Helen Morgan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Helen Morgan (August 2, 1900 – October 9, 1941) was an American singer and actress who worked in films and on the stage. A quintessential torch singer, she made a big splash in the Chicago club scene in the 1920s. She starred as Julie LaVerne in the original Broadway production of Hammerstein and Kern's musical Show Boat in 1927, as well as in the 1932 Broadway revival of the musical, and appeared in two film adaptations, a part-talkie made in 1929 (prologue only) and a full-sound version made in 1936, becoming firmly associated with the role. She suffered from bouts of alcoholism, and despite her notable success in the title role of another Hammerstein and Kern's Broadway musical, Sweet Adeline (1929), her stage career was relatively short. Helen Morgan died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 41. She was portrayed by Polly Bergen in the Playhouse 90 drama The Helen Morgan Story and by Ann Blyth in the 1957 biopic based on the television drama.
Morgan appeared in at least 15 films including Show Boat 1929, Applause 1929, Marie Galante 1934 and Show Boat 1936.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 1.419 |
Birthday | 1900-08-01 |
Place of Birth | Danville, Illinois, USA |
Also Known As | Helen Riggin, Helen Riggins, |
1936
Show Boat
6.7/38
Despite her mother's objections, the naive young daughter of a show boat captain is thrust into the limelight as the company's new leading lady.
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Show Boat
1923
Six Cylinder Love
0/0
After buying a car, Richard Burton finds that his wife and daughter have become unreasonably extravagant, and is surrounded by sponging friends.
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Six Cylinder Love
1930
Roadhouse Nights
4.5/2
Based on the Hammett novel, this ultra-rare film—is nominally taken from the author's classic gang-war novel Red Harvest, which proved too brutal and...
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Roadhouse Nights
1929
Applause
6.1/21
This early example of the "backstage" musical genre tells the story of Kitty Darling, a fading burlesque star who tries to save her convent-educated d...
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Applause
1981
American Pop
6.8/102
The history of American popular music runs parallel with the history of a Russian Jewish immigrant family, with each male descendant possessing differ...
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American Pop
1929
Glorifying the American Girl
5.538/13
A young woman, who wants to be in the Follies, is making ends meet by working at a department store's sheet music department, where she sings the late...
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Glorifying the American Girl
1934
Marie Galante
4.8/9
On the French coast, unlucky Marie Galante is abducted and forced to board an American cargo ship bound for the Panama Canal. When an escape attempt l...
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Marie Galante
1935
Sweet Music
5.7/3
A midwest band leader and his lead singer share a love-hate relationship as they try for success in New York.
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Sweet Music
1935
Go Into Your Dance
7.5/2
An irresponsible Broadway star gets mixed up with gambling and gangsters.
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Go Into Your Dance
1934
You Belong to Me
7/1
When vaudeville performer Florette Faxon is left penniless with her six-year-old son Jimmy, she relies on the friendship of fellow performer Bud Hanni...
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You Belong to Me
1929
Show Boat
5/2
This film sticks very closely to the Edna Ferber novel, rather than the musical based on the novel. There are only two major changes from Ferber's boo...
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Show Boat
1936
Frankie and Johnnie
5/1
The story of a woman, Frankie, and the man who has done her wrong, Johnnie.
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Frankie and Johnnie
1931
The Gigolo Racket
0/0
As a publicity stunt, a musical comedy star announces her engagement to a young man she believes is a gigolo, with whom she eventually falls in love.
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The Gigolo Racket
1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
6/2
Short film in which Frankie Darro as a Telegram delivery boy visits various Hollywood locations to make deliveries. He visits the Los Angeles Pier and...
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Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1985
Musical Comedy Tonight III
0/0
Sylvia Fine hosts this musical show featuring some great American singing and dancing stars, featuring music by Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Berlin and K...
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