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A Recommended Film You May Never Have Heard Of, But Really Ought To See.

SERENDIPITY CINEMA

"Music for Millions" Movie Review

93. Music For Millions

This film may not be right for the cynical world we live in today. It is full of heart and caring and wondrous melodies.
To show you how "Un-hip" it is, National Lampoon gave it a "Worst Movie" Award. By comparison it also recieved an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. Lo, how the years have changed.

What those folks didn't realize, or, possibly care about, was that this was exactly what the war weary country needed to give it hope and comfort in some very dark days.

Margaret O'Brien is the child of every one of us, who tries to help her pregnant older sister (June Allyson), who is terrified for her absent GI husband. Allyson is a cellist in Jose Iturbi's orchestra, giving us a chance to hear a lot of great classical music. We also see the chemistry of the orchestra and the women who make it sing. A highlight of the film features Jimmy Durante (an almost forgotten performer today),

belting out his famed nightclub piece "Umbriago." The film got an Academy Award nomination for screenwriter Myles Connelly, plus a special Oscar for Margaret O'Brien.
The scenes between O'Brien and Durante are, in themselves, reason to watch the film.

Hugh Herbert makes a cameo (as the uncle of Marie Wilson) that is also a little gem, and you will have to brush a tear away if you let yourself go.

Here's that cast:
Margaret O'Brien .... 
Mike

 José Iturbi .... 
Himself

 Jimmy Durante ....
Andrews

 June Allyson ....
Barbara Ainsworth

 Marsha Hunt ....
Rosalind

 Hugh Herbert ....
Uncle Ferdinand

 Harry Davenport ....
Doctor

 Marie Wilson ....
Marie

 Larry Adler ....
Larry

 Ben Lessy ....
Kickebush

 Connie Gilchrist ....
Travelers Aid Woman

 Katharine Balfour ....
Elsa

 Helen Gilbert ....
Helen

 Mary Parker ....
Anita

 Madeleine LeBeau ....
Jane


All in all there isn't a lick of cynicism to be found anywhere. And isn't that a nice place to visit now and then?


If you have an idea for a Serendipity Cinema, or want to comment email here


--posted by Wayne Wednesday, November 08, 2006



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