Week-end at the Waldorf (1945) Things Are Bound to Happen!

Week-end at the Waldorf (1945) MGM
Directed By: Robert Z. Leonard
Starring: Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Van Johnson, Walter Pidgeon & Keenan Wynn.

Ginger Rogers & Walter Pidgeon

Taglines: "When Strangers Meet -- and Love -- Things Are Bound to Happen!"

Plot:
Many things can happen especially in the climate of WWII at the New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Over a course of one weekend we follow a movie star whom is staying at the famed hotel named Irene Malvern (Rogers). Irene is a high maintenance dame that needs someone for every need though is getting burnt out from the Hollywood structure and demand. The lifestyle has taken a toll on her in a great way both emotionally and physically making her drained and needing time away from things to herself. While staying there meets a war correspondent Chip Collyer (Pidgeon) and thinks he is a thief after her jewels. During this same weekend a soldier Captain James Hollis (Johnson) finds out that he is very ill and requires an operation so looks to have a lovely romance with someone special to enjoy all the time he has. The solder Chip meets at the hotel a lovely young lady named Bunny Smith (Turner) whom is employed by the hotel as a stenographer. Bunny has dreams to someday move up and have bigger and better things. What an eventful one weekend at the Waldorf!

~ Irene is the costume designer for this film and did a lovely job especially on Ginger Rogers clothing, they are simply define in this film!

Ginger Rogers on the set

Lana Turner & Van Johnson

The actual Waldorf-Astoria over one hundred yrs ago!

"Two Girls and a Sailor" (1944)...this 1940's MGM Musical Shines!!!

"Two Girls and a Sailor" (1944)

MGM Studios / Directed by: Richard Thorpe

Starring: Gloria DeHaven, Van Johnson, June Allyson, Jimmy Durante, & Lena Horne

*  This film was the first of six films pairing June Allyson & Van Johnson, what a team!

Plot:

Two sister's during WWII, Patsy (Allyson) and Jean (DeHaven) Deyo have big dreams since being part of a entertaining family whose parents have since passed away. These girls dream is to open a canteen for all servicemen to attend with live music and grand decorating. Both sister's have an eye on this large old warehouse and also meet a charming sailor named John Dyckman Brown III.

The sailor instatly is attracted to the beautiful sister Jean not knowing that Patsy is also in love with him. Billy Kipp (Durante) a friend of there parents and whom met these ladies years ago on the Vaudville circuit now is enlisted to make the dream of the canteen alive. This film has many lovely musical numbers with Lena Horne and Jose Iturbi on the helm, gotta love MGM for pulling out all the big names! Gracie Allen even makes an appearance at the eventful and successful canteen.

This is for me one of my fav Gloria DeHaven films along with "Best Foot Forward" also with MGM. I love the old school MGM studio musical..what can I say!!!