Words and Music (1929 film)
Encyclopedia
Words and Music is a 1929 American
musical
comedy film
, directed by James Tinling, and starring Lois Moran
, David Percy, Helen Twelvetrees
, and Frank Albertson
. It was written by Andrew Bennison
with story by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan
and Jack Edwards.
Released by Fox Film Corporation
, the film is notable as the first in which John Wayne
is credited as "Duke Morrison." Wayne was also credited as "Duke Morrison" as a property assistant in the Art Department. Ward Bond
, Wayne’s lifelong good friend, also had a bit part in the movie.
Although the film was largely devoid of much plot line, as was typical of musical review pictures of the period, there is a great deal of singing and dancing. Many of Lois Moran’s numbers were actually footage that was cut from the film Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
, which were edited out when the film was found to be too long. This film was created to make use of the deleted scenes, and so was fashioned around Lois Moran’s singing talent.
Songs include: "Too Wonderful for Words" (William Kernell, Dave Stamper
, Paul Gerard Smith
, Edmund Joseph), "Stepping Along" (Kernell), "Shadows" (Con Conrad
, Sidney D. Mitchell
, Archie Gottler
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
, directed by James Tinling, and starring Lois Moran
Lois Moran
Lois Moran was an American film actress.She was born Lois Darlington Dowlin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and died in Sedona, Arizona.-Short career:...
, David Percy, Helen Twelvetrees
Helen Twelvetrees
Helen Twelvetrees was an American stage and screen performer, considered a top female star in the early days of sound films.- Early life and career :...
, and Frank Albertson
Frank Albertson
Frank Albertson was an American character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at age 13....
. It was written by Andrew Bennison
Andrew Bennison
Andrew Bennison was an American screenwriter and film director whose career was at its peak in the 1930s....
with story by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan
Frederick Hazlitt Brennan
Frederick Hazlitt Brennan was an American screenwriter. He wrote for over 30 films between 1929 and 1953 and was the creator of the Wyatt Earp television show....
and Jack Edwards.
Released by Fox Film Corporation
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, the film is notable as the first in which John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
is credited as "Duke Morrison." Wayne was also credited as "Duke Morrison" as a property assistant in the Art Department. Ward Bond
Ward Bond
Wardell Edwin "Ward" Bond was an American film actor whose rugged appearance and easygoing charm were featured in over 200 movies and the television series Wagon Train.-Early life:...
, Wayne’s lifelong good friend, also had a bit part in the movie.
Plot
Two young college students, Phil (David Percy) and Pete (John Wayne), compete for the love of pretty girl named Mary (Lois Moran), and also to win the $1500 prize in a song-writing contest to write the best show tune for the annual college revue. The two men each ask Mary to sing for them, but eventually, she chooses Phil as her beau, and it is he who also has the winning song.Although the film was largely devoid of much plot line, as was typical of musical review pictures of the period, there is a great deal of singing and dancing. Many of Lois Moran’s numbers were actually footage that was cut from the film Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929 was a black-and-white and color American musical film released by Fox Film Corporation.-Preservation status:...
, which were edited out when the film was found to be too long. This film was created to make use of the deleted scenes, and so was fashioned around Lois Moran’s singing talent.
Songs include: "Too Wonderful for Words" (William Kernell, Dave Stamper
Dave Stamper
Dave Stamper was an American songwriter of the Tin Pan Alley and vaudeville eras, a contributor to twenty-one editions of the Ziegfeld Follies, writer for the Fox Film Corporation, and composer of more than one thousand songs, in spite of never learning to read or write traditional music notation...
, Paul Gerard Smith
Paul Girard Smith
Paul Girard Smith was an American screenwriter. He wrote for 90 films between 1926 and 1955.Smith started writing musical revues at the age of ten. He joined the Marines for World War I and while still in Germany wrote and directed the Sixth Marine Revue in the Rhine Occupation Area...
, Edmund Joseph), "Stepping Along" (Kernell), "Shadows" (Con Conrad
Con Conrad
Con Conrad was an American songwriter and producer.-Biography:Con Conrad was born Conrad K. Dober in New York City. He published his first song, "Down in Dear Old New Orleans", in 1912. Conrad produced the Broadway show The Honeymoon Express, starring Al Jolson, in 1913...
, Sidney D. Mitchell
Sidney D. Mitchell
Sidney D. Mitchell was a Hollywood film industry lyricist and composer. He is best known for his collaborations with Lew Pollack on movie scores at Twentieth Century Fox in the 1930s and 1940s...
, Archie Gottler
Archie Gottler
Archie Gottler was an American composer, screenwriter, actor and film director. Gottler is known for being the director of the 1934 film "Woman Haters", the first of a series of 190 Three Stooges comedy shorts for Columbia Pictures.-External links:...
).
Cast
- Lois MoranLois MoranLois Moran was an American film actress.She was born Lois Darlington Dowlin in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and died in Sedona, Arizona.-Short career:...
- Mary Brown - David Percy - Song and dance principal
- Helen TwelvetreesHelen TwelvetreesHelen Twelvetrees was an American stage and screen performer, considered a top female star in the early days of sound films.- Early life and career :...
- Dorothy Blake - William OrlamondWilliam OrlamondWilliam Orlamond was an American film actor.Orlamond appeared in 81 films between 1912 and 1938. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Los Angeles, California, United States.-Selected filmography:...
- Pop Evans - Elizabeth PattersonElizabeth PattersonElizabeth Patterson is the name of:* Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte , sister-in-law of Emperor Napoleon I of France* Liz J. Patterson , U.S...
- Dean Crockett - John WayneJohn WayneMarion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
- Pete Donahue (as Duke Morrison) - Frank AlbertsonFrank AlbertsonFrank Albertson was an American character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at age 13....
- Skeet Mulroy - Tom Patricola - Hannibal
- Eddie BushEddie BushEdward Webster Bush was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played two seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, and who coached for one season in the National Hockey League for the Kansas City Scouts.-External links:...
- Biltmore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet) - Paul GibbonsPaul GibbonsPaul Kendall Gibbons is a retired pole vaulter from New Zealand. He competed for his native country at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where he was eliminated in the qualifying round with no official mark. Gibbons set his personal best in 1992 and equalled it in 1997.-Personal bests:-References:**...
- Baltimore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet) - Bill Seckler - Biltmore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet)
- Ches Kirkpatrick - Biltmore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet)
- Bubbles Crowell - Bubbles