Words and Music (1948)
December 31, 1948Release Date
Words and Music (1948)
December 31, 1948Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Currently Words and Music is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, TCM, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Fandango At Home
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
Tom Drake
Richard Rodgers
Mickey Rooney
Lorenz Hart
Janet Leigh
Dorothy Feiner
Marshall Thompson
Herbert Fields
Betty Garrett
Peggy Lorgan McNeil
Jeanette Nolan
Mrs. Hart
Ann Sothern
Joyce Harmon
Perry Como
Eddie Lorrison Anders
Cyd Charisse
Margo Grant
Richard Quine
Ben Feiner Jr.
June Allyson
Alisande La Carteloise
Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Vera-Ellen
Vera-Ellen
Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Clinton Sundberg
Shoe Clerk
Dee Turnell
Dee Turnell
Edward Earle
James Fernby Kelly
Harry Antrim
Dr. Rogers
Albert Akst
Editor
Ilka Grüning
Mrs. Rogers
Ferris Webster
Editor
Emory Parnell
Mr. Feiner
Ramon Blackburn
One of the Blackburn Twins
Royce Blackburn
One of the Blackburn Twins
Dick Haymes
Dick Haymes
Dorothy Abbott
Showgirl (uncredited)
Irving Bacon
Hollywood Realtor (uncredited)
Gower Champion
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Gino Corrado
Italian Waiter (uncredited)
Jeanne Coyne
Showgirl (uncredited)
Frank Mayo
Minor Role (uncredited)
George Meeker
Producer (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse
Backstage Well-Wisher (uncredited)
Allyn Ann McLerie
Singer in Garrick Gaeities
George Boyce
Cabbie (uncredited)
Norman Taurog
Director
Fred F. Finklehoffe
Writer
Helen Rose
Costume Design
Media.
Details.
Release DateDecember 31, 1948
StatusReleased
Running Time2h 1m
Content RatingNR
Genres
Last updated:
This Movie Is About.
Wiki.
Words and Music is a 1948 American biographical musical film loosely based on the creative partnership of the composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart. The film stars Mickey Rooney as Hart and Tom Drake as Rodgers, along with Janet Leigh, Betty Garrett, Ann Sothern and numerous musical stars. It was the second in a series of MGM biopics about Broadway composers; it was preceded by Till the Clouds Roll By (Jerome Kern, 1946) and followed by Three Little Words (Kalmar and Ruby, 1950) and Deep in My Heart (Sigmund Romberg, 1954).
The film is best remembered for featuring the final screen pairing of Rooney and Judy Garland, and for the lavish showcasing of the Rodgers and Hart catalogue of songs. The story, as in many similar biopics of the era (such as Cole Porter’s depiction in Night and Day), was heavily fictionalized. The script sanitized Hart's complex psychological problems, alcoholism, and self-destructive behavior, which all contributed to the break-up of the writing partnership and Hart's early death, as well as changed his sexual orientation (Hart was gay).
The introduction to the film is staged as if composer Richard Rodgers were actually playing himself. Actor Tom Drake appears alone in character, identifies himself as Rodgers and tells the audience it is about to see the story of his collaboration with Lorenz Hart. (Contemporary posters from the film featured the faces of most major cast members, including Rooney, but did not show the face of Drake, and his name was in smaller type than those of the other main stars.)
Though the film performed very well at the box office, it proved to be quite an expensive production and, as a result, failed to recoup its cost in its first release. The film was issued on DVD in 2007 by Warner Bros. and extras included video and audio outtakes. Among these were two songs deleted from the film sung by Perry Como – "Lover" and "You're Nearer".