A varied group of immigrants head for the USA aboard S.S. Mauronia, including Russians Sascha, Mischa, Toscha, and Olga. Sascha has fallen for Scots lassie Heather; Olga is courted by Chris Jansen, valet of first class passenger Larry Beaumont. Heather catches Larry’s eye, to the discomfiture of Larry’s other flame Diana. On arrival, Heather has immigration trouble, and a variety of complications ensue…
Category: Musical
Set during the Golden Age of Jazz circa 1917, Arturo De Cordova stars as Nick, the proprietor of a Bourbon Street gambling joint, an artistic haven for black musicians who gather to jam from dusk ’til dawn. When he falls in love with an opera-singing socialite, Nick realizes that only through music will he gain respectability, and launches a campaign to thrust the disreputable music known as jazz onto the highbrow American stage.
Unable to complete the deal by telephone, advertising executive Roberts sends his assistant Ann to Cuba to lure a Cuban band, led by Desi Arnaz, on to an American radio program. Attracted to Ann, Arnaz and his band come to New York but complications arise when the squeaky-voiced, addle-brained sponsor of the program decides she wants to be the vocalist on the program.
In this musical, producers begin searching for a real southern belle to star in a Broadway production. The two are forced to hear a woman’s audition and agree to let her have the lead. She is soon fired, but is pursued by the producer who has fallen in love with her. Songs include: “Find Yourself a Melody,” “I’ll Never Let a Day Go Past,” “Kiss the Boys Goodbye,” “That’s How I Got My Start,” and “Sand in My Shoes.”
Vivacious student Rita flees her boarding school with her music teacher, to whom she is engaged. She wants to take part in a singing contest, but her father, who is dead-set against it, has her kidnapped. He finally gives in when his wife threatens to sing in the contest herself.
Lupe Vélez plays a dual role, twin sisters Rita and Elaine. After escaping a torpedoed ship, Rita shows up in Manhattan where she takes the place of her Broadway star twin sister Elaine, who’s having problems with her marriage and needs to make a getaway. Neither Elaine’s husband nor Rita’s saxophone-player boyfriend are aware of the switch.
The fantasies and dreams of two over-the-hill actresses are intertwined with their realities, as the two roommates struggle to survive their day-to-day lives in the expensive and difficult world of Paris.