Bing Crosby (106 page)
Authors: Gary Giddins
| Mar. 15: Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider | (John Scott Trotter/The Foursome) |
| Poor Old Rover | (John Scott Trotter/The Foursome) |
| Down by the Old Mill Stream | (John Scott Trotter/The Foursome) |
| Mar. 22: Deep Purple | (Matty Malneck) |
| Star Dust | (Matty Malneck) |
| God Bless America | (Max Terr Chorus/John Scott Trotter) |
| The Star Spangled Banner | (Max Terr Chorus/John Scott Trotter) |
| Mar. 31: If I Had My Way | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Little Sir Echo | (John Scott Trotter/Music Maids) |
| I Surrender, Dear | (John Scott Trotter) |
| I’m Building a Sailboat of Dreams | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Apr. 3: Alla en el Rancho Grande | (John Scott Trotter/The Foursome) |
| It Must Be True | (John Scott Trotter/Music Maids) |
| S’posin’ | (John Scott Trotter/Music Maids) |
| Apr. 5: Whistling in the Wildwood | (John Scott Trotter) |
| And the Angels Sing | (John Scott Trotter) |
| June 9: Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams | (fluff take) |
| (John Scott Trotter) | |
| Girl of My Dreams | (John Scott Trotter) |
| The Missouri Waltz | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Still the Bluebird Sings | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Go Fly a Kite | (John Scott Trotter) |
| A Man and His Dream | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Just One More Chance | (John Scott Trotter) |
| June 13: To You, Sweetheart, Aloha | (Dick Mclntyre) |
| My Isle of Golden Dreams | (Dick Mclntyre) |
| Maybe | (Victor Young) |
| Somebody Loves Me | (Victor Young) |
| Home on the Range | (Victor Young) |
| June 22: Start the Day Right | ( — Connie Boswell/John Scott Trotter) |
| An Apple for the Teacher | ( — Connie Boswell/John Scott Trotter) |
| June 30: Neighbors in the Sky | (John Scott Trotter) |
| What’s New? | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Cynthia | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Medley of Gus Edwards Song Hits (“Sunbonnet Sue,” “Jimmy Valentine,” “If I Was a Millionaire”) | (John Scott Trotter) |
| In My Merry Oldsmobile | (John Scott Trotter/Music Maids) |
| Sept. 20: Ciribiribin | ( —- Andrews Sisters/Joe Venuti) |
| Yodelin’ Jive | ( — Andrews Sisters/Joe Venuti) |
| Dec. 15: Too Romantic | (John Scott Trotter) |
| The Moon and the Willow Tree | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Sweet Potato Piper | (John Scott Trotter/The Foursome) |
| Between 18th and 19th on Chestnut Street | ( — Connie Boswell/ John Scott Trotter) |
| 1940 | |
| Feb. 9: Marcheta | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Tumbling Tumbleweeds | (John Scott Trotter) |
| If I Knew Then (What I Know Now) | (John Scott Trotter) |
| The Girl with the Pigtails in Her Hair | (John Scott Trotter), |
| Feb. 25: Devil May Care | (John Scott Trotter) |
| The Singing Hills | (John Scott Trotter) |
| I’m Waiting for Ships That Never Come In | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Mar. 22: Beautiful Dreamer | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Yours Is My Heart Alone | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Sierra Sue | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Apr. 12: Meet the Sun Half-Way | (John Scott Trotter) |
| April Played the Fiddle | (John Scott Trotter) |
| I Haven’t Time to Be a Millionaire | (John Scott Trotter) |
| The Pessimistic Character (with the Crab Apple Face) | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Apr. 15: Mister Meadowlark | ( — Johnny Mercer/Victor Young) |
| On Behalf of the Visiting Firemen | ( —Johnny Mercer/Victor Young) |
| July 1: Trade Winds | (Dick Mclntyre) |
| A Song of Old Hawaii | (Dick Mclntyre) |
| Aloha Kuu Ipo Aloha | (Dick Mclntyre) |
| July 3: When the Moon Comes Over Madison Square | (John Scott Trotter) |
| Only Forever | (John Scott Trotter) |
| July 6: Ballad for Americans: | (Victor Young/Ken Darby Singers) |
| Part One | |
| Part Two | |
| Part Three | |
| Part Four |
This section lists all major feature films and short subjects made for theatrical release, plus five television dramas
(High Tor, Dr. Cook’s Garden,
and three inspirational two-reelers produced by the Christophers). It does not include pictures made by Bing Crosby Productions
in which Bing does not appear. Credits are given only for those in which he has a substantial role. Unless otherwise noted,
all pictures were released by Paramount.
