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Musical Film Index: D-E

 

**** - Exceptional
*** - Very good entertainment
** - Mediocre
* - Just plain bad
NO STARS - Beyond bad
  • Daddy Long Legs (1955) ** - Man about town Fred Astaire falls in love with his ward, Leslie Caron. A few good dance numbers, but weak overall.
  • Dames (1934) **** - Great songs and some stunning Busby Berkeley dance routines make this silly backstage tale thoroughly enjoyable.
  • Damn Yankees (1958) **** - Delightful (if slightly stagy) version of the Broadway hit about a baseball fan who sells his soul to Satan to help his team to victory. Gwen Verdon delightful, and shares a fun mambo with hubby Bob Fosse.
  • Damsel in Distress, A (1937) **** - Fred Astaire woos British noblewoman Joan Fontaine, with comic assist from Burns & Allen and a fantastic Gershwin score. A total winner!
  • Dance Girl, Dance (1940)
  • Dancing Feet (1936)
  • Dancing in the Dark (1949) ** - William Powell learns the unknown performer he has discovered is his daughter. 
  • Dancing Lady (1933) ** - Joan Crawford is ill at ease in this overblown vehicle, but it helps that young Fred Astaire is her dancing partner.
  • Dancing on a Dime (1940) ** - All I remember about this one is that it throws together some rehashed material to little effect.
  • Dancing Pirate, The (1936)
  • Dancing Sweeties (1930) 
  • Dangerous Nan McGrew (1930) 
  • Dangerous When Wet (1953) *** - Esther Williams swims the English Channel and romances Fernando Lamas – one of Esther's better splash-a-thons.
  • Darling Lili (1970) ** - Henry Mancini provides Julie Andrews with several fine songs, but a tedious plot involving espionage during World War I eventually sabotages this costly production.
  • Daughter of Rosie O'Grady, The (1950) ** - June Haver and Gordon MacRae sing favorites of the early 1900s – okay but uninspired.
  • Day at the Races, A (1937) *** - The Marx Brothers meet the horsey set, with fun results
  • Deep in My Heart (1954) *** - Jose Ferrer stars in a bio of Broadway composer Sigmund Romberg; the silly plot is redeemed by a parade of all-star musical numbers.
  • Delicious (1931) ** - Gershwin score is the main event in this tale of Scottish girl Janet Gaynor falling for Russian conductor Charles Farrell.
  • Delightfully Dangerous (1945) ** - Jane Powell finds out her sister is a burlesque stripper – geepers!
  • Desert Song, The (1929) ** - Stilted version of the Broadway hit about a desert Zorro. Great Romberg score still works despite primitive sound quality.
  • Desert Song, The (1943) *** - World War II-era remake of Romberg's desert romance now has Riffs battling (who else?) the Nazis. The great stage score is mostly there, and Dennis Morgan is good as the Red Shadow
  • Desert Song, The (1953) ** - Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson star in Hollywood's third lackluster version of Romberg's romantic operetta.
  • Devil May Care (1929) 
  • Diamond Horseshoe (1945)** - Betty Grable and pop singer Dick Haymes find romance in the legendary NY nightspot – good numbers almost redeem lifeless story.
  • Dimples (1936)
  • Disc Jockey (1951)
  • Dixiana (1930) 
  • Dixie (1943) *** - Mostly fictional account of hiw the Southern anthem "Dixie" came to be, with Bing singing a fine score. Period atmosphere and great ensemble make for fun viewing
  • Dixie Jamboree (1945)
  • Dizzy Dames (1935)
  • Do You Love Me (1946) ** - Dick Haymes as a bandleader in love. 
  • Doctor Doolittle (1967) *** - Rex Harrison as a veterinarian who talks to animals. Over produced but still fun, with a very enjoyable score.
  • Doctor Rhythm (1938)
  • Doll Face (1945) ** - Vivian Blane moves from burlesque to Broadway while falling for Perry Como. 
  • Doll Face (1946)
  • Dolly Sisters, The (1945) *** - Betty Grable and June Haver in pleasant bio of the famous vaudeville team. Great period score, plus newly minted hit "I Can't Begin to Tell You."
