''The Hit Parade'' is a 1937 American

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the 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 serve merely as breaks ...

directed by Gus Meins and written by

Bradford Ropes Bradford Ropes (January 1, 1905 – November 21, 1966) was a prolific novelist and screenwriter whose work includes the novel ''42nd Street'' that was adapted for the 1933 film of the same name and then a Tony Award winning musical, also of the ...

, Samuel Ornitz and Harry Ruskin. The film stars Frances Langford, Phil Regan, Max Terhune,

Edward Brophy Edward Santree Brophy (February 27, 1895 – May 27, 1960) was an American character actor and comedian, as well as an assistant director and second unit director during the 1920s. Small of build, balding, and raucous-voiced, he frequently ...

, Louise Henry and

Pert Kelton Pert or PERT may refer to: Ships * - see List of United States Navy ships: P * , a World War II corvette, originally HMS ''Nepeta'' * ''Pert'' (sidewheeler), a 19th-century steamboat that operated in British Columbia, Canada Statistics * PER ...

. The film was released on April 26, 1937, by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...

. Republic later reissued the film in 67 minute length as ''I'll Reach for a Star''.

Plot

The plot follows Pete Garland as he gets fired by singer Monica Barrett, and out of spite finds Ruth Allison and decides to make her a star, he succeeds, but Ruth has some dark secrets.

Cast

* Frances Langford as Ruth Allison * Phil Regan as Pete Garland * Max Terhune as Rusty Callahan *

as Mulrooney * Louise Henry as Monica Barrett *

as Eadie White *

Pierre Watkin Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1887 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor best known for playing distinguished authority figures throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is best remembered for his roles of Mr. Skinner the b ...

as J. B. Hawley * J. Farrell MacDonald as Sgt. O'Hara * Monroe Owsley as Teddy Leeds * Inez Courtney as Tillie * William Demarest as Parole Officer * George Givot as Herman * Sammy White as Dancer * Paul Garner as Member, The Gentle Maniacs *Sam Wolfe as Member, The Gentle Maniacs *Richard Hakins as Member, The Gentle Maniacs *Yvonne Manoff as Member, The Tic Toc Girls *Mildred Winston as Member, The Tic Toc Girls *Barbara Johnston as Member, The Tic Toc Girls *Carl Hoff as Bandleader of 'The Hit Parade Orchester' * Ivie Anderson as Ivy *

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

as Duke Ellington * Eddy Duchin as Eddy Duchin *Pat Padgett as Pat of Pick and Pat / Molasses of Molasses and January *Pick Malone as Pick of Pick and Pat / January of Molasses and January * Al Pearce as Al Pearce *Sayle Taylor as The Voice of Experience *Ed Thorgersen as Ed Thorgersen *Ed 'Oscar' Platt as Oscar *Lou Fulton as Elmer * Arlene Harris as Arlene 'Chatterbox' Harris * Stanley Fields as Bedtime Story Man

Soundtrack

*'' Happy Days Are Here Again'' Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen
Performed by Carl Hoff & The Hit Parade Orchestra *''I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter'' Written by

Performed by Ivie Anderson and the Duke Ellington Orchestra *''If It Wasn't for Pete'' Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Ned Washington
Sung by Sammy White
Danced by Sammy White with chorus *''The Glory Beyond'' Music by Alberto Colombo
Danced by Frances Langford and

*''I'll Reach for a Star'' Music by Lou Handman
Lyrics by Walter Hirsch
Sung by Frances Langford * ''Sweet Heartache'' Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Ned Washington
Sung by Phil Regan
Reprised by Frances Langford *''Last Night I Dreamed of You'' Music by Lou Handman
Lyrics by Walter Hirsch
Sung by Frances Langford * ''

Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald "Tales from the Vienna Woods" (german: "Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald", links=no, italic=no, occasionally ) is a waltz by Johann Strauss II. Composed in 1868, , Op. 325, was one of six Viennese waltzes by Johann Strauss II which featured a vir ...

''/'' Wiener Blut'' - Medley Music by Johann Strauss
Arranged by Eddy Duchin
played by Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra
Danced by Galante and Leonarda * ''Was It Rain?'' Music by Lou Handman
Lyrics by Walter Hirsch
Sung by Frances Langford *''Love Is Good for Anything That Ails You'' Written by Cliff Friend and Matty Malneck
Performed by the Tic-Toc Girls, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Eddy Duchin & His Orchestra and Carl Hoff & The Hit Parade Orchestra with chorus *''Sweet Heartache'' Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Ned Washington
Sung by Phil Regan and Frances Langford *''Hail Alma Mater'' Music by Sam H. Stept

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hit Parade, The 1937 films American musical films 1937 musical films Republic Pictures films Films directed by Gus Meins American black-and-white films Films produced by Nat Levine 1930s English-language films 1930s American films