Can't Help Singing (1944). One of six Deanna Durbin features in this Universal DVD release, it is the only full film score on which Yip Harburg collaborated with Jerome Kern. Includes, besides the title song, "More and More," "Any Moment Now," "Cali-forn-i-ay," "Elbow Room" and "Swing Your Sweetheart 'Round the Fire."
The Great Morgan (1946). This collection of outtakes from MGM musicals strung together loosely by a thin plot involving actor Frank Morgan includes a King Sisters performance of the Harburg-Lane song "Thank You, Columbus" which was cut from the 1944 feature Meet the People. Not commercially available.
Centennial Summer (1946). Jerome Kern's last full motion picture score, includes one song with lyrics by Yip: "Cinderella Sue," performed by Avon Long and an ensemble of African-American children. Not commercially available.
California (1947). This western, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Ray Milland, is one of four features on Universal's Classic Western Round-Up, Volume 2DVD. It contains so many Yip Harburg-Earl Robinson songs that it could almost be classified as a film musical. Songs: "California," “California or Bust,” “Gold Rush Montage," "I Shoulda Stood in Massachusetts," “Said I to My … Continue Reading ››
April in Paris (1952). The title song (with music by Vernon Duke) is used in a number of contexts throughout this frothy Doris Day-Ray Bolger musical. One of five features on the DVD release, The Doris Day Collection.
Bloomer Girl. On May 28, 1956, NBC-TV broadcast a color presentation of the hit 1944 Broadway musical (lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Harold Arlen, book by Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy, based on a play by Dan and Lilith James). The broadcast, with a cast including Barbara Cook, Keith Andes and Paul Ford, was … Continue Reading ››
Gay Purr-ee (1962). Feature-length musical cartoon about a French country cat who goes to Paris in the Gay 1890's, with the voices of Judy Garland, Robert Goulet, Red Buttons, Hermione Gingold and others. The songs by Yip and Harold Arlen include "Paris Is a Lonely Town," "Mewsette" and "The Money Cat." Warner Bros. 24497.
Finian's Rainbow (1968). Starring Fred Astaire and Petula Clark, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Includes all the songs from the original 1947 stage musical except "Necessity," the cutting of which is discussed by Coppola in one of the extra features.
The Great Man's Whiskers (1973) (aka The Grate Mans Wiskurs) Yip's last movie project, filmed in 1969 but not shown until 1973. Based on a one-act play by formerly blacklisted writer Adrian Scott, it is based on the true story of a little girl who wrote to President Lincoln urging him to grow a beard. Yip … Continue Reading ››