Bowery to Broadway

1944 film by Charles Lamont

November 3, 1944 (1944-11-03)

Running time

94 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudgetover $1 million^[1]

Bowery to Broadway is a 1944 American film starring Maria Montez, Jack Oakie, and Susanna Foster. Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan also had a small specialty act, and it was the only film they were in together where they didn't have a name or character.

The movie was made to showcase the singing talent at Universal. Montez only has a small role.^[2]

Cast

Maria Montez as Marina
Jack Oakie as Michael O'Rourke
Susanna Foster as Peggy Fleming Barrie
Turhan Bey as Ted Barrie
Ann Blyth as Bessie Jo Kirby
Donald Cook as Dennis Dugan
Louise Allbritton as Lillian Russell
Frank McHugh as Joe Kirby
Rosemary DeCamp as Bessie Kirby
Leo Carrillo as P.J. Fenton
Andy Devine as Father Kelley
Evelyn Ankers as Bonnie Latour
Thomas Gomez as Tom Harvey
Richard Lane as Walter Rogers
George Dolenz as George Henshaw
Mantan Moreland as Alabam
Ben Carter as No-more
Maude Eburne as Mame Alda
Robert Warwick as Cliff Brown
Donald O'Connor as Specialty Number
Peggy Ryan as Specialty Number
unbilled players include Milton Kibbee, George Meeker, Snub Pollard and Wilbur Mack

Production

In June 1943 John Grant, who normally wrote for Abbott and Costello, was assigned to produce a film to cover the history of Broadway.^[3] It was going to be called Hip Hip Hooray and was budgeted at $1 million and shot in color. Edmund Joseph and Bart Lyton were assigned to do the script.^[4] In December 1943 it was announced Arthur Lubin would direct.^[5]

Filming started 1 May 1944.^[6] It was a rare non "exotic" role for Maria Montez.^[7]

Selected Songs

"Under the Bamboo Tree"
"Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay"
"Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nelly"
"My Song of Romance"
"Montevideo"
"He Took Her for a Sleighride in the Good Old Summertime" - with Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan
"There'll Always Be a Moon" - sung by Susanna Foster
"Under the Bamboo Tree" - sung by Louise Allbritton as Lillian Russell

References

^ Dick, Bernard K. (2015). City of Dreams: The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures. University Press of Kentucky. p. 125. ISBN 9780813158891.
^ Bowery to Broadway at Maria Montez Fan Page
^ "Producer Writer". Variety. 30 June 1943. p. 54.
^ "U'S Showbiz Cavalcade Budgeted for a Million". Variety. 30 June 1943. p. 6.
^ "Waggner Doubles Up". Variety. 29 December 1943. p. 4.
^ Metro to Split Garson, Pidgeon Combination: 'The Bullfighter,' Latin-American Yarn, Chosen as Subject for Laurel and Hardy Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 Apr 1944: 5.
^ Montez-Hall Duo Again in 'Queen of the Nile': Story Called 'Twice Blessed' Secured as Starring Subject for Wilde Twins Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 10 May 1944: A11.