''Footlight Serenade'' is a 1942 musical comedy film directed by Gregory Ratoff, starring

Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reign ...

, John Payne, and

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...

Plot

Tommy Lundy is an arrogant champion boxer who is hired by Broadway promoter Bruce McKay to star in a stage act, which will include singing, dancing, a comedian called Slap and a boxing exhibition. Tommy makes sure his girlfriend, singer Estelle Evans, gets the female lead in the role, but he falls in love with dancer Pat Lambert, who becomes Estelle's understudy. Pat is engaged to Bill Smith, who ends up with a small part in the show. They get married but keep it a secret so as not to irk Tommy and cause him to quit the show. Estelle because jealous of Tommy's attentions to her and tips him off that Pat and Bill were seen checking into a hotel. During the boxing portion of the stage act, Tommy begins punching Bill for real. In between blows, Bill explains that he and Pat are now husband and wife. Tommy accepts this graciously, then he and Bill both take turns smacking Slap instead.

Cast

* John Payne as William J. 'Bill' Smith *

as Pat Lambert *

as Tommy Lundy *

Jane Wyman Jane Wyman ( ; born Sarah Jane Mayfield; January 5, 1917 – September 10, 2007)"Actress, P ...

as Flo La Verne *

James Gleason James Austin Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter born in New York City. Gleason often portrayed "tough-talking, world-weary guys with a secret heart-of-gold." Life and career Gleason w ...

as Bruce McKay *

Phil Silvers Phil Silvers (born Phillip Silver; May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and comedic actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah". His career as a professional entertainer spanned nearly sixty years. Silvers achieved major popu ...

as Slap * Cobina Wright Jr. as Estelle Evans *

June Lang June Lang (born Winifred June Vlasek, May 5, 1917 – May 16, 2005) was an American film actress. Early life Born Winifred June Vlasek in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Edith and Clarence Vlasek, After the family moved to Los An ...

as June * Frank Orth as Mike the stage doorman *

Mantan Moreland Mantan Moreland (September 3, 1902 – September 28, 1973) was an American actor and comedian most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. He starred in numerous films. His daughter Marcella Moreland appeared as a child actress in several films. E ...

as Amos. Tommy's Dresser (as Manton Moreland) * Irving Bacon as Stagehand *

Charles Tannen Charles David Tannen (October 22, 1915 – December 28, 1980) was an American actor and screenwriter. Career A general purpose actor who worked primarily at 20th Century Fox, Tannen had mostly bit and/or supporting parts in movies, appea ...

as Charlie, Stage manager * George Dobbs as Frank, Dance director * Ray Walker as Reporter *

Lillian Yarbo Lillian "Billie" Yarbo (March 17, 1905 – June 12, 1996) was an American stage and screen comedienne, dancer, and singer. Early life Born Lillian Yarbough

as Estelle's Maid (uncredited)

Soundtrack

*''Except with You'' (uncredited). Music by

Ralph Rainger Ralph Rainger ( Reichenthal; October 7, 1901 – October 23, 1942) was an American composer of popular music principally for films. Biography Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, United States, Rainger initially embarked on a legal career, ...

. Lyrics by

Leo Robin Leo Robin (April 6, 1900 – December 29, 1984) was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Academy Award for Best Original Song, Oscar-winning song "Thanks for t ...

. Sung by Cobina Wright *''Are You Kiddin'?'' (uncredited). Music by Ralph Rainger. Lyrics by Leo Robin. Sung and danced by

*''I'm Still Crazy for You'' (uncredited). Music by Ralph Rainger. Lyrics by Leo Robin. Sung by Betty Grable and John Payne *''Land on Your Feet'' (uncredited). Music by Ralph Rainger (instrumental only). Danced by Betty Grable and

Hermes Pan Hermes Pan (born Hermes Joseph Panagiotopoulos, December 10, 1909 – September 19, 1990) was an American dancer and choreographer, principally remembered as Fred Astaire's choreographic collaborator on the famous 1930s movie musicals starring A ...

*''I Heard the Birdies Sing'' (uncredited). Music by Ralph Rainger. Lyrics by Leo Robin. Sung and danced by Betty Grable and chorus *''I'll Be Marching to a Love Song'' (uncredited). Music by Ralph Rainger. Lyrics by Leo Robin. Sung and danced by Betty Grable,

, John Payne, chorus *''Living High'' (uncredited). Music by Ralph Rainger

References

External links

* * * 1942 films 1942 musical comedy films 1942 romantic comedy films American musical comedy films American romantic comedy films American romantic musical films Films directed by Gregory Ratoff 20th Century Fox films 1940s romantic musical films American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films {{romantic-musical-film-stub