Born to Sing (1942 film)
Born to Sing is a 1942 American feature film directed by Edward Ludwig starring Virginia Weidler and Ray McDonald.
Born to Sing | |
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![]() Film poster | |
Directed by | Edward Ludwig |
Written by | Franz Schulz Harry Clork |
Starring | Virginia Weidler, Ray McDonald, Leo Gorcey, Rags Ragland, Douglas McPhail |
Cinematography | Sidney Wagner |
Edited by | Robert J. Kern |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date | 1942 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $465,000[1] |
Box office | $543,000[1] |
Plot
Frank Eastman is a down-on-his-luck show tune composer. He wrote some music while in prison which was subsequently stolen by well-to-do show promoter Arthur Cartwright. When Eastman's teenage daughter Patsy befriends some boys her age who plead with Cartwright to get Eastman the credit he is due. Cartwright calls the police, claiming extortion.
When the boys are arrested, they are placed in the same paddy wagon as gangster Pete Detroit. Pete's gang frees them all.
Patsy and the boys decide they can prove Eastman is the true composer if they perform a show before Cartwright's show debuts. They recruit neighborhood children and teens to perform.
Cast
- Virginia Weidler as Patsy Eastman
- Ray McDonald as Steve
- Leo Gorcey as "Snap" Collins
- Rags Ragland as Grunt
- Douglas McPhail as Murray Saunders
- Sheldon Leonard as Pete Detroit
- Henry O'Neill as Frank Eastman
- Larry Nunn as Mike Conroy
- Margaret Dumont as Mrs. E. V. Lawson
- Beverly Hudson as Maggie Cooper
- Richard Hall as Mozart Cooper
- Darla Hood as Quiz Kid
- June Preston singer "Ballad for Americans"
- Lester Matthews as Arthur Cartwright
- Ben Carter as Eight Ball
- Lee Phelps as Mr. Porter
- Connie Gilchrist as Welfare Worker
- Cy Kendall as Police Captain
Reception
The film made $298,000 in the US and Canada and $245,000 elsewhere, making MGM a loss of $138,000.[1]
References
- The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.