Coney Island (1943 film)
Encyclopedia
Coney Island is a 1943 American Technicolor
musical film released by Twentieth Century Fox and starring Betty Grable
in one of her biggest hits. A "gay nineties
" musical (set in that time period) it also featured George Montgomery, Cesar Romero
, and Phil Silvers
, was choreographed by Hermes Pan
, and was directed by Walter Lang
. Betty Grable also starred in the 1950 remake of Coney Island, named Wabash Avenue
.
In 1944, the year after the film was released, it was nominated for an Oscar for Alfred Newman in the category of Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture
The film is also known as: Coney Island in Sweden, L'île aux plaisirs in France, L'isola delle sirene in Italy, San oneiro in Greece, Se necesitan maridos in Spain and Tivolin kaunotar in Finland.
Betty Grable at this point in her career was number one in the box office chart in 1943
"Coney Island" grossed more than $5 million dollars at the box office equivalent to
$180 million today.
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
musical film released by Twentieth Century Fox and starring Betty Grable
Betty Grable
Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable was an American actress, dancer and singer.Her iconic bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. It was later included in the LIFE magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World"...
in one of her biggest hits. A "gay nineties
Gay Nineties
Gay Nineties is an American nostalgic term that refers to the decade of the 1890s. It is known in the UK as the Naughty Nineties, and refers there to the decade of supposedly decadent art by Aubrey Beardsley, the witty plays and trial of Oscar Wilde, society scandals and the beginning of the...
" musical (set in that time period) it also featured George Montgomery, Cesar Romero
Cesar Romero
Cesar Julio Romero, Jr. was an American film and television actor who was active in film, radio, and television for almost sixty years...
, and Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers was an American entertainer and comedy actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah." He is best known for starring in The Phil Silvers Show, a 1950s sitcom set on a U.S...
, was choreographed by Hermes Pan
Hermes Pan (choreographer)
Hermes Pan was an American dancer and choreographer, principally celebrated as Fred Astaire's choreographic collaborator on the famous 1930s movie musicals starring Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:...
, and was directed by Walter Lang
Walter Lang
Walter Lang was an American film director.-Early life:Walter Lang was born in Memphis, Tennessee. As a young man he went to New York City where he found clerical work at a film production company. The business piqued his artistic instincts and he began learning the various facets of filmmaking...
. Betty Grable also starred in the 1950 remake of Coney Island, named Wabash Avenue
Wabash Avenue (film)
Wabash Avenue is a 1950 musical film directed by Henry Koster and starring Betty Grable. The film was a remake of Grable's earlier hit 1943 film Coney Island.-Plot:...
.
In 1944, the year after the film was released, it was nominated for an Oscar for Alfred Newman in the category of Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture
The film is also known as: Coney Island in Sweden, L'île aux plaisirs in France, L'isola delle sirene in Italy, San oneiro in Greece, Se necesitan maridos in Spain and Tivolin kaunotar in Finland.
Cast
- Betty GrableBetty GrableElizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable was an American actress, dancer and singer.Her iconic bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. It was later included in the LIFE magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World"...
- Kate Farley - George Montgomery - Eddie Johnson
- Cesar RomeroCesar RomeroCesar Julio Romero, Jr. was an American film and television actor who was active in film, radio, and television for almost sixty years...
- Joe Rocco - Charles WinningerCharles WinningerCharles Winninger was an American stage and film actor, most often cast in comedies or musicals, but equally at home in drama.-Biography:He began as a vaudeville actor...
- Finnigan - Phil SilversPhil SilversPhil Silvers was an American entertainer and comedy actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah." He is best known for starring in The Phil Silvers Show, a 1950s sitcom set on a U.S...
- Frankie - Matt BriggsMatt BriggsMatt Briggs is an American novelist, and short story writer.-Biography:Matt Briggs was born in Seattle, Washington, which he still calls home. He grew up in the Snoqualmie Valley raised by working-class, counter-culture parents who cultivated and sold cannabis . Briggs has written two books set in...
- William 'Willie' Hammerstein - Paul HurstPaul HurstPaul Michael Hurst is a former English footballer who played in Football League Two in England, for Rotherham, where he played for over 10 years. He is currently joint manager of Conference National side Grimsby Town with Rob Scott.-Playing career:Hurst figured regularly on the left side of the...
- Louie - Leo Diamond - Himself - Solidaires Leader
- Hermes PanHermes Pan (choreographer)Hermes Pan was an American dancer and choreographer, principally celebrated as Fred Astaire's choreographic collaborator on the famous 1930s movie musicals starring Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:...
- Uncredited dance partner to Betty Grable in finale
Betty Grable at this point in her career was number one in the box office chart in 1943
"Coney Island" grossed more than $5 million dollars at the box office equivalent to
$180 million today.
Soundtrack
- "Take It from There"
- Music by Ralph Rainger
- Lyrics by Leo Robin
- "Beautiful Coney Island"
- Music by Ralph Rainger
- Lyrics by Leo Robin
- "Miss Lulu from Louisville"
- Music by Ralph Rainger
- Lyrics by Leo Robin
- "Get the Money"
- Music by Ralph Rainger
- Lyrics by Leo Robin
- "There's Danger in a Dance"
- Music by Ralph Rainger
- Lyrics by Leo Robin
- "Old Demon Rum"
- Music by Ralph Rainger
- Lyrics by Leo Robin
- "Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey (I Never Knew Any Girl Like You)"
- Music by Albert von Tilzer
- Lyrics by Junie McCree
- "Cuddle Up a Little Closer"
- Words by Otto A. Harbach (as O.A. Hauerbach)
- Music by Karl HoschnaKarl HoschnaKarl Hoschna was a Tin Pan Alley-era composer most noted for his songs "Cuddle up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine", "Every Little Movement" and "Yama Yama Man", and for a string of successful Broadway musicals....
(as Karl L. Hoschna)- "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"
- Music by Ernest Ball
- Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff Jr.
- "Pretty Baby"
- Music by Egbert Van Alstyne and Tony Jackson
- Lyrics by Gus Kahn
- "The Darktown Strutters' Ball"
- Written by Shelton Brooks