'''Words and Music''' is a
1929 American musical comedy motion picture, directed by
James Tinling, and starring
Lois Moran,
David Percy,
Helen Twelvetrees, and
Frank Albertson. It was written by
Andrew Bennison with story by
Frederick Hazlitt Brennan and
Jack Edwards. Released by
20th Century Fox studios, the film is notable as the first in which
John Wayne is credited (as Duke Morrison). Wayne was also credited (as John Wayne) as a property assistant in the Art Department.
Ward Bond, Wayne’s lifelong good friend, also had a bit part in the movie.
Synopsis
Two young college students, Phil (David Percy) and Pete (John Wayne), compete for the love of pretty girl named Mary (Lois Moran), and also to win the $1500 prize in a song-writing contest to write the best show tune for the annual college revue. The two men each ask Mary to sing for them, but eventually, she chooses Phil as her beau, and it is he who also has the winning song.
Although the film was largely devoid of much plot line, as was typical of musical review pictures of the period, there is a great deal of singing and dancing. Many of Lois Moran’s numbers were actually footage that was cut from the film ''
Movietone Follies of 1929'', which were edited out when the film was found to be too long. This film was created to make use of the deleted scenes, and so was fashioned around Lois Moran’s singing talent.
Songs include: "Too Wonderful for Words" (William Kernell, Dave Stamper,
Paul Gerard Smith, Edmund Joseph), "Stepping Along" (Kernell), "Shadows" (
Con Conrad,
Sidney Mitchell,
Archie Gottler).
Cast
★
Lois Moran ... Mary Brown
★ David Percy ... Song and dance principal
★
Helen Twelvetrees ... Dorothy Blake
★
William Orlamond ... Pop Evans
★ Elizabeth Patterson ... Dean Crockett
★
John Wayne ... Pete Donahue (as Duke Morrison)
★
Frank Albertson ... Skeet Mulroy
★
Tom Patricola ... Hannibal
★ Eddie Bush ... Biltmore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet)
★
Paul Gibbons ... Baltimore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet)
★
Bill Seckler ... Biltmore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet)
★
Ches Kirkpatrick ... Biltmore Quartet member (as Biltmore Quartet)
★
Bubbles Crowell ... Bubbles
★
Vina Gale ... Adagio dancer
★
Muriel Gardner ... Song and dance principal
★
Harriet Griffith ... Adagio dancer
★ John Griffith ... Adagio dancer
★
Charles Huff ... Adagio dancer
★ Helen Hunt ... Adagio dancer
★ Dorothy Jordan ... Song and dance principal
★
Richard Keene ... Singer
★ Helen Parrish ... Song and dance principal
★
Arthur Springer ... Adagio dancer
★ Jack Wade ... Song and dance principal
★
Dorothy Ward ... Girl
See also
★
John Wayne filmography (1926-1940)
External links
★
★
tvguide.com
★
New York Times