S = short subject
V = voiceover (musical or narrative)
C = cameo or supporting appearance
HC = Bob Hope movie with Crosby bit-part cameo
1930
King of Jazz
(Universal) (C,V) Directed by John Murray Anderson. Produced by Carl Laemmle Jr. Written by Edward T. Lowe, Harry Ruskin,
and Charles MacArthur. Photographed by Hal Mohr, Ray Rennahan, and Jerome Ash. Songs by Milton Ager-Jack Yellin; Mabel Wayne-Billy
Rose; Harry Barris-James Cavanaugh; others. Cast: Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra with the Rhythm Boys, the Brox Sisters,
John Boles, Laura La Plante, Jeanette Loff, Merna Kennedy, Walter Brennan, Stanley Smith, William Kent, Glenn Tryon, Russell
Markert Girls.
Two Plus Fours
(Pathe) (S,C) Directed by Ray McCarey. Written by McCarey and Charles Callahan. Cast: Nat Carr, Thelma Hill, Bing Crosby,
Harry Barris, Al Rinker, Ed Deering, Spec O’Donnell.
Check and Double Check
(RKO) (V) “Three Little Words” performed by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra with the Rhythm Boys.
Reaching for the Moon
(United Artists) (C) “When the Folks High Up Do the Mean Low Down” sung by Bing Crosby, Bebe Daniels, and June MacCloy.
1931
Confessions of a Co-ed
(C) “Out of Nowhere” sung by Bing Crosby; “Ya Got Love” sung by the Rhythm Boys.
I Surrender Dear
(Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Mack Sennett. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, and Harry McCoy. Songs by Harry
Barris—Gordon Clifford; Barris—Bing Crosby—Harry Tobias; John Green-Edward Hayman; Ernest Ball—J. Keirn Brennan. Cast: Bing
Crosby, Arthur Stone, Marion Sayers, Luis Alberni, Julia Griffith. The Sennett-Crosby shorts were later reissued as parts
of compilation films, notably
Road to Hollywood
( 1947) and
Down Memory Lane
( 1949).
One More Chance
(Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Mack Sennett. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, Harry McCoy, and Lew Foster.
Songs by Arthur Johnston—Sam Coslow; Harry Barris-Billy Moll—Ted Koehler; Barris-Gordon Clifford; Lew Brown-Sidney Clare.
Cast: Bing Crosby, Arthur Stone, Patsy O’Leary, Matty Kemp.
1932
Dream House
(Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Del Lord. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, Harry McCoy, and Lew Foster. Songs
by Harry Barris-Gus Arnheim—Gordon Clifford; Irving Kahal—Pierre Norman-Sammy Fain. Cast: Bing Crosby, Ann Christy, Katherine
Ward, William Davidson, Eddie Phillips, Vernon Dent. Reissued in edited version as
Crooner’s Holiday
(1935).
Billboard Girl
(Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Leslie Pearce. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, Harry McCoy, and Lew Foster.
Songs by Jack Meskill-Vincent Rose; Al Dubin-Joseph Burke. Cast: Bing Crosby, Margie Babe Kane, Dick Stewart, Jimmy Eagles,
Lincoln Stedman, George Pearce. Reissued in edited version as
Bring On Bing
(1935).
Hollywood on Parade Z2:
No.2 (S,C) “Auf Wiedersehen” sung by Bing Crosby.
The Big Broadcast
Directed by Frank Tuttle. Written by George Marion Jr., from a play,
Wild Waves,
by William Ford Manley. Photographed by George Folsey. Songs by Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger; Sam Lewis-Joe Young-Harry Akst;
Harry Barris-Gordon Clifford; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Stuart Erwin, Leila Hyams, Sharon Lynne, George Burns, Gracie Allen,
Spec O’Donnell, George Barbier, Major Sharp and Minor, Arthur Tracy, Mills Brothers, Boswell Sisters, Kate Smith, Donald Novis,
Cab Calloway, Vincent Lopez, Eddie Lang.
1933
Sing Bing Sing
(Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Babe Stafford. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, Harry McCoy, and Lew Foster.
Songs by Harold Arlen-Ted Koehler; Joe Young-Carmen Lombardo;Gus Kahn-Harry Woods. Cast: Bing Crosby, Florine McKinney, Franklin
Pang-born, Irving Bacon, Arthur Stone.
Blue of the Night
(Educational-Sennett) (S) Directed by Leslie Pearce. Written by John A. Waldron, Earle Rodney, Harry McCoy, and Lew Foster.
Songs by Roy Turk-Fred Ahlert-Bing Crosby; Milton Ager-Ed Nelson-Al Hoffman—Al Goodhart; Gerald Marks—Benny Davis; Edward
Heyman-Dana Suesse. Cast: Bing Crosby, Margie Babe Kane, Franklin Pangborn, Toby Wing, Bud Jamison.
