A Song Is Born

Danny Kaye is the music professor doing research but this is only a showcase for big musical guests, notably Tommy Dorsey on trombone, ending with Lionel Hampton joining Louis Armstrong, in one of his best-ever on-camera trumpet solos, from Samuel Goldwyn's A Song Is Born, 1948.

The musical show-stopper, joining the original novelty number by Don Raye and Gene de Paul, Virginia Mayo dubbed by Jeri Sullavan, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet on sax, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Mel Powell on piano, and Louie Bellson drumming, Danny Kaye the professor in charge, in Howard Hawks’ remake of his own Ball Of Fire, 1942, A Song Is Born, 1948.

Head-turning introduction of Virginia Mayo, as Honey (Barbara Stanwyck was “Sugar” in the original Ball Of Fire, 1942, also directed by Howard Hawks), dubbed by Jeri Sullavan, with the Page Cavanaugh trio (Al Viola on guitar, Lloyd Pratt on bass), song by Don Raye and Gene de Paul, Danny Kaye as observing professor Frisbee, in A Song Is Born, 1948.

For Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper in Ball Of Fire, it was "Apple," now with Virginia Mayo as stripper "Honey" and Danny Kaye the music professor, Howard Hawks, directing again, changes fruits, Benny Goodman the professor in horn-rims, in the musical remake A Song Is Born, 1948.