Dick Powell finds fame as the Singing Marine
Busby Berkeley directed the musical sequences for this 1937 film, The Singing Marine.
Dick Powell stars as Bob Brent, a marine, originally from Arkansas, who happens to have a beautiful tenor voice. Though a little shy, he goes to New York to enter an amateur singing contest. He's encouraged by his fellow Marines, who are cheering him on as they listen to him on the radio. Bob makes friends with a young woman, Peggy (Doris Weston) he meets on the bus who is also going to compete.
Bob sings 'Cause My Baby Says It's So in the contest and is a smash hit, signed to a contract immediately. Though Peggy was too nervous to finish the audition, Bob hires her as his assistant.
When his outfit is ordered to Shanghai, one of his agents (Hugh Herbert) decides to buy Bob out of the Marines. Uh, no go. His friends in the corps turn against him when they see how fat-headed he's become.
This is a fun musical, and Dick Powell's voice was so lyrical and beautiful, I could listen to him all day. He had such an amazing career as well.
If you can ever get your hands on any of the Dick Powell Theatre from television, do so. There were some wonderful episodes. Powell excelled as a singer, an actor, and producer, and was obviously an excellent businessman.
He is also responsible for one of my favorite celebrity comments of all time: When offered the part of Richard Diamond in the TV series that ultimately starred David Janssen, Powell thought about it and finally told the producer, "No, I can't hold my stomach in for 28 weeks."
Also appearing in this film are Allen Jenkins and, in small roles, Jane Wyman and Veta Ann Borg.
Dick Powell stars as Bob Brent, a marine, originally from Arkansas, who happens to have a beautiful tenor voice. Though a little shy, he goes to New York to enter an amateur singing contest. He's encouraged by his fellow Marines, who are cheering him on as they listen to him on the radio. Bob makes friends with a young woman, Peggy (Doris Weston) he meets on the bus who is also going to compete.
Bob sings 'Cause My Baby Says It's So in the contest and is a smash hit, signed to a contract immediately. Though Peggy was too nervous to finish the audition, Bob hires her as his assistant.
When his outfit is ordered to Shanghai, one of his agents (Hugh Herbert) decides to buy Bob out of the Marines. Uh, no go. His friends in the corps turn against him when they see how fat-headed he's become.
This is a fun musical, and Dick Powell's voice was so lyrical and beautiful, I could listen to him all day. He had such an amazing career as well.
If you can ever get your hands on any of the Dick Powell Theatre from television, do so. There were some wonderful episodes. Powell excelled as a singer, an actor, and producer, and was obviously an excellent businessman.
He is also responsible for one of my favorite celebrity comments of all time: When offered the part of Richard Diamond in the TV series that ultimately starred David Janssen, Powell thought about it and finally told the producer, "No, I can't hold my stomach in for 28 weeks."
Also appearing in this film are Allen Jenkins and, in small roles, Jane Wyman and Veta Ann Borg.
- blanche-2
- Jun 12, 2015