Three Little Words (1950) - Warner Archive Collection

Bert Kalmar (Fred Astaire) always wanted to be a magician, but all it takes is a disastrous opening night to make his dreams go poof! So, Kalmar moves on and finds songwriting magic with collaborator Harry Ruby. The stage-and-screen songsmiths whose many tunes include Groucho Marx’s signature Hooray for Captain Spaulding receive a Hollywood hooray in this audience-favorite screen biopic featuring a hit parade and Kalmar and Ruby standards (including “(Nevertheless) I’m in Love with You”, “Who’s Sorry Now”, and the title tune). Astaire puts on his dancing shoes for dazzling duets with Vera-Ellen, and a tap solo. The film was a box-office smash and a wonderful showcase for the terpsichorean talents of Astaire and Vera-Ellen, and one of Red Skelton’s best screen performances, which gave him the opportunity for a more substantial acting role that did just rely on his trademark comic genius. The film also is highlighted by a star-turn by Debbie Reynolds who portrays boop-oop-a-doop sensation Helen Kane, performing “I Wanna Be Loved By You” to vocals provided by Miss Kane herself.