Remains to be Seen (1953) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'Remains to be Seen' is a 1953 semi-musical comedy thriller murder mystery (or post-murder mystery) directed by Don Weis and starring June Allyson, Van Johnson, Louis Calhern, Angela Lansbury and Dorothy Dandridge. The film's screenplay by Sidney Sheldon was based on the play by Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay.

Waldo Williams (played by Johnson) is the manager of an apartment building who finds one of the residents Travis Revercombe (played by Stuart Holmes) dead on his couch. The death is put to natural causes, however things are complicated after a carving knife is later put into the already dead corpse. Among the chaos Williams finds himself smitten with Revercombe's estranged niece Jody Revere (played by Allyson).

The film becomes a post-murder mystery of "who stabbed the dead body with a carving knife".

Musical program

The film's musical program includes:

• "Toot Toot Tootsie (Goo'Bye!)" - June Allyson
• "Too Marvellous for Words" - Van Johnson
• "Taking a Chance on Love" - Dorothy Dandridge
• "Too Marvellous for Words" - June Allyson

Sadly, I was unable to find any musical clips on YouTube to share :(

Did you know...

• This was the last of 5 movies June Allyson and Van Johnson made together (last of 6 movies if you include 'Till the Clouds Roll By' (1946), where both stars appeared but not together)

Closing remarks

A very funny black comedy, far exceeding the expectations I originally had. The genres of comedy and thriller does not always tend to work, but in this film it does. A memorable and amusing scene shows June Allyson, who making dinner plans with both Van Johnson and Louis Calhern at the same restaurant switches from table to table much to the waiter's confusion.

June Allyson and Van Johnson have amazing chemistry in this film. Dorothy Dandridge has a memorable Lena Horne-style cameo, where she walks on, sings a song and leaves.  As much as I love Angela Lansbury, I feel her (as an already established star) her talent is wasted in this film, as she has a rather small appearance with very minimal dialogue. On a positive note, there is lovely polynesian decor featured in the deceased's apartment as well as a rousing swing soundtrack that will keep your toes tapping for the duration of the film.

My 3 reasons to watch this film:

• a very unique murder mystery situation
• June Allyson and Van Johnson's chemistry
• Dorothy Dandridge singing "Taking a Chance on Love"

The Student Prince (1954)

Spotlight on... Royalty on Film

"You are King first, last and always... and never forget it..."

The Student Prince is a 1954 MGM musical starring Edmund Purdom, Ann Blyth and only the singing voice of Mario Lanza. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe, who replaced the original director Curtis Bernhardt.  The film co-stars Louis Calhern, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Edmund Gwenn, John Ericson, Betta St. John, Evelyn Varden, John Williams and John Hoyt. The film is edited by Gene Ruggiero.

The film is based on the classic operetta by Sigmund Romberg and Dorothy Donnelly, and tells the story of Karl (played by Purdom), a young Prince who is being arranged to marry a Princess, who falls in love with bar maid Kathie (played by Blyth) while he is studying.

A supporting actor I'd like to acknowledge is Hungarian character actor S.Z. Sakall, who aside from being one of my favourite film sidekicks, manages to steal almost every film he appears in.

Musical highlights include "The Drinking Song" 

(I'm surprised a beer company has yet to feature this in a TV commericial), the immortal "Serenade", and new song written for the film "Beloved".

Mario Lanza - the original male diva

After recording the soundtrack to the film, Lanza battled artistic differences with director original director Curtis Bernhardt and MGM production head Dore Schary. This led to MGM firing Lanza, which acted as a catalyst to his eating, drinking and drug problem that was to cause his early death. As sad as the story was, it's the price you pay when you act like a diva.

As a devout Mario Lanza fan, I must say it is heartbreaking hearing Mario's voice, bounding out of Edmund Purdom's mouth.  

At times, Lanza's vocal performance is not always consistent with the Purdom's acting style - a somewhat different acting performance to what Lanza would have delivered.

Closing remarks

Overall the film has a good story, and is beautifully filmed.  This had potential to become Mario Lanza's greatest film, had he remained cast in the role of Karl.

We're Not Married! (1952)

Star of the Month... Marilyn Monroe

We're Not Married! is the hilarious comedy of five couples who are married by a confused Judge from 24 to 31 December, before his official appointment on 1 January. The error is identified 2 and a half years later, where one of the couples is with child, another is expecting and another is in the middle of a messy divorce.

The film is directed by Edmund Goulding and features a first rate all-star cast including Ginger Rogers, Fred Allen, Marilyn Monroe (in an early appearance), Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eve Arden, David Wayne, Mitzi Gaynor, Louis Calhern, Eddie Bracken, Paul Stewart, James Gleason, Jane Darwell, Victor Moore and Lee Marvin.


The film is funny, however it focuses far too much on the characters played by Ginger Rogers and Fred Allen. The first 30 mins are dedicated primarily to this couple, with the remaining 4 couples getting approx. 10-15 of storyline each. The five episodes are of varying quality, with some funnier and more entertaining than others.


Marilyn stars as a beauty pageant winner, Anabel Jones Norris, and is mainly shown wearing a bathing suite, both marketing her sex appeal, yet exploiting her at the same.


Although Ginger Rogers is one of my favourite stars, I would consider this to be one of her weaker performances, with the highlight performances in this film going to Zsa Zsa Gabor as a vindictive gold digger, and of course Marilyn as a beauty pageant winner.


Although the ending is predictable, the film is still fun to watch. This would have been yet another forgotten B-grade comedy of the early 50s had Marilyn Monroe not featured in the film.