Meet the People
Encyclopedia
Meet the People was a 1944 MGM patriotic film made during World War II
with Lucille Ball
and Dick Powell
that took its title from a successful Los Angeles stage revue. The film stars Lucille Ball as Julie Hampton, a stage actress who goes to work in a shipyard after the play in which she was planning to star is aborted by the shipyard worker (Dick Powell as William 'Swanee' Swanson) who wrote it, having disliked the Broadway glitz preferred by the play's director. Reporting for work the first day, actress Hampton discovers that the shipyard workers themselves are fully capable of performing in their own production. Yet in spite of a budding love interest between them, Swanson and Hampton clash over the simple authenticity of worker performers vs. the necessary essentials of a "professional" production.
Meet the People features Vaughn Monroe
and his orchestra, as well as Spike Jones
and his City Slickers, as well as Virginia O'Brien
from the original stage cast, who sings the hit song Say We're Sweethearts Again.
The phrase "Heavens to Murgatroyd
!" later popularized by cartoon character Snagglepuss
was originally uttered by Bert Lahr
in the movie.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
and Dick Powell
Dick Powell
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
that took its title from a successful Los Angeles stage revue. The film stars Lucille Ball as Julie Hampton, a stage actress who goes to work in a shipyard after the play in which she was planning to star is aborted by the shipyard worker (Dick Powell as William 'Swanee' Swanson) who wrote it, having disliked the Broadway glitz preferred by the play's director. Reporting for work the first day, actress Hampton discovers that the shipyard workers themselves are fully capable of performing in their own production. Yet in spite of a budding love interest between them, Swanson and Hampton clash over the simple authenticity of worker performers vs. the necessary essentials of a "professional" production.
Meet the People features Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Wilton Monroe was an American baritone singer, trumpeter and big band leader and actor, most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording and radio.-Biography:...
and his orchestra, as well as Spike Jones
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
and his City Slickers, as well as Virginia O'Brien
Virginia O'Brien
Virginia Lee O'Brien was a popular American actress, singer, and radio personality known for her comedic roles in MGM musicals of the 1940s.-Life and career:...
from the original stage cast, who sings the hit song Say We're Sweethearts Again.
The phrase "Heavens to Murgatroyd
Murgatroyd
Murgatroyd is a surname. Its etymology, according to one source, is as follows: In 1371, a constable was appointed for the district of Warley in Yorkshire...
!" later popularized by cartoon character Snagglepuss
Snagglepuss
Snagglepuss is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon character created in 1959, a pink anthropomorphic mountain lion voiced by Daws Butler. He is best known for his famous catchphrase, "Heavens to Murgatroyd!", along with phrases such as "Exit, stage left!" Snagglepuss was originally known as "Snaggletooth"...
was originally uttered by Bert Lahr
Bert Lahr
Bert Lahr was an American actor and comedian. Lahr is remembered today for his roles as the Cowardly Lion and Kansas farmworker Zeke in The Wizard of Oz, but was also well-known for work in burlesque, vaudeville, and on Broadway.-Early life:Lahr was born in New York City, of German-Jewish heritage...
in the movie.