Hartman, Walter DeLeon, and Francis Martin. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Leo Robin—Ralph Rainger; Harry Owens; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Shirley Ross, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, George Barbier, Anthony Quinn, Leif Erikson, Grady Sutton.
Double or Nothing Directed by Theodore Reed. Produced by Benjamin Glazer. Written by Charles Lederer, Erwin Gelsey, John C. Moffitt, and Duke Atteberry, from a story by M. Coates Webster. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Johnny Burke-Arthur Johnston; Burton Lane—Ralph Freed; Sam Coslow—Al Siegel. Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Carlisle, Martha Raye, Andy Devine, William Frawley, Fay Holden, Samuel S. Hinds, John Gallaudet, Frances Faye, Harry Barris.
1938
Doctor Rhythm Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Emanuel Cohen. Written by Jo Swerling and Richard Connell, from a story, “The Badge of Policeman O’Roon,” by O. Henry. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Monaco; Lorenz Hart-Richard Rodgers. Cast: Bing Crosby, Beatrice Lillie, Mary Carlisle, Andy Devine, Laura Hope Crews, Rufe Davis, Sterling Holloway, Franklin Pangborn, William Austin, Harold Minjir, Louis Armstrong (original cut only).
Sing You Sinners Directed and produced by Wesley Ruggles. Written by Claude Binyon. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Monaco; Hoagy Carmichael-Frank Loesser. Cast: Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, Donald O’Connor, Ellen Drew, Elizabeth Patterson, Tom Dugan, John Gallaudet, Irving Bacon, Harry Barris.
1939
Paris Honeymoon Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Harlan Thompson. Written by Frank Butler and Don Hartman, from a story by Angela Sherwood. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Leo Robin—Ralph Rainger. Cast: Bing Crosby, Franciska Gaal, Akim Tamiroff, Shirley Ross
, Edward Everett Horton, Ben Blue, Rafaela Ottiano, Gregory Gaye.
East Side of Heaven (Universal) Directed by David Butler. Produced by Herbert Polesie. Written by William Conselman, from a story by Butler and Polesie. Photographed by George Robinson. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Monaco. Cast: Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, Baby Sandy, Mischa Auer, C. Aubrey Smith, Irene Hervey, Jerome Cowan, Robert Kent, Jane Jones, Music Maids, Matty Malneck.
The Star Maker Directed by Roy Del Ruth. Produced by Charles R. Rogers. Written by Frank Butler, Don Hartman, and Arthur Caesar, from a story by Caesar and William Pierce. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Johnny Burke—James Monaco, Gus Edwards—Will D. Cobb; Edwards-Vincent Bryan; Shelton Brooks; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Louise Campbell, Linda Ware, Ned Sparks, Janet Waldo, Laura Hope Crews, Thurston Hall, Billy Gilbert, Walter Damrosch.
1940
Road to Singapore Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Produced by Harlan Thompson. Written by Frank Butler and Don Hartman, from a story by Harry Hervey. Photographed by William Mellor. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Monaco; Burke-Victor Schertzinger. Cast: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Charles Coburn, Anthony Quinn, Jerry Colonna, Judith Barrett, Gaylord Pendleton, Miles Mander.
Swing with Bing (Universal) (S) Directed and produced by Herbert Polesie. Written by Grant Garret. Photographed by Al Wetzel. Music by Johnny Burke—James Monaco. Cast: Bing Crosby, Richard Keene, Bud Ward, Toney Penna, Jimmy Thompson, Arthur W. Bryan, Ty Cobb, Richard Arlen.
If I Had My Way (Universal) Directed and produced by David Butler. Written by William Conselman and James V. Kern, from a story by Butler, Conselman, and Kern. Photographed by George Robinson. Songs by Johnny Burke—James Monaco. Cast: Bing Crosby, Gloria Jean, Charles Winninger, El Brendel, Allyn Joslyn, Eddie Leonard, Blanche Ring, Grace La Rue, Julian Eltinge, Trixie Friganza, Paul Gordon, Six Hits and a Miss.
Rhythm on the River Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Produced by William LeBaron. Written by Dwight Taylor, from a story by Billy Wilder and Jacques Théry. Photographed by Ted Tetzlaff. Songs by Johnny Burke—James Monaco. Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Basil Rathbone, Oscar Levant, Charley Grapewin, William Frawley, John Scott Trotter, Ken Carpenter, Wingy Manone, Harry Barris.
