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, Vudu
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
Mickey Rooney
Lorenz 'Larry' Hart
Janet Leigh
Dorothy Feiner
Tom Drake
Richard 'Dick' Rodgers
June Allyson
June Allyson
Marshall Thompson
Herbert Fields
Perry Como
Eddie Lorrison Anders
Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Jeanette Nolan
Mrs. Hart
Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Ann Sothern
Joyce Harmon
Richard Quine
Ben Feiner Jr.
Cyd Charisse
Margo Grant
Betty Garrett
Peggy Lorgan McNeil
Norman Taurog
Director
Guy Bolton
Writer
Ben Feiner Jr.
Writer
Fred F. Finklehoffe
Writer
Vera-Ellen
Vera-Ellen
Jean Holloway
Writer
Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Clinton Sundberg
Shoe Clerk
Arthur Freed
Producer
Charles Rosher
Cinematographer
Dee Turnell
Dee Turnell
Edward Earle
James Fernby Kelly
Harry Stradling Sr.
Cinematographer
Harry Antrim
Dr. Rogers
Albert Akst
Editor
Ferris Webster
Editor
Ilka Grüning
Mrs. Rogers
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)
Media.
Details.
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".