Tag Archives: 1970s musicals

Musical Monday: Norwood (1970)

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It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Norwood (1970) – Musical #829

Studio:
Paramount Pictures

Director:
Jack Haley, Jr.

Starring:
Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Joe Namath, Carol Lynley, Pat Hingle, Tisha Sterling, Dom DeLuise, Leigh French, Meredith MacRae, Jack Haley, Jimmy Boyd,

Plot:
After returning home from serving in Vietnam, Norwood (Campbell) lives an aimless existence as he determines what he will do now. Norwood decides to try to perform on a TV talent show. As he travels to perform on the show, he meets and befriends a girl, Rita Lee Chapman (Darby), who’s on her way to marry her military boyfriend. He also picks up Joann a talented chicken (herself), and meets up with military buddy Joe William Reese (Namath) and his girlfriend (MacRae).

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Musical Monday: Scott Joplin (1977)

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It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Scott Joplin (1977) – Musical #800

Studio:
Produced by Motown Pictures, Distributed by Universal Pictures

Director:
Jeremy Kagan

Starring:
Billy Dee Williams, Clifton Davis, Art Carney, Margaret Avery, Eubie Blake, Godfrey Cambridge, Otis Day, Mabel King, Taj Mahal, Spo-De-Odee, Samuel Fuller, Seymour Cassel, David Healy, Lionel Richie (uncredited)

Plot:
Composer Scott Joplin (Williams) works his way up from being pianist in a brothel, known as “a Professor,” to becoming a successful composer — transforming the landscape of music with ragtime hits. While largely known as a genius, Joplin wants to be seen as a high-brow composer and works to compose his opera, “Treemonisha.” His life and career are hindered by heartache and tragedy, like an illness and death of a child.

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Musical Monday: Song of Norway (1970)

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It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

song of norway3This week’s musical:
Song of Norway (1970) – Musical #764

Studio:
Produced by ABC Pictures Corp., distributed by Cinerama Releasing Corp.

Director:
Andrew L. Stone

Starring:
Toralv Maurstad, Florence Henderson, Christina Schollin, Frank Porretta, Harry Secombe, Robert Morley, Edward G. Robinson, Oscar Homolka, Frederick Jaeger, Henry Gilbert, Richard Wordsworth, Matt Mattox (uncredited)

Plot:
A biographical film on Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg (Maurstad).

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Musical Monday: Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

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It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

lady sings the bluesThis week’s musical:
Lady Sings the Blues (1972) – Musical #763

Studio:
Paramount Pictures

Director:
Sidney J. Furie

Starring:
Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, Paul Hampton, Sid Melton, Virginia Caper, Isabel Sanford, Ned Glass, Scatman Crothers

Plot:
A fictionalized biography on the life and career of jazz singer, Billie Holiday (Ross). The film details her teenage life, rise to fame struggles, and her romance with Louis McKay (Williams).

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Musical Monday: Darling Lili (1970)

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It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 600. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

darling liliThis week’s musical:
Darling Lili (1970) – Musical #755

Studio:
Paramount Pictures

Director:
Blake Edwards

Starring:
Julie Andrews, Rock Hudson, Jeremy Kemp, Lance Percival, Michael Witney, Gloria Paul, Jacques Marin, André Maranne, Bernard Kay, Doreen Keogh, Carl Duering, Vernon Dobtcheff, Laurie Main, Louis Mercier

Plot:
Set during World War I, Lili Smith (Andrews) is a popular English singer who also happens to be a spy for Germany, providing information to Kurt von Ruger (Kemp). When Lili is to get close to American aviator Major Larrabee (Hudson) for information, she falls in love with him. As the two grow close, Lili’s emotions and jealousy conflict with her position as a spy.

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Musical Monday: Huckleberry Finn (1974)

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It’s no secret that the Hollywood Comet loves musicals.
In 2010, I revealed I had seen 400 movie musicals over the course of eight years. Now that number is over 500. To celebrate and share this musical love, here is my weekly feature about musicals.

This week’s musical:
Huckleberry Finn (1974) – Musical #583

Studio:
United Artists

Director:
J. Lee Thompson

Starring:
Jeff East, Paul Winfield, Harvey Korman, Gary Merrill, David Wayne, Arthur O’Connell, Natalie Trundy, Odessa Cleveland, Lucille Benson, Kim O’Brien, Jean Fay, Ruby Leftwich, Linda Watkins

Plot:
A musical adaptation of Mark Twain’s story of “Huckleberry Finn.” Huckleberry Finn (East) is an orphan after his father (Merrill) is dead and is living with two elderly women. Huck’s father turns out not being dead and kidnaps him after hearing Huck found some treasure and he wants the money. Huck stages his death and travels down the river with Jim (Winfield), a slave running to freedom.

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