Customer Reviews

100 Years of Cinema: 40 Classic Performances

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Have you ever heard Cary Grant, Jack Nicholson, Bette Davis or Robert Mitchum sing a song? What about Joan Crawford, Tyronne Power, Jimmy Stewart, or Clark Gable? Well, believe it or not, these famous dramatic actors and actresses all took a stab at musical careers in their films. Some were actually great, many had adequate singing voices, and still others were near awful. But for pure curiousity and uniqueness, many of the recordings preserved here are invaluable. Although you may think Rudolph Valentino's rendition of Kashmiri Love Song is barely discernable, just the fact that it's Valentino's only recording makes it worthwhile. Of course, you do get some classic numbers from musical stars, too: Judy Garland does her "Over the Rainbow," Dietrich sings "Lola," Jolson does "Mammy," and Dorothy Lamour sings one of her famous sarong numbers. I would highly suggest buying this set, for some of the best songs ever sung and some of the rarest musical recordings from stars who would probably rather forget them. Don't expect greatness all around, but expect to be shocked by the all-star cast. Don't pass it up!

This album contains songs from the brightest and most accomplished personalities of the 20th Century. The songs span from the 1920s until the 70s. Al Jolson opens the alum with his career defining song Mammy; the song was his trademark, and he himself the most popular Broadway star and film actor at one point. Next on the bill is Rudolph Valentino, singing Kahmiri Love Song, the only audio recorded legacy of this classic silent film star. As the songs fly by, we hear blonde bombshell Jean Harlow rasping out Reckless, Fred Astaire classically singing Chee to Cheek, Marlene Dietrich with Lola, ad Judy Garland giving her famous rendition of Over the Rainbow. Mae West, Gloria Swanson, Joan Crawford, and Rita Hayworth do some numbers too! The males hold their own, with stars like Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable, Gene Kelly and Jimmy Cagney. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby sing the hilarious theme song from Road to Morocco and Dorothy Lamour sings a beautiful solo piece entitled Lovely Hula Hands.

The second C.D. is the latter half of film music, including Marilyn Monroe breathlessly singing Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend, Crosby's White Christmas, Ann Miller singing Too Darn Hot,and Maurice Chevalier with Thank Heaven for Little Girls. Superstar Bette Davis does They're Either Too Young or to Old. Louis Armstrong performs Hello Dolly! Gloria De Haven sings a beautiful rendition of Who's Sorry Now and Noel Coward entertains with a hilarious version of Let's Do It. Cary Grant, Jack Nicholson, Robert Mitchum, Tyronne Power, and even Marlon Brando do their numbers.

This album is truly a must have. It's not the songs that make it, and it's not the films their from...what this album does is represent brilliantly the cinema superstars of the century.