Oscar's Favorite Tunes Revisited: The 1940s
1940: “When You Wish Upon A Star” (Leigh Harline, Ned Washington) from Pinocchio. Perhaps Disney’s best known tune is performed in this clip (a compilation of scenes from the film) by Louis Armstrong.
1941: “The Last Time I Saw Paris” (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) from Lady Be Good. The one and only Noël Coward performs the song in this clip. This was Kern’s second win.
1942: “White Christmas” (Irving Berlin) from Holiday Inn. Another classic Oscar-winner that is equally vital today. The clip is from the film and the singer is (who else?) Bing Crosby.
1943: “You’ll Never Know” (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon) from Hello, Frisco, Hello. Alice Faye’s rendition of the song may be the sole memorable ingredient from the film. The clip contains a number of scenes from 20th Century Fox movies.
1944: “Swinging On a Star” (James Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) from Going My Way. Bing Crosby won an Oscar for his performance; in this clip from the film we see him perform the song along with a choir of boys.
1945: “It Might As Well Be Spring” (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) from State Fair. I believe that’s Jeanne Crain singing this classic song. An interesting performance, since the lyrics are giving the impression that her character should be much giddier than what’s implied. This is Hammerstein’s second Oscar.
1946: “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” (Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer) from The Harvey Girls. Judy Garland stars in this film about westward expansion, and that’s her singing a great song that’s true to the theme.
1947: “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” (Allie Wrubel, Ray Gilbert) from Song of the South. Perhaps not the best song ever to win an Oscar, but I’m guessing that James Baskett’s engaging rendition had a part in his winning an honorary Oscar.
1948: “Buttons and Bows” (Jay Livingston, Ray Evans) from The Paleface. Here’s why I remember it: in an episode of Frasier, Kelsey Grammer tried to sing “Buttons and Bows” but couldn’t remember the lyrics. Well, here’s Bob Hope lending a helping hand.
1949: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (Frank Loesser) from Neptune’s Daughter. The original starred Red Skelton and Esther Williams, but in this clip we hear Bing Crosby and Doris Day perform the song, which has indeed become a classic, perfectly suited to a teasingly charming couple.
Published by Stefan Hedmark 2009-05-23 14:13
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