Hollywood On 52nd Street
Love Theme From Spartacus, composed by Alex North for the 1960 American epic historical drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick, starred and produced by Kirk Douglas. The supporting cast included Laurene Olivier, John Gavin, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Tony Curtis and Peter Ustinov, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, one of the four the film received. The film became the biggest moneymaker in Universal Studios’ history, until it w as surpassed by Airport in 1970.
The Story: It was inspired by the life story of the leader of a slave revolt in antiquity, Spartacus, and the events of the Third Servile War. In the 1st century BC, the Roman Republic has slid into corruption, its menial work done by armies of slaves. One of these, a proud and gifted man named Spartacus, is so uncooperative in his servitude that he is sentenced to fight as a gladiator. Spartacus forms a quiet relationship with a serving woman named Varinia, whom he refuses to rape when she is sent to “entertain” him in his cell. Rebellion ensues, the senate war is lost, and Spartacus is ultimately crucified but Varinia shows him his new born son before he dies.
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Hollywood On 52nd Street
My Buddy was composed by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn and was published in 1922. It was used in the Gus Kahn film biography “I’ll See You In My Dreams” in 1951 and became a Variety Hit Parade of a Half Century selection. The song also appeared in the non-musical film Buddy in 1997. I’ll See You in My Dreams is a 1951 musical film starring Doris Day and Danny Thomas, directed by Michael Curtiz.
The Story: Gus Kahn (Thomas) is the prolific tunesmith, whose fortunes take an upswing in 1908 when he meets and falls in love with Grace LeBoy (Day). Kahn’s career ascends to spectacular heights via such hits as Pretty Baby, My Buddy, Toot Toot Tootsie and Makin’ Whoopee only to go into eclipse when he loses his savings in the 1929 stock-market crash.
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Hollywood On 52nd Street
Stairway To Paradise was a tune composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the 1951 musical film An American in Paris. Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary and Nina Foch.
The Story: American World War II veteran Jerry Mulligan is now an exuberant expatriate in Paris trying to make a reputation as a painter. His friend and neighbor, Adam Cook s a struggling concert pianist who is a longtime associate of a French singer, Henri Baurel At the ground-floor bar, Henri tells Adam about his cultured girlfriend. A lonely society woman and heiress, Milo Roberts, finds Jerry displaying his art on the street and takes in an interest in him and his art. And the fun begins with dancing and singing.
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Hollywood On 52nd Street
You’re Sensational was a tune written by Cole Porter for the 1956 film High Society starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, who introduced the song.
The Story: The highly successful jazz musician C.K. Dexter Haven (Crosby) was divorced from wealthy Newport, Rhode Island socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Kelly) but remains in love with her. She, however, is about to get married to a bland gentleman of good standing, George Kittredge.
Spy Magazine, a fictional tabloid newspaper in possession of embarrassing information about Tracy’s father, sends reporter Mike Connor (Sinatra) and photographer Liz Imbrie to cover the nuptials. Tracy begins an elaborate charade as a private means of revenge, pretending that her Uncle Willy is her father Seth Lord and vice versa. Connor falls in love with Tracy. She must choose between three very different men in a course of self-discovery.
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Hollywood On 52nd Street
I Fall In Love Too Easily is a 1944 song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Sammy Cahn. Frank Sinatra introduced the song in the 1945 film Anchors Aweigh. The film won an Academy Award for its music; the song was nominated for Best Original Song but lost. The other stars of the film were Kathryn Grayson and Gene Kelly.
The Story: Two Navy sailors, Joe Brady and Clarence Doolittle on a four-day leave in Hollywood. Joe has his heart set on spending time with his girl, the unseen Lola. Clarence, the shy choirboy turned sailor, asks Joe to teach him how to get girls. Enter Susan, aunt to a small boy who wants to join the Navy and Clarence is smitten with her at first sight. Susan goes on to tell them that she has been trying to find work in music, and longs to perform with José Iturbi. Trying to impress her with Clarence, Joe tells her that he has arranged an audition. That night, they go out to a cafe, where Clarence meets a girl from Brooklyn, and they hit it off.
With no audition in sight they decide to come clean. Susan gets her screen test on her own, it’s successful and in they end all is forgiven and the lovers kiss as a choir sings the theme song.
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