Musical Film Index: D-E

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.