Home
Biography
Career
Articles
Photo Gallery
Landmarks
Testimonials
Collectibles
Multimedia
Shopping
Related Links
Guestbook
Moonlight in Havana
Universal Pictures
Released: October 16, 1942
Runtime: 63 minutes
John Norton, a baseball player for the Blue Socks, has just been suspended from the team. Can you guess why? He also happens to be a great singer and got in trouble for singing in night clubs. Here’s the problem; while he still wants to be a ball player he would also like to sing, but he can only sing if he has a cold…
John makes his way to a restaurant where he meets up with a friend, chef, singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.” The chef, who refuses to give him food, finally melts to his singing and lets him eat. Then, John continues and sings, “I Don’t Need Money.” This time, the waitress turns on the speakers so his voice is heard all over the restaurant. It just so happens that troupe leader Barney and singer Gloria are sitting at a table. Thrilled with his voice, Barney offers John a contract. Before he can explain his need for a cold to sing, Barney explains that he could tour in several cities, including one in Havana. This also happens to be the place where the Blue Socks are playing, so John accepts the contract in hopes to join the team again. He also gets to meet Gloria, who will be his love interest for this film.
On the ship headed for Havana, John and Gloria get better acquainted. She sings, “As Long as We Got Music” in a number that includes the Jivin’ Jack and Jills. John tries to explain to her his situation about baseball and such, but they are interrupted when Gloria hears the band playing a song. It is the song they are supposed to sing together in the next show, so she tells him to sing. He sings, “Only You” and she joins him later. Once in Havana, Barney, Gloria, and John watch another dance number at the club. Patsy, daughter of John’s baseball manager, surprises him and brings him to her table. John explains that he came in hopes to play on the team again, so the managers give him another chance. They arrange for him to come to practice the next day. However, Gloria grows upset as he ignores her and leaves.
Soon before the show, John loses his cold. He finally explains his problem to Barney, so they rush to make him sick again. After soaking him in wet towels and ice, John catches a cold. He is about to explain his baseball affair, but he is again interrupted. That night, there is another dance number and Gloria and John sing “Moonlight in Havana.” The Horton Dancers, The Jivin’ Jack and Jills, and Grace and Nico dance also perform. John promises to only be with Gloria, but Patsy comes again honking her car. John remembers that he promised to go to practice and has to leave Gloria, who is upset again. On the way to field, John thinks about Gloria and sings “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” along with the radio. When the coach hears John sneeze, they rush to cure his cold. But, when John gets back to the club, Barney rushes to give him a cold. Pretty soon, the coach and Barney are fighting over whether to make him hot or cold. Fortunately, John catches a cold for the show the next day.
The next day, Gloria and John are together when a group of sports photographers confront them. Tired of his problems, Gloria leaves. John decides to quit baseball. Patsy, very upset with his decision, talks to Barney about it. He finally understands the problem and rushes to get Gloria back at the club. She and John make up, but Patsy makes her way in again. She happens to catch a cold just when John needs one for the show. Barney makes him kiss her so he will catch it. Of course, Gloria sees this and storms off. To make matters worse, Patsy assumes that John will marry her, now that he’s kissed her. John and Gloria sing, “Isn’t it Lovely” in the show, with another dance number by Grace and Nico. Fortunately, the baseball managers come and everything is cleared up. Patsy ends up going with someone else, and John gets Gloria and his singing career. They sing “Rhythm of the Tropics” in a big number with The Horton Dancers.
Credits
Director…Anthony Mann
Writer…Oscar Brodney
Associate Producer…Bernard W. Burton
Cinematography…Charles Van Enger
Film Editing…Russell F. Schoengarth
Costumes…Vera West
Music Director…Charles Previn
Choreographer…Eddie Prinz
Art Direction…Jack Otterson
Set Decoration…Russell A. Gausman
Assistant Director…Charles S. Gould
Associate Art Director…Harold H. MacArthur
Associate Set Director…Edward R. Robinson
Sound Director…Bernard B. Brown
Sound Technician…Charles Carroll (uncredited)
Original Songs…Dave Franklin
Cast
Allan Jones…Johnny Norton
Jane Frazee…Gloria Jackson
Marjorie Lord…Patsy Clark
William Frawley…Barney Crane
Don Terry…Eddie Daniels
Sergio Orta…Martinez
Wade Boteler…Joe Clark
Hugh O’Connell…Charlie
Jack Norton…George
The Horton Dance Group…themselves
The Jivin’ Jack and Jills…themselves
Dorothy Babb
Roland Dupree
Joe Geil
Dickie Humphreys
Marilyn Kay
Grace and Nicco….themselves (specialty dancers)
Soundtrack
• “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Music: Joseph E. Howard, Harold Orlob
o Lyrics: William M. Hough, Frank Adams
• “Only You”
o Sung by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee
o Written by Dave Franklin
• “Isn’t it Lovely”
o Sung by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, Danced by Grace and Nico
o Written by Dave Franklin
• “As Long as We Got Music (Got Music)”
o Sung by Jane Frazee, Danced by the Jivin’ Jack and Jills
o Written by Dave Franklin
• “Moonlight in Havana”
o Sung by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, Danced by The Horton Dancers, Grace and Nico, and The Jivin’ Jack and Jills
o Written by Dave Franklin
• “Rhythm of the Tropics”
o Sung by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, Danced by The Horton Dancers
o Written by Dave Franklin
• “I Don’t Need Money”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Written by Dave Franklin
• “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Music: Ernest R. Ball
o Lyrics: Chauncy Olcott, George Graff, Jr.