Released – December, 1942 

Directed By - Henry King

Starring – Tyrone Power (Jamie Waring), Maureen O’Hara (Lady Margaret Denby), Laird Cregar (Capt. Sir Henry Morgan), Thomas Mitchell (Tom ‘Tommie’ Blue), George Sanders (Capt. Billy Leech).

Description - With England and Spain now at peace, reformed pirate Capt. Henry Morgan is made Governor of Jamaica. His first order of duty is to rid the Caribbean of the remaining pirates using whatever means are necessary. Out of friendship to Morgan, pirate Jamie Waring gives up his illegal ways; however, not all choose to do so.

Jamaica’s former governor, Lord Denby’s beautiful daughter Lady Margaret has caught the eye of Waring, but she is already engaged. Unknown to her, fiance Roger Ingram is providing information on ship sailings to the remaining pirates.

The public begins to suspect Governor Morgan of still being involved in the pirateing, forcing Morgan to enlist the aid of his friend Jaime Waring to find out where the leaking information about the shippings is coming from.

Waring’s investigation also provides him with an opportunity to kidnap the beautiful Lady Margaret.

NOTABLE: This film won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color and was nominated for two more; Best Effects, Special Effects and Best Music.

The Black Swan

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Released - November, 1942 

Directed By - William A. Seiter

Starring – Fred Astaire (Robert ‘Bob’ Davis), Rita Hayworth (Maria Acuna), Adolphe Menjou (Eduardo Acuna), Isobel Elsom (Mrs. Maria Castro).

Description – American dancer Bob Davis is in Argentina both looking for work and gambling away his money. A bandleader friend invites him to perform at the wedding of a local nightclub owner’s daughter with the hope that this might lead to a job.

At the wedding Bob meets Maria another of the nightclub owner’s daughters. He is immediately attracted to her, but she brushes him off.

Maria then begins to receive a series of flowers and love notes from an unknown suitor who she believes to be Bob. It isn’t, so just who is the mysterious suitor and will Bob ever get a chance with Maria?

NOTABLE: This motion picture was nominated for three Academy Awards; Best Music, Original Song, Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture, and Best Sound, Rocording.

The beautiful music in the film was composed by Jerome Kern who was unhappy with the selection of Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. However, after production ended, Kern was so pleased with Cugat’s work that he presented him with a silver baton.

Rita Hayworth’s performance in the movie firmly established her as one of Fred Astaire’s premiere dance partners.

Rita Hayworth has stated that this film was her favorite.

You Were Never Lovelier

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Released - November, 1942 

Directed By - David Butler

Starring – Bing Crosby (Jeff Peters), Bob Hope (Orville ‘Turkey’ Jackson), Dorothy Lamour (Princess Shalmar), Anthony Quinn (Mullay Kasim).

Description – The third of the famed ‘Road to…’ movies to star Crosby, Hope, and Lamour has the boys cast away on a desert shore where Bing sells Bob into slavery, and both competing for the hand of a beautiful princess.

However, there is a third suiter for the hand of the princess; the dangerous desert chieftain Mullay Kasim.

How bad can being a slave to Dorothy Lamour be? Especially, after she immediately offers to become his wife? If this sounds too good to be true, it is. The reason for the marriage offer is a prophet’s prediction that the first husband of the princess will be killed within a few days of the marriage.

So, hitch yourself a ride on a camel and join the boys for a Moroccan adventure.

NOTABLE: In 1996 this motion picture was added to the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.

The film received two Oscar nominations; Best Sound, Recording, and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

The scene where a camel spits in Bob Hope’s face was the camel’s own doing with Bing Crosby’s  reaction proving to be so funny it was left in the picture.

In 2006, Premiere voted The Road to Morocco as one of “The 50 Greatest Comedies of All Time.”

Personal Note: Another of the very entertaining Road pictures and possibly the best of the bunch. 

Road to Morocco

Bob Hope Tribute Collection – The Road Show Series (The Road to Morocco / The Road to Singapore / The Road to Utopia / The Road to Zanzibar)

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Released – October, 1942 

Directed By - Irving Rapper

Starring – Bette Davis (Charlotte Vale), Paul Henreid (Jerry Durrance), Claude Rains (Dr. Jaquith), Gladys Cooper (Mrs. Henry Vale).

Description – Charlotte Vale is unattractive, neurotic, depressed, and totally under the thumb of her domineering aristocratic mother.

Fearing for her emotional well-being, her sister-in-law arranges a meeting for Charlotte with psychiatrist Dr. Jaquith. After speaking with Charlotte, the Dr. suggests she spend some time in a sanatorium to get some emotional rest away from her mother.

The time spent at the sanatorium results in a startling transformation for Charlotte in both her appearance and demeanor. When her time at the sanatorium ends, rather than immediately return home, Charlotte decides to exercise her new feelings of independence by first taking a cruise.

On board the cruise ship Charlotte meets Jerry Durrance, a married man traveling with two friends. They enjoy each others company and while on a land excursion have a minor traffic accident that results in their missing the ship departure. They spend the next five days together and fall in love.

Charlotte returns home after she and the married Jerry decide it would be best if they did not see one another again. When arriving home, Charlotte’s family are stunned by her new appearance and independence. While some are pleased, her mother is not and seeks to gain back her dominance of her daughter.

Her efforts are unsuccessful as Charlotte draws upon her memories of Jerry to find the strength to remain resolute. Moving on with her life, she becomes engaged to wealthy widower Elliot Livingston.

A chance meeting with Jerry now turns everything upside-down again for Charlotte, bringing back a turn of events that will again damage the emotional fragility that previously haunted her.

NOTABLE: This picture won the Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Bette Davis), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Gladys Cooper).

