Lillian Russell

Alice Faye Director: Irving Cummings Irving Cummings

Overview

Lillian Russell is the sanitized musical biopic of the legendary (and much-married) 19th century musical comedy star. Discovered in 1880 by bandleader Tony Pastor (Leo Carrillo), Lillian Russell (Alice Faye) wastes no time rising to fame and fortune on the Broadway stage. Along the way, she curries the favor of such eligible bachelors as newspaperman Alexander Moore (Henry Fonda), composer Edward Solomon (Don Ameche), and railroad tycoon Diamond Jim Brady (Edward Arnold). She marries the first two, and has a high old time (albeit chastely) with the third. The story ends with Russell's retirement in 1912, and her reunion with the one true love of her life. The film's hands-down highlight is a timeworn but classic routine involving those two Broadway comedy giants Joe Weber and Lew Fields, both of whom had appeared on-stage with the real Lillian Russell.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/06/2018
UPC:	0024543586289
Original Release:	1940
Rating:	NR
Source:	Fox Mod
Presentation:	[Full Frame]

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Alice Faye	Lillian Russell
Don Ameche	Edward Solomon
Henry Fonda	Alexander Moore
Edward Arnold	Diamond Jim Brady
Warren William	Jesse Lewisohn
Leo Carrillo	Tony Pastor
Helen Westley	Grandma Leonard
Dorothy Peterson	Cynthia Leonard
Ernest Truex	Charles Leonard
Nigel Bruce	William Gilbert
Claud Allister	Arthur Sullivan
Lynn Bari	Edna McCauley
Una O'Connor	Marie
Diane Fisher	Dorothy
Elyse Knox	Lillian Russell's Sister
Joan Valerie	Lillian Russell's Sister
Hal K. Dawson	Chauffeur
Charles Halton	Dr. Dobbins
Robert Emmett Keane	Jeweler
Harry Hayden	Mr. Sloane, Newspaper Editor
Ferike Boros	Mrs. Rose
A.S. Byron	Policeman
Richard Carle	Actor
Cecil Cunningham	Mrs. Hobbs
Robert E. Homans	Actor
Paul McVey	Stage Manager
Ottola Nesmith	Actor
Frank Sully	Actor
Frank Thomas	Official
Irving Bacon	Soldier
Paul E. Burns	Soldier
Joseph Cawthorn	Leopold Damrosch
Frank Darien	Coachman
William B. Davidson	Grover Cleveland
Lew Fields	Himself
Eddie Foy	Eddie Foy, Sr.
William Haade	Soldier
Leyland Hodgson	Hotel Clerk
Thaddeus Jones	Mose
Tom London	Frank
Alex Pollard	Waiter
Floyd Shackelford	Valet
Robert "Buddy" Shaw	Man
Milburn Stone	Reporter
Charles Tannen	Reporter
Joe Weber	Himself
Philip Winter	Tenor

Technical Credits

William Anthony McGuire

Irving Cummings	Director
Travis Banton	Costumes/Costume Designer
Richard Day	Production Designer
Seymour Felix	Choreography
Roger Heman	Sound/Sound Designer
Thomas K. Little	Set Decoration/Design
Gene Markey	Associate Producer
William Anthony McGuire	Screenwriter
Alfred Newman	Score Composer,Musical Direction/Supervision
Leon Shamroy	Cinematographer
Walter Thompson	Editor
Arthur VonKirbach	Sound/Sound Designer
Joseph C. Wright	Production Designer
Darryl F. Zanuck	Producer