Hollywood on Parade
Z3: No.1 (S,C) “The Old Ox Road” sung by Bing Crosby.
Hollywood on Parade
Z3: No.4 (S,C) “Boo Boo Boo” sung by Bing Crosby and Jack Oakie; “Buckin’ the Wind” sung by Crosby.
Hollywood on Parade
Z3: No.7 (S,C) Bing appears in a skit with John Barrymore, Harry Langdon, others.
Please
(S) Produced and directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom. Written by Dean Ward and Vernon Dent. Songs by Leo Robin—Ralph Rainger;
Al Dubin—Harry Warren; Victor Young-Ned Washington—Bing Crosby; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Kornman, Vernon Dent.
College Humor
Directed by Wesley Ruggles. Written by Claude Binyon and Frank Butler, from a story by Dean Fales. Photographed by Leo Tover.
Songs by Arthur Johnston—Sam Coslow; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Mary Carlisle, Richard Arlen, Mary Kornman, George
Burns, Gracie Allen, Lona Andre, Joseph Sauers (Sawyer), Grady Sutton.
Too Much Harmony
Directed by A. Edward Sutherland. Produced by William LeBaron. Written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Harry Ruskin. Photographed
by Theodor Sparkuhl. Songs by Arthur Johnston—Sam Coslow. Cast: Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Judith Allen, Skeets Gallagher, Harry
Green, Lilyan Tashman, Ned Sparks, Kitty Kelly, Grace Bradley, Mrs. Evelyn Offield Oakie, Henry Armetta.
Going Hollywood
(MGM) Directed by Raoul Walsh. Produced by Walter Wanger. Written by Donald Ogden Stewart, from a story by Frances Marion.
Photographed by George Folsey. Songs by Nacio Herb Brown—Arthur Freed. Cast: Marion Davies, Bing Crosby, Fifi D’Orsay, Ned
Sparks, Stuart Erwin, Patsy Kelly, Sterling Holloway, Bobby Watson, Radio Rogues, Lennie Hayton.
1934
Just an Echo
(S) Produced and directed by Arvid E. Gillstrom. Written by Dean Ward, Vernon Dent. Songs by Harry Woods—Jimmy Campbell—Reg
Connelly; Joe Young-Carmen Lombardo; others. Cast: Bing Crosby, Mary Kornman, Vernon Dent.
We’re Not Dressing
Directed by Norman Taurog. Produced by Benjamin Glazer. Written by Horace Jackson, Francis Martin, and George Marion Jr.,
from a play,
The Admirable Crichton,
by Sir J. M. Barrie. Photographed by
Charles Lang. Songs by Mack Gordon-Harry Revel. Cast: Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard, Ethel Merman, Leon Errol, George Burns,
Gracie Allen, Ray Milland, Jay Henry.
She Loves Me Not
Directed by Elliott Nugent. Produced and written by Benjamin Glazer, from a play by Howard Lindsay and a novel by Edward
Hope. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Leo Robin—Ralph Rainger; Mack Gordon—Harry Revel. Cast: Bing Crosby, Miriam Hopkins,
Kitty Carlisle, Eddie Nugent, Henry Stephenson, Lynne Overman, George Bar-bier, Warren Hymer, Judith Allen.
Here Is My Heart
Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Louis D. Lighton. Written by Edwin Justus Mayer and Harlan Thompson, from a play,
The Grand Dutchess and the Waiter,
by Alfred Savoir. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Leo Robin-Ralph Rainger; Robin-Lewis Gensler. Cast: Bing Crosby,
Kitty Carlisle, Roland Young, Alison Skipworth, Reginald Owen, Akim Tamiroff, William Frawley, Cecilia Parker, Marian Mansfield.
1935
Mississippi
Directed by A. Edward Sutherland. Produced by Arthur Horn-blow Jr. Written by Francis Martin and Jack Cunningham, adapted
by Herbert Fields and Claude Binyon, from a play,
Magnolia,
by Booth Tarkington. Photographed by Charles Lang. Songs by Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart; Stephen Foster. Cast: Bing Crosby,
W. C. Fields, Joan Bennett, Gail Patrick, Queenie Smith, Claude Gillingwater, John Miljan, Five Cabin Kids.
Two for Tonight
Directed by Frank Tuttle. Produced by Douglas MacLean. Written by George Marion Jr. and Jane Storm, from a play by Max and
J. O. Lief. Photographed by Karl Struss. Songs by Mack Gordon—Harry Revel. Cast: Bing Crosby, Joan Bennett, Mary Boland, Lynne
Overman, Thelma Todd, James Blakely, Douglas Fowley, Ernest Cossart.