Mickey Rooney ... Lorenz Hart
Tom Drake ... Richard Rodgers
Perry Como ... Eddie Lorrison Anders
Ann Sothern ... Joyce Harmon
Betty Garrett ... Peggy McNeil
Janet Leigh ... Dorothy Feiner
Marshall Thompson ... Herbert Fields
Jeanette Nolan ... Mrs. Hart
Richard Quine ... Bob Feiner, Jr.
Clinton Sundberg ... Shoe Clerk
Harry Antrim ... Dr. Rodgers
Ilka Gruning ... Mrs. Rodgers
And
Guest Stars:
June Allyson, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Mel Torme, Vera-Ellen, Dee Turnell, Emory Parnell, Helen Spring, Edward Earl, Allyn McLerie, The Blackburn Twins
Words and Music (MGM 1948) is a biographical musical based on the partnership of Richard Rodgers (played by Tom Drake) and Lorenz Hart (played by Mickey Rooney).Though apparently inaccurate, as are most musical biographies, it is a very enjoyable tribute to the wonderful music of this fabulous duo.
Right! The film doesn’t tell us the story of Rodgers and Hart than that it does. Lorenz Hart was known as a gay dwarf. He was twenty-four when he met sixteen-year-old Richard Rodgers in 1919. He took one look and fell instantly in love, an emotion that was not taken mutually. Rodgers was tall, athletic, and straight. He was a hard worker, aloof and distant. His one real enthusiasm seemed to be earning millions of dollars by writing dozens of great popular songs. Hart, on the other hand, hated working. In fact, Rodger’s real job was getting Hart to work. Hart loved to drink excessively. He died a furious alcoholic at forty-seven; not lying death on the sidewalk as we saw in the film according to pneumonia.
The plot of Words and Music is also deadly. Anyway, when the music starts, the stars come out. At their best, it was believed that Rodgers and Hart was a match for the Gershwins, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin.
There’s a rumor that MGM had not planned on having Judy Garland in Words and Music, the film’s director offered her $50,000 to help with her medical bills if she would guest star for one number. Although she was on the verge of collapse, her performance was so well received that the director offered her another $50,000 to film an encore number.
This was the last time Judy and Mickey would appear in a film together. The duo sings and dances “I Wish I Were in Love Again”.
This was Mickey's last film for MGM, too.
Some other highlights are Perry Como and Allyn McLerie in "Mountain Greenery," June Allyson's "Thou Swell," Lena Horne’s “Where or When” and Gene Kelly and Vera-Ellen's interpretive ballet, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue."
Although many critics have attacked the film because it refuses to pay attention to the facts, we’d have to accept that this is a lovely tribute to the old time musical.
Another highlight is
There's A Small Hotel
Words & Music by Lorenz Hart & Richard Rodgers
Sung by Betty Garrett
DM7 D6 DM7 D D6 A7 DM7 D D9
There's a small ho - tel with a wish - ing well,
Em7 Em7sus4 A7 A DM7/9 Bm7 G6 Edim
I wish that we were there to - geth - er;
DM7 D6 DM7 D D6 A7 DM7 D D9
There's a bri - dal suite, one room bright and neat,
Em7 Em7sus4 A7 A Am7 D9 Am7 D7
Com - plete for us to share to - geth - er.
DM7 D6 DM7 D D6 A7 DM7 D D9
There's a small ho - tel with a wish - ing well,
Em7 Em7sus4 A7 A DM7/9 Bm7 G6 Edim
I wish that we were there to - geth - er;
DM7 D6 DM7 D D6 A7 DM7 D D9
There's a bri - dal suite, one room bright and neat,
Em7 Em7sus4 A7 A Am7 D9 Am7 D7
Com - plete for us to share to - geth - er.
Bridge:
G Em Am7 D7
Looking through the win - dow,
G6 Edim Am7 B7
You can see a dis - tant stee - ple
Em B7 Em B7 C Em Bbm7-5 A7
Not a sign of peo - ple -- who wants peo - ple?
DM7 D6 DM7 D D6 A7 DM7 D D9
When the stee - ple bell says, "Good night, sleep well,"
Em7 Em7sus4 A7 A Am7 D9 Am7 D7
We'll thank the small ho - tel to - geth - er.
G Em Am7 D7
Looking through the win - dow,
G6 Edim Am7 B7
You can see a dis - tant stee - ple
Em B7 Em B7 C Em Bbm7-5 A7
Not a sign of peo - ple -- who wants peo - ple?
DM7 D6 DM7 D D6 A7 DM7 D D9
When the stee - ple bell says, "Good night, sleep well,"
Em7 Em7sus4 A7 A Am7 D9 Am7 D7
We'll thank the small ho - tel to - geth - er.
