Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Weekly Song Fest- Oscar Time

 


I am choosing the year  1949 because...well, why not:)) I find it so interesting which songs were nominated and which songs didn't get anything. So, let's get on with the show...

1. BABY, ITS COLD OUTSIDE SUNG BY MAE WEST AND ROCK HUDSON-1957


So, talk about the tables being turned! Poor Rock was truly trying to get away from Mae's clutches at the Oscar ceremony. Honestly this song has been done to death and now, it's considered a rape song...ughh. This was written by Frank Loesser back in 1944 to sing at movie star parties for some fun with his wife, Lynn Garland, who was a singer. What man hasn't tried to get in some gal's pants? I know, disgusting but....true. Sorry guys but you will try ( if single, otherwise you look but never touch). Some gals, not all, by any means, like to play coy when they really like a guy. I've done it where I say I have to go but if they offered me another drink, why refuse? This song ended up being in an Esther Williams movie called " Neptune's Daughter" sung by Esther and Ricardo Montelban( yes, of Fantasy Island fame and Kahn Fame) as well as Betty Garrett and Red Skelton but Betty is the aggressor. 

2. HAPPY TIME SUNG BY DANNY KAYE


This comes from his film, "The Inspector General" whi his a fun Danny Kaye film. Sylvia Fine write the music and, actually, she wrote almost all of his music as she was his wife. When they split for a while, Danny Kaye was so upset that he refused to sing any songs in  the remake of "Ball of Fire" called "A Song Is Born". 

3. THROUGH A LONG AND SLEEPLESS NIGHT SUNG BY DINAH SHORE


This is a very moving song written by Alfred Newman with lyrics by Mack Gordon. It's from the film, " Come To the Stable" which I have yet to see. I think Dinah does a great job.

So...which song won, which was nominated and which one got nothing?

15 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    I hope the brothers are continuing on the mend this week and that their mother is well and in good spirits. You are an angel in disguise for devoting so much time and attention to their plight.

    Of the three song entries, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" aka "I Wanna Get In Your Pants in the Worst Way" is the only song I am familiar with.
    Rock Hudson proved his acting ability by smooching on women in films, TV shows and stage appearances. By 1957, Mae West was showing her age and Rock was preparing to film the string of movie comedy hits with Doris Day beginning with Pillow Talk released in 1959. Betty Garrett famously played Archie Bunker's liberal neighbor Irene Lorenzo on All in the Family.

    Unless I am mistaken, you and I both like Danny Kaye as a singer as well as a comedic actor. Recently, I told you how much his recording of "Thumbelina" meant to me as a very young child, one of the first songs I remember ever hearing because my folks bought me the record. "Thumbelina" was nominated for Best Original Song at the 25th Academy Awards in March, 1953. I enjoyed Danny's voice on "Happy Time." I have not seen The Inspector General, but I always liked Walter Slezak as well as his actress daughter, Erica Slezak, who for decades played the principle role of Viki Lord on the soap One Life To Live. (Yessum, I watched OLTL regularly, starting around 1970.)

    My parents also had quite a few Dinosaur records (Dinah Shore) and we watched her weekly Chevy show on TV. I never heard the song "Through A Long And Sleepless Night," nor have I seen Come To The Stable starring Loretta Young and Celeste Holmes as nuns. It's a shame Dolores Hart wasn't old enough at the time to land one of those nun parts.

    I will probably get the order wrong, but I will guess that "Through A Long And Sleepless Night" won the song award at the Oscars because the movie it came from had two big stars, Loretta Young and Celeste Holm, playing nuns who organize New England townspeople to build a children's hospital. Movies with themes of that kind were well received in those days and the song would carry extra weight for that reason. I will guess that Danny boy's "Happy Time" from the screwball comedy The Inspector General, was the nominee, and that the only song I know, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," was not nominated.

    Thanks for the morning entertainment, dear friend BB. I'll be waiting for you tamale, sitting in the balcony -- "At The Movies!"

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    1. You and I both like Danny Kaye and I love his Thumbelina song from Hans Christian Anderson movie. He really loved children and classical music. I watched him conduct a few times and he was funny.
      You made me laugh with dinosaur...hahahaaa. I know that song but not from this movie. I think the nuns made me run in the other direction. I just wish I knew where I heard it.
      Mae was hilarious even though she was in her 70s by this point..I think.
      So the answer is...BABY won the O. Sleepless Night was nominated and poor Happy got nadda

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  2. Birgit,

    Knowing nothing about these films or the Oscars for that matter. I'm basing my order sheerly on how the songs appeal to my ear this morning. In order I'd go with "Happy Time", "Through A Long And Sleepless Night", and "Baby, It's Cold Outside".

    I can't say I've watched an entire movie with Mae West but I do recall seeing bits with her and I loved her she delivered her lines with sassy sex appeal. Danny Kaye was great fun to watch. The old stars were true multi-talented on the big screen - acting, singing, and dancing. I'm sure I've seen Kaye in other movies but the only one that comes to mind is "White Christmas". I don't think I ever saw a movie with Dinah Shore but I do remember her daytime TV program. By that time she was a middle aged woman which really seemed old to me because I was just a kid. Now, I think middle aged old? Nah! lol

    Seriously, you should link your weekly music posts to the 4M party. You don't have to follow the weekly theme. If you have music to share then we're ready to par-tay with you! ;)

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    1. I know...I'm still debating to join. Mae was great and did her own way. She really brought the Hays Office down to make censorship stick like glue, unfortunately.
      Baby won the Oscar, Sleepless Night was nominated and poor Happy got zilch

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  3. Hi Birgit - I love visiting ... as I get to learn about so many movies and Oscar details I'd no idea about! Thanks for inspiring others to lend their information in the comments - cheers Hilary

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  4. The year I was born Birgit….xxx

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    1. Well, now you know some tunes from the movies from your birth year:)

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  5. I only recognize the first song. I don't have even a clue as to which is which. Interesting tidbits, though.

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    1. Thanks and Baby won, Sleepless was nominated and Happy got zilch

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  6. I'll go with Baby as winning since I have never even heard the other two songs. I still remember rumors years ago that Mae was a cross-dresser, lol.

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    1. You are correct with Baby. I have heard Sleepless but not from this film and that was nominated but Happy got nadda

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  7. I had never heard the Rock Hudson, Mae West version of Cold Outside. Fun.

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    1. I hadvto put that one up since Mae was all over Rock:))

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  8. I didn't know the Dinah Shore song until I played your link. These are some good oldies!

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