tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post681750246405443945..comments2024-03-24T04:12:24.783-04:00Comments on A PERSON IN THE DARK: My Favorite Actors are Singers; My Favorite Singers are Actors!FlickChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-71583479702593254602011-08-07T13:09:28.506-04:002011-08-07T13:09:28.506-04:00@Mark: I totally agree that Durbin is ripe for re-...@Mark: I totally agree that Durbin is ripe for re-appraisal. This is another case of how someone wildly popular in their time is barely mentioned today. Although not forgotten, Crosby is usually "dissed" today - his huge popularity in all mediums almost unnoticed or unknown. I do like Deanna and promise to pursue her more vigorously!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-63078390703807434512011-08-07T07:51:37.983-04:002011-08-07T07:51:37.983-04:00Enjoyed your post very much, and your write-ups on...Enjoyed your post very much, and your write-ups on some of my favorite movie singers. Would have enjoyed more attention being paid to some of the "classical" singing stars, especially the underrated Deanna Durbin, who, as Mel Torme opined "was phenomenal. Possessed of a glorious operatic voice, she could and did sing anything put in front of her to perfection."<br /><br />Of all the great singing stars of the Studio Era, Durbin was the one who had to rely most exclusively on her singing/acting talent to become and remain a star. She was almost always the only singer (and usually the only musical presence) in her films, and, unlike Garland, Day, Streisand, Sinatra, Kelly and the others, she seldom had elaborate production numbers and comparably talented co-stars to help her "sell" her musical performances to audiences.<br /><br />With only six months under contract to MGM behind her, she became an immediate superstar on both radio and movies, becoming the first true adolecent film superstar and America's first "Teen Idol." <br /><br />I think she still holds the record for the most consecutive film box office hits attributed to a single star. On her 15th birthday, she was offered an audition by the Metropolitan Opera, which she turned down! And after being publicly credited with saving financially desperate Universal from bankruptcy, she went on to become the highest paid woman in the U.S. for several years.<br /><br />Her career and talent, and the impact she had on Hollywood and popular culture in general, are ripe for re-appraisal.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17117857534895494343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-77065351851539556642011-08-05T17:46:37.181-04:002011-08-05T17:46:37.181-04:00@ Lucie: Judy could do anything - and brilliantly....@ Lucie: Judy could do anything - and brilliantly. Period.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-31996336541499720952011-08-05T09:34:12.609-04:002011-08-05T09:34:12.609-04:00I must say, I nearly wept when I read your section...I must say, I nearly wept when I read your section on Judy Garland. So many people dismiss her as the cute teen who played Dorothy, without recognizing the tremendous scope of her talent. Have you seen her in Presenting Lily Mars? The scene where she impersonates her russian co-star is superbly hilarious.LucieWickfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17734638254779469066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-90467576123228312082011-08-01T05:36:43.406-04:002011-08-01T05:36:43.406-04:00Thank you, Christian. Agreed that Irene Dunne belo...Thank you, Christian. Agreed that Irene Dunne belongs in a choir of angels. And so glad you like Shirley - she is so talented and lovely. She came along a little too late, but she was wonderful in all of her films.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-66092436858883964692011-08-01T02:17:03.757-04:002011-08-01T02:17:03.757-04:00A great group FlickChick. I especially like Shirle...A great group FlickChick. I especially like Shirley Jones, and Judy Garland too. And I agree about Fred MacMurray. Irene Dunne was another great one although she is sometimes overlooked. And since you started with Jean Hagan, how about a list of triple threats - singing, acting, and dancing!Christian Esquevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442827724576856379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-24318742510887298672011-07-31T05:00:00.214-04:002011-07-31T05:00:00.214-04:00Thank you, Lady Eve. It's amazing, but without...Thank you, Lady Eve. It's amazing, but without any pretense of being "actors," performers like Judy, Frank, Doris & Bing just blew the acting competition away.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-36952969319253360742011-07-31T00:28:53.375-04:002011-07-31T00:28:53.375-04:00Great blog concept! I was curious who would turn u...Great blog concept! I was curious who would turn up in your post...and they're all here: Garland, Day, Crosby, Sinatra, Streisand, etc. (tho I'm not a particular fan of Cher or Elvis). Great performers on stage, film, TV. Some on Broadway. Would I love to have seen Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra in person...but you do have me thinking of buying Judy's CBS TV series. A really singular variety show. Thanks again...The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-58591457106094587002011-07-29T15:54:54.641-04:002011-07-29T15:54:54.641-04:00Everyone sounds good when singing in the shower - ...Everyone sounds good when singing in the shower - but I doubt I could sound like Barbra or Judy!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-9878430290230491972011-07-29T14:25:10.357-04:002011-07-29T14:25:10.357-04:00Oh how I loved this post and love all the music pe...Oh how I loved this post and love all the music people in it. All of them have made me happy and even sang a tune or two in the shower!Dianenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-43906455199314334812011-07-29T10:45:58.970-04:002011-07-29T10:45:58.970-04:00Now that you mention it, I do remember him playing...Now that you mention it, I do remember him playing the sax on "My Three Sons," but didn't realize that he actualy started as a musician. I am now going to look for the music in his acting performances! Thanks for the great information.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-90378711981520950132011-07-29T10:40:05.447-04:002011-07-29T10:40:05.447-04:00Fred started out playing saxophone in bands, and t...Fred started out playing saxophone in bands, and that's how he came to Hollywood. He still played sax on "My Three Sons". You can catch him singing in "The Princess Comes Across" with Carole Lombard, a terrific mystery spoof/romance set on a luxury liner. William Frawley from "My Three Sons" is in the movie as well.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-576430173737756542011-07-28T21:05:53.810-04:002011-07-28T21:05:53.810-04:00Wow - I didn't know Fred was a musician. Just ...Wow - I didn't know Fred was a musician. Just goes to show you - that musical talent means they can do it all.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143901229925085760.post-1614051167318065512011-07-28T20:03:11.785-04:002011-07-28T20:03:11.785-04:00Excellent post. I agree with your thoughts about ...Excellent post. I agree with your thoughts about the personal nature of expressing yourself musically.<br /><br />Although not known as a singer (he could carry a tune), I put musician turned actor Fred MacMurray in that group. He could play all the notes perfectly, no matter what the role. You need it light? Dark? Physical? Thoughtful? Whatever it called for he, and fellow musicians, could find it.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.com