Night and Day (1946)

Storyline :  The fictionalized biography of composer Cole Porter from his days at Yale in the 1910s through the height of his success to the 1940s. The film's attempted biography matches many public myths surrounding Cole at the time, despite its lack of relationship with truth. For instance, truth and movie are different in regards to: his sex life (he was a gay man in a marriage of convenience with a divorcee friend), his relationship with his wife, Monty Wooley was a contemporary (not Professor), and his French military experience was a hoax.

Stars :  Cary Grant, Alexis Smith, Monty Woolley, Mary Martin, Ginny Simms, Jane Wyman, Eve Arden, Victor Francen, Dorothy Malone, Alan Hale

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Désirée (1954)

Storyline :  In Marseilles, France in 1794, Desiree Clary, a young millinery clerk, becomes infatuated with Napoleon Bonaparte, but winds up wedding Genaral Jean-Baptiste Berandotte, an aid to Napoleon who later joins the forces that bring about the Emperor's downfall. Josephine Beauharnais, a worldly courtesan marries Napoleon and becomes Empress of France, but is then cast aside by her spouse when she proves unable to produce an heir to the throne.

Stars :  Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Merle Oberon, Michael Rennie, Cameron Mitchell, Elizabeth Sellars, Charlotte Austin, Cathleen Nesbitt, Evelyn Varden, Isobel Elsom, John Hoyt, Alan Napier

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D'Annunzio (1987)

Storyline :  D'Annunzio is in Rome, father, husband and bored with the prospect of another child on the way. Candidly megalomaniac and penniless, with no apparent effort goes from city to city: journalist, columnist, essayist, art critic, writer of transgressive and scandalous works,

Stars :  Robert Powell, Stefania Sandrelli, Laurent Terzieff, Florence Guérin, Sonia Petrovna, Teresa Ann Savoy, Fiorenza Marchegiani, Paolo Bonacelli

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The Singing Nun (1966)

Storyline :   Young and inexperienced Sister Ann has just arrived at her next posting at Samaritan House, a Dominican order located in a disreputable neighborhood of Ghent, Belgium. Sister Ann is enthusiastic, progressive but naive, all which irks one of the senior sisters, Sister Cluny, especially the fact that Sister Ann has a prized material possession, a guitar she's named Adele. Sister Ann considers Adele and her music to be her friends. Contrary to Sister Cluny, the Mother Prioress believes Sister Ann will be a welcome addition to their order. This posting is to be the training ground for Sister Ann and others to become missionaries in Africa. Sister Ann's path takes a detour when the order's Father Clementi hears Sister Ann sing. He believes Sister Ann should record her music and as a favor asks Robert Gerarde of Primavera Records for recording time. Unknown at the time the request is made, Robert and Sister Ann are old friends who attended the Paris Conservatory of Music together five years...

Stars :  Debbie Reynolds, Ricardo Montalban, Greer Garson, Agnes Moorehead, Ed Sullivan, Katharine Ross, Chad Everett, Juanita Moore

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Words and Music (1948)

Storyline :  Encomium to Larry Hart (1895-1943), seen through the fictive eyes of his song-writing partner, Richard Rodgers (1902-1979): from their first meeting, through lean years and their breakthrough, to their successes on Broadway, London, and Hollywood. We see the fruits of Hart and Rodgers' collaboration - elaborately staged numbers from their plays, characters' visits to night clubs, and impromptu performances at parties. We also see Larry's scattered approach to life, his failed love with Peggy McNeil, his unhappiness, and Richard's successful wooing of Dorothy Feiner.

Stars :  Judy Garland,  Mickey Rooney,  June Allyson,  Gene Kelly,  Perry Como,  Lena Horne, Ann Sothern,  Tom Drake,  Cyd Charisse,  Janet Leigh,  Betty Garrett,  Jeanette Nolan, Mel Torme,  Richard Quine,  Marshall Thompson,  Harold Miller,  Ethelreda Leopold, Frank Mayo,  Irving Bacon,  Bert Stevens,  Dee Turnell,  Ilka Grüning,  Sandra Spence

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