  • Don't Get Personal (1942)
  • Don't Knock the Rock (1956) ** - Rock n' roll stars Bill Haley and Little Richard are the only reason to sit through this yawner.
  • Double Or Nothing (1937)
  • Double or Nothing (1940) *** - Bing Crosby must double a $5000 prize or return it. No classic, but enjoyable.
  • Double Trouble (1967)
  • Doughboys in Ireland (1943) ** - US soldier stationed in Ireland, a cheap excuse for Kenny Baker to sing a bushel of old Irish tenor favorites.
  • Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1953) * - Cheezy rip-off of South Pacific, ironically features Mitzi Gaynor (who later starred in long-delayed screen version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein original).
  • Down Argentine Way (1940) *** - Betty Grable is romanced by Don Ameche, but Carmen Miranda steals it all. The mind-blowing tap number by the Nicholas Brothers is a must-see.
  • Down to Earth (1947) ** - Rita Hayworth as the Goddess of Dance comes to earth to help save a troubled Broadway musical – pity she didn't fix this film.
  • Down to Their Last Yacht (1934) * - Former millionaires lease out their yacht to make ends meet. Beyond dumb.
  • Dreamgirls (2007) *** - Stylish and highly entertaining adaptation of the stage hit.
  • DuBarry Was a Lady (1943) ** - Red Skelton woos nightclub star Lucille Ball who really loves Gene Kelly. Skelton's slipped a mickey, and dreams he is King Louis XIV and Ball is DuBarry. The plot drags, and little remains of Cole Porter's stage score.
  • Duchess of Idaho, The (1950)
  • Duck Soup (1933) **** - The Marx Brothers at their zany best in this merciless mock-operetta spoof of diplomacy and war.
  • Duffy's Tavern (1945)
  • Dumbo (1941) *** - Disney's animated tale of a flying baby elephant. Underrated score includes "Baby Mine" and "When I See an Elephant Fly."
  • Eadie Was a Lady (1945)
  • Earl Carroll Sketchbook (1946)
  • Earl Carroll Vanities (1945) ** - Meager attempt to bring Carroll's saucy stage revues to the screen.
  • East Side of Heaven (1939)
  • Easter Parade (1948) **** - Fred Astaire and Judy Garland as vaudeville dance team, with great songs by Irving Berlin and Ann Miller for added oomph. Lovely to look at and a pleasure in every department. And you gotta love Jules Munshin's salad routine!
  • Easy Come, Easy Go (1967)
  • Easy to Look At (1945)
  • Easy to Love (1953) ** - If you like Esther Williams, this may be your dish. She splashes about with Van Johnson and Tony Martin.
  • Easy to Wed (1946) ** - When playgirl Esther Williams sues a newspaper for libel, the paper hires playboy Van Johnson to compromise her. Colorful but unexciting formula entertainment.
  • Eddie Cantor Story, The (1953) * - Great songs can't save this offensive bio pic.
  • Eddie Cantor Story, The (1953) NO STARS - Offensively bad. 
  • Eddie Duchin Story, The (1956) ** - Tyrone Power as famous pianist – good music, but this is strictly for those in search of a tear jerker.
  • Elvis (1979) NO STARS - Elvis deified. Clumsy despite sexy Kurt Russell in the title role.
  • Emperor Waltz, The (1948) *** - Bing Crosby sells record players and tangles with Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph. Pleasant silliness, lavishly produced.
  • Evergreen (1934) - British screen version of Rodgers & Hart's London hit
  • Every Day's a Holiday (1938)
  • Every Night at Eight (1935)
  • Everybody Sing (1938)
  • Everyone Says I Love You (1996) *** - Poor singing but tons of humor in Woody Allen's only musical.
  • Everything I Have Is Yours (1952)
  • Everything's On Ice (1939)
  • Evita (1996) *** - Madonna is no actress, but she does decently as the woman who dominated Argentina. Antonio Banderas is a sexy film-stealer as Che.
  • Excuse My Dust (1951) ** - Some laughs as Red Skelton invents a car.