The Great Morgan
Encyclopedia
The Great Morgan is an American
musical
-comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
. The film is considered one of the more unusual in the MGM canon in that it is a compilation film built around a slight plot line, with a running time of less than 60 minutes.
The film was produced for overseas (i.e. non-United States
) markets and features Frank Morgan
(best remembered today as the Wizard in MGM's The Wizard of Oz
) appearing as himself. The premise of the film is that Morgan is given a chance to put together his own movie, and he does so by combining several unrelated comedic and musical short subjects with his own short film.
Segments include a musical number featuring dancer Eleanor Powell
cut from one of her early 1940s musicals (some sources erroneously state the scene comes from Broadway Melody of 1936
, but in fact it was a scene cut from her 1939 film Honolulu
), several songs by Carlos Ramirez, and a musical number by Virginia O'Brien
backed by Tommy Dorsey
and orchestra. Among the non-musical segments of the film is a look at the history of the automobile in suburban America and a profile of a champion badminton
player. There are also cameos by art director Cedric Gibbons, supervisor of sound Douglas Shearer and costume designer Irene.
The film was believed to be a lost film
for many years. In 1980, a print was found, and the film was subsequently released to the American home video market.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
-comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
. The film is considered one of the more unusual in the MGM canon in that it is a compilation film built around a slight plot line, with a running time of less than 60 minutes.
The film was produced for overseas (i.e. non-United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) markets and features Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the title character in the film The Wizard of Oz.-Early life:...
(best remembered today as the Wizard in MGM's The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
) appearing as himself. The premise of the film is that Morgan is given a chance to put together his own movie, and he does so by combining several unrelated comedic and musical short subjects with his own short film.
Segments include a musical number featuring dancer Eleanor Powell
Eleanor Powell
Eleanor Torrey Powell was an American film actress and dancer of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her exuberant solo tap dancing.-Early life:...
cut from one of her early 1940s musicals (some sources erroneously state the scene comes from Broadway Melody of 1936
Broadway Melody of 1936
Broadway Melody of 1936 is a musical released by MGM in 1935. It was a follow up of sorts to the successful The Broadway Melody, which had been released in 1929, although, beyond the title and some music, there is no story connection with the earlier film.The film was written by Harry W. Conn, Moss...
, but in fact it was a scene cut from her 1939 film Honolulu
Honolulu (1939 film)
Honolulu is an American musical film that was released by MGM in 1939. The film stars dancer Eleanor Powell and Robert Young, and was directed by Edward Buzzell....
), several songs by Carlos Ramirez, and a musical number by Virginia O'Brien
Virginia O'Brien
Virginia Lee O'Brien was a popular American actress, singer, and radio personality known for her comedic roles in MGM musicals of the 1940s.-Life and career:...
backed by Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
and orchestra. Among the non-musical segments of the film is a look at the history of the automobile in suburban America and a profile of a champion badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
player. There are also cameos by art director Cedric Gibbons, supervisor of sound Douglas Shearer and costume designer Irene.
The film was believed to be a lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
for many years. In 1980, a print was found, and the film was subsequently released to the American home video market.