In 2007 this film was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This film ranks #23 on AFI’s 100 Years…100 Passions, a list of America cinemas top love stories.

Original casting considerations for the role of Charlotte Vale went to Ginger Rogers, Irene Dunne, and Norma Shearer. However, after learning of the project, Bette Davis successfully campaigned for the role and convinced producer Hal B. Wallis that she was perfect for the part.

This film was the biggest box office of Bette Davis’s career.

Personal Comment: A well-acted melodrama that showcases the tremendous talent that was Bette Davis. There are a number of films suggested on this site that star Ms. Davis, who truly was one of the greatest actresses in motion picture history.

Now, Voyager (Keepcase)

The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 1 (Now, Voyager / Dark Victory / The Letter / Mr. Skeffington / The Star)

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Released – August, 1942 

Directed By - Mark Sandrich

Starring – Bing Crosby (Jim Hardy), Fred Astaire (Ted Hanover), Marjorie Reynolds (Linda Mason), Virginia Dale (Lila Dixon), Walter Abel (Danny Reed), Louise Beavers (Mamie).

Description – A great story, sensational dancing, and the music of Irving Berlin have made this one of the best loved musicals of all time.

The musical act of Hardy, Hanover, and Dixon are preparing for a special Christmas eve show. Jim Hardy intends for this to be his last show as he is planning to marry Lila and retire to a farm in Connecticut.

Lila, however, has other plans. She has fallen in love with Ted and wants to continue in showbusiness as his dance partner. Although brokenhearted, Jim follows through with his retirement and moves to Connecticut.

Within a year, farming has taken its toll on Jim and he spends some time in a sanatorium to calm his nerves. While there he has a brainstorm…he will turn his farm into an inn that will open only on holidays and call it the Holiday Inn.

On Christmas day aspiring entertainer Linda Mason comes to the inn looking for a job. Will Jim find a new romance? Will the idea of a Holiday Inn be successful? Will the return of Ted, who now sets his sights on Jim’s new girlfriend, complicate things again? And what about Lila? To find out, take a little time to enjoy the holiday magic!

NOTABLE: This film won the Oscar for Best Film, Original Song (White Christmas), and was also nominated for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, and Best Writing, Original Story.

In the film, Fred Astaire does a “drunk dance.” The story goes that Astaire had two drinks of bourbon before the first take and another after each additional take. It was the seventh take that was used in the film.

The dancing shoes used in Fred Astaire’s firecracker dance were later auctioned off for $116,000 worth of war bonds.

This was the film debut of the holiday classic White Christmas, which went on to become one of the best selling songs in music history.

The Holiday Inn hotel chain, founded in 1952, took its name from this motion picture.

Personal Note: This is without question one of the most enjoyable of all holiday films. We have several that also include White Christmas (a remake of this film), The Bells of St. Mary’s, A Christmas Story, and a few others that are rotated for our viewing pleasure come holiday season.

Each, in its own way, contributes to a greater enjoyment of the holiday season. This is our favorite.

Holiday Inn (3 Disc Collector’s Set)

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Released - August, 1942 

Directed By - John Farrow

Starring – Brian Donlevy (Maj. Geoffrey Caton), Macdonald Carey (Lt. Bruce Cameron), Robert Preston (Pvt. Joe Doyle), William Bendix (Pvt. Aloysius K. ‘Smacksie’ Randall).

Description – In the early part of World War II, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States military base at Wake Island is under seige by the Japanese army. This is the story of the small garrison of Marines and civilian contractors assigned to hold the island.

Severely out-numbered, and with no hope of supplies or reinforcements, it is only a matter of time before they are no longer able to hold on.

This is an exciting action-packed film that is based on a true story and one of the first American films made about World War II

NOTABLE: This motion picture was nominated for four Academy Awards; Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (William Bendix), Best Director (John Farrow), and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

Paramount Studio began the production of this film even before the real battle of Wake Island was over.

Although Hollywood portrayed this gallant Marine company as having fought to the death in a History Channel special  the real survivors referred to this film as a great work of fiction.

Wake Island

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Released – June, 1942 

Directed By - Michael Curtiz

Starring – James Cagney (George M. Cohan), Joan Leslie (Mary Cohan), Walter Huston (Jerry Cohan), Richard Whorf (Sam Harris).

Description – A very entertaining story based on the life of renowned musical composer George M. Cohan. This film is packed with wonderful music and stars the perfectly cast James Cagney as the dancing vaudevillian.

Cagney’s dynamic performance highlights the story of Cohan’s life from child-star in his family’s vaudeville act to his entertainment comeback that earned him a medal from the president for his contributions to the United States.

Though somewhat Hollywood-ized, the film takes great care in reproducing the costumes, set design, and dance steps from the original stage presentations.

NOTABLE: The film won three Oscars; Best Actor in a Leading Role (James Cagney), Best Music, Scoring of an Original Picture, and Best Sound Recording. Five other nominations included Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Walter Huston), Best Director (Michael Curtiz), Best Writing Original Story, and Best Film Editing.

In 1993 the film was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry.

The film is ranked #18 on the list of 100 Years of Musicals by the American Film Institute.

Yankee Doodle Dandy was the first computer-colorized film released  be Ted Turner.

Actor James Cagney again played George M. Cohan in the film The Seven Little Foys. Cagney refused to be paid for this film offering his services as a tribute to Eddie Foy.

Actress Jeanne Cagney plays the role of Cohan’s sister and in real-life is the sister of James Cagney. Cagney’s brother William was the Associate Producer for the film.

This was Warner Brothers second highest-grossing film of 1942.

Premiere magazine ranked James Cagney’s performance 6th on its 100 Greatest Performances of All Time. 

Yankee Doodle Dandy (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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