Bowery to Broadway

Bowery to Broadway is a 1944 American film starring Maria Montez, Jack Oakie, and Susanna Foster. Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan also had a small specialty act, and it was the only film they were in together where they did not have a name or character.

The movie was made to showcase the singing talent at Universal. Montez only has a small role.

Cast

 * Maria Montez as Marina
 * Jack Oakie as Michael O'Rourke
 * Susanna Foster as Peggy Fleming Barrie
 * Turhan Bey as Ted Barrie
 * Ann Blyth as Bessie Jo Kirby
 * Donald Cook as Dennis Dugan
 * Louise Allbritton as Lillian Russell
 * Frank McHugh as Joe Kirby
 * Rosemary DeCamp as Bessie Kirby
 * Leo Carrillo as P.J. Fenton
 * Andy Devine as Father Kelley
 * Evelyn Ankers as Bonnie Latour
 * Thomas Gomez as Tom Harvey
 * Richard Lane as Walter Rogers
 * George Dolenz as George Henshaw
 * Mantan Moreland as Alabam
 * Ben Carter as No-more
 * Maude Eburne as Mame Alda
 * Robert Warwick as Cliff Brown
 * Donald O'Connor as Specialty Number
 * Peggy Ryan as Specialty Number
 * unbilled players include Milton Kibbee, George Meeker, Snub Pollard and Wilbur Mack

Production
In June 1943 John Grant, who normally wrote for Abbott and Costello, was assigned to produce a film to cover the history of Broadway. It was going to be called Hip Hip Hooray and was budgeted at $1 million and shot in color. Edmund Joseph and Bart Lyton were assigned to do the script. In December 1943 it was announced Arthur Lubin would direct.

Filming started 1 May 1944. It was a rare non "exotic" role for Maria Montez.

Selected Songs

 * "Under the Bamboo Tree"
 * "Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay"
 * "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nelly"
 * "My Song of Romance"
 * "Montevideo"
 * "He Took Her for a Sleighride in the Good Old Summertime" - with Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan
 * "There'll Always Be a Moon" - sung by Susanna Foster
 * "Under the Bamboo Tree" - sung by Louise Allbritton as Lillian Russell