1941
Road to Zanzibar Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Produced by Paul Jones. Written by Frank Butler and Don Hartman, from a story by Hartman and Sy Bartlett. Photographed by Ted Tetzlaff. Songs by Johnny Burke— James Van Heusen. Cast: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Una Merkel, Eric Blore, Douglass Dumbrille, Iris Adrian, Leo Gorcey, Ernest Whitman, Ken Carpenter.
Birth of the Blues Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Produced by B. G. De Sylva. Written by Harry Tugend and Walter DeLeon, from a story by Tugend. Photographed by William C. Mellor. Songs by B. G. DeSylva—Lew Brown—Ray Henderson; W. C. Handy; Johnny Mercer; Gus Edwards—Edward Madden; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Brian Donlevy, Carolyn Lee, Jack Teagarden, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, J. Carrol Naish, Warren Hymer, Harry Barris, Perry Botkin, Ronnie Cosbey, Hall—Johnson Negro Choir.
Angels of Mercy (Red Cross newsreel, Metrotone News, released by Paramount, MGM, and 20th Century-Fox) (S,V) “Angels of Mercy” sung by Bing Crosby.
1942
Don’t Hook Now (S) Produced by Herbert Polesie and Everett Crosby. Music by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen. Cast: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jimmy Demaret.
My Favorite Blonde (HC)
Holiday Inn Directed and produced by Mark Sandrich. Written by Claude Binyon, from an idea by Irving Berlin adapted by Elmer Rice. Photographed by David Abel. Songs by Irving Berlin. Cast: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter Abel, Louise Beavers, John Gallaudet, Irving Bacon, Harry Barris.
Road to Morocco Directed by David Butler. Produced by Paul Jones. Written by Frank Butler and Don Hartman. Photographed by William C. Mellor. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen. Cast: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Anthony Quinn, Dona Drake, Vladimir Sokoloff, Mikhail Rasumny, George Givot, Andrew Tombes, Leon Belasco, Dan Seymour, Yvonne De Carlo.
Star Spangled Rhythm (C) Directed by George Marshall. Produced by Joseph Sistrom. Written by Harry Tugend, others. Photographed by Leo Tover. Songs by Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer. Cast: Bing Crosby, Eddie Bracken, Betty Hutton, Walter Abel, Victor Moore, Bob Hope, Fred Mac-Murray, Mary Martin, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Veronica Lake, Ray Mil-land, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson, William Bendix, Jerry Colonna, Cecil B. De Mille, Gary Crosby, the Golden Gate Quartet, Paulette Goddard, Dick Powell, Franchot Tone, Vera Zorina, Katherine Dunham.
1943
Dixie Directed by A. Edward Sutherland. Produced by Paul Jones. Written by Karl Tunberg and Darrell Ware, from a story by William Rankin adapted by Claude Binyon. Photographed by William C. Mellor. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen; Dan Emmett. Cast: Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Marjorie Reynolds, Billy De Wolfe, Raymond Walburn, Grant Mitchell, Lynne Overman, Eddie Foy Jr., Fortunio Bonanova, Carl Switzer, Harry Barris.
1944
Going My Way Directed and produced by Leo McCarey. Written by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, from a story by McCarey. Photographed by Lionel Lindon. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen; Franz Schubert; Georges Bizet; James Royce Shannon. Cast: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh, Rise Stevens, Stanley Clements, Jean Heather, Gene Lockhart, James Brown, William Frawley, Porter Hall, Fortunio Bonanova, Carl Switzer, Robert Mitchell Boys Choir.
The Shining Future (Warner Bros.) (S,C) Directed by LeRoy Prinz. Produced by Gordon Hollinshead and Arnold Albert. Written by James Bloodworth. Songs by Frank Loesser and Joe Bushkin-John DeVries. Cast: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Jack Carson, Cary Grant, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Irene Manning, Dennis Morgan, Charles Ruggles. Made for Canada’s Sixth War Loan and reissued in edited version as The Road to Victory (1944).
Swingtime with the Stars (US Coast Guard) (S) Songs by Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer; Cole Porter. Cast: Bing Crosby, Leo “Ukie” Sherrin, Lt. Jimmy Grier and the Eleventh Naval District Coast Guard Band.
Here Come the Waves Directed and produced by Mark Sandrich. Written by Allan Scott, Ken Englund, and Zion Myers. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Harold Arlen-Johnny Mercer. Cast: Bing Crosby, Betty Hutton, Sonny Tufts, Ann Doran, Gwen Crawford, Noel Neill, Catherine Craig, Marjorie Henshaw, Mae Clarke, Minor Watson, Harry Barris, Yvonne De Carlo, Mona Freeman.
