''Earl Carroll Vanities'' is a 1945 American
musical film
Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...
directed by
Joseph Santley
Joseph Mansfield Santley (born Joseph Ishmael Mansfield, January 10, 1890 – August 8, 1971) was an American actor, singer, dancer, writer, director, and producer of musical theatre, musical theatre, theatrical plays motion pictures and tel ...
and written by Frank Gill Jr. The film stars
Dennis O'Keefe
Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vance Flanagan; March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor.
Early years
O'Keefe was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, as Edward Vance Flanagan, the son of Edward J. Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan ( ...
,
Constance Moore,
Eve Arden
Eve Arden (born Eunice Mary Quedens, April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990) was an American film, radio, stage and television actress. She performed in leading and supporting roles for nearly six decades.
Beginning her film career in 1929 an ...
,
Otto Kruger
Otto Kruger (September 6, 1885 – September 6, 1974) was an American actor. Originally a Broadway matinée idol, he established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Saboteur (film), Saboteur'' (1942) and Dougla ...
,
Alan Mowbray
Alan Mowbray MM (born Alfred Ernest Allen; 18 August 1896 – 25 March 1969) was an English stage and film actor who found success in Hollywood.
Early life
Mowbray was born in London, England. He served with distinction in the British Army ...
and
Stephanie Bachelor. It was released on April 5, 1945 by
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures is currently an acquisition-only label owned by Paramount Pictures. Its history dates back to Republic Pictures Corporation, an American film studio that originally operated from 1935 to 1967, based in Los Angeles, California ...
.
The film's title refers to the real-life revue ''
The Earl Carroll Vanities
''The Earl Carroll Vanities'' was a Broadway theatre, Broadway revue presented by Earl Carroll in Roaring Twenties, the 1920s and early 1930s. Carroll and his show were sometimes controversial.
Distinguishing qualities
In 1923, the ''Vanities ...
'', but the film is not related to ''
Earl Carroll Sketchbook'', a film that would be released the following year.
Plot
Princess Drina returns to America where she was educated. She is traveling with her betrothed, the usually inebriated Grand Duke Paul, and with Queen Mother Elena, who wants Drina to secure a bank loan that will sustain their small republic economically.
Drina encounters Tex Donnelly, an American woman who runs a nightclub, and confides that her secret wish is to sing and dance. Tex's business partner and songwriter Danny Baldwin needs a replacement when the club's star entertainer, his girlfriend Claire Elliott, sprains an ankle. Tex offers Drina a chance to perform, and she is an instant success. Meanwhile, impresario
Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll (September 16, 1893 – June 17, 1948) was an American theatrical producer, director, writer, songwriter and composer.
Early life
Carroll was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1893. He lived as an infant in the Nunnery Hill ( Fin ...
is seeking talent for his new revue, ''
The Earl Carroll Vanities
''The Earl Carroll Vanities'' was a Broadway theatre, Broadway revue presented by Earl Carroll in Roaring Twenties, the 1920s and early 1930s. Carroll and his show were sometimes controversial.
Distinguishing qualities
In 1923, the ''Vanities ...
''.
Danny and Claire resent the attention that Drina receives over the next two weeks, and Claire exposes the secret that Drina is actually royalty. Queen Elena insists that Drina give up showbusiness and return to her duties, but when Tex's master of ceremonies tricks her into one last appearance on stage, Drina is loved by everyone, including Danny.
Cast
References
External links
*
1945 films
1940s English-language films
American musical films
1945 musical films
Republic Pictures films
Films directed by Joseph Santley
American black-and-white films
1940s American films
English-language musical films
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