The Princess and the Pirate (Goldwyn/RKO) (HC)
1945
Duffy’s Tavern (C) Numerous Paramount players make guest appearances in an adaptation of a popular radio show. Bing Crosby sings a parody of “Swinging on a Star”; Gary, Phillip, Dennis, and Lindsay briefly appear.
Out of This World (V) Eddie Bracken comedy with songs dubbed by Bing Crosby. Gary, Phillip, Dennis, and Lindsay briefly appear.
All-Star Bond Rally (20th Century-Fox, made for the War Activities Committee and U.S. Treasury Department for Seventh War Bond Drive) (S, C) Directed by Michael Audley. Cast: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Harpo Marx, Betty Grable, Harry James, Linda Darnell, Jeanne Crain.
Hollywood Victory Caravan (S,C) (Made for the War Activities Committee and U.S. Treasury Department). Directed by William Russell. Written by Mel Shavelson. Song by Jimmy McHugh—Harold Adamson. Cast: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Ladd, Barbara Stanwyck, Franklin Pangborn, Robert Benchley.
The Bells of St. Mary’s (Rainbow/RKO) Directed and produced by Leo McCarey. Written by Dudley Nichols, from a story by McCarey. Photographed by George Barnes. Songs by Johnny Burke—James Van Heusen; Grant Clark—George W. Meyer; Douglas Furber—A. Emmett Adams. Cast: Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Henry Travers, Ruth Donnelly, Joan Carroll, Dickie Tyler, Una O’Connor, Rhys Williams, Martha Sleeper, William Gargan, Jimmy Dundee.
1946
Road to Utopia Directed by Hal Walker. Produced by Paul Jones. Written by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank. Photographed by Lionel Lindon. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen. Cast:
Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Douglas Dumbrille, Jack LaRue, Robert Barrât, Robert Benchley, Nestor Paiva, Hillary Brooke, Will Wright, Jimmy Dundee.
Blue Skies Directed by Stuart Heisler. Produced by Sol C. Siegel. Written by Arthur Sheekman, from an idea by Irving Berlin adapted by Allan Scott. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Irving Berlin. Cast: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Joan Caulfield, Billy De Wolfe, Olga San Juan, Frank Faylen, Victoria Home.
1947
Welcome Stranger Directed by Elliott Nugent. Produced by Sol C. Siegel. Written by Arthur Sheekman, from a story by Frank Butler adapted by Sheekman and N. Richard Nash. Photographed by Lionel Linden. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen. Cast: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield, Wanda Hendrix, Frank Faylen, Elizabeth Patterson, Robert Shayne, Larry Young, Percy Kilbride, Thurston Hall, Don Beddoe, Clarence Muse.
Variety Girl (C) Practically everyone on the Paramount lot made a cameo appearance in this backlot variety show. Bing Crosby sings “Harmony” with Bob Hope and others.
My Favorite Brunette (HC)
Road to Rio Directed by Norman Z. McLeod. Produced by Daniel Dare. Written by Edmund Beloin and Jack Rose. Photographed by Ernest Laszlo. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen. Cast: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Gale Sondergaard, Frank Faylen, Joseph Vitale, George Meeker, Frank Puglia, Nestor Paiva, Robert Barrât, Tor Johnson, the Andrews Sisters, the Wiere Brothers, the Stone—Barton Puppeteers, the Carioca Boys, Jerry Colonna.
1948
The Emperor Waltz Directed by Billy Wilder. Produced by Charles Brackett. Written by Brackett and Wilder. Photographed by George Barnes. Songs by Johnny Burke—Joseph J. Lilly; Burke—Richard Heuberger; Burke—Johann Strauss; Sam Lewis—Joe Young—Ralph Erwin—Fritz Rotter. Cast: Bing Crosby, Joan Fontaine, Roland Culver, Richard Haydn, Lucile Watson, Harold Vermilyea, Sig Ruman.
1949
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Directed by Tay Garnett. Produced by Robert Fellows. Written by Edmund Beloin, from a novel by Mark Twain. Photographed by Ray Rennahan. Songs by Johnny Burke-James Van Heusen. Cast: Bing Crosby, Rhonda Fleming, William Bendix, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Murvyn Vye, Virginia Field, Henry Wilcoxon, Joseph Vitale, Julia Faye, Alan Napier.