Carole Landis (the Ping Girl)

Carole Landis dropped out of high school at age 15 and went on to a career in show business. She started out as a hula dancer in a San Francisco nightclub and later sang with a dance band.. She dyed her hair blond and changed her name to "Carole Landis" after her favorite actress, Carole Lombard. Her 1937 film debut was as an extra in A Star Is Born. She performed in bit parts until 1940 when Hal Roach cast her as a cave girl in One Million B.C.. The movie turned Carole into a star. A press agent nicknamed her "The Ping Girl" (because "she makes you purr"). Landis performed in many successful films in the early forties, usually as the second female lead. In a time when the singing of many actresses was dubbed in, Landis's own voice was considered good enough and was used in her few musical roles. Landis landed a contract with 20th Century Fox. She had roles playing opposite fellow pin-up girl Betty Grable in Moon Over Miami and I Wake Up Screaming, both in 1941.
Carole Landis websight.
FUN FACTS :

Actress Diana Lewis once gave Carole a gold cross as a gift. Carole wore the cross for the rest of her life and was even buried wearing it.

Spent more time visiting troops during World War II than any other Hollywood star. She nearly died from malaria she contracted while traveling overseas.

Carole Landis list of films:

Brass Monkey (1948)
Noose (1948)
Out of the Blue (1947)
It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog (1946)
A Scandal in Paris (1946) .
Behind Green Lights (1946)
Having Wonderful Crime(1945)
Secret Command (1944)
Wintertime (1943)
The Powers Girl (1943)
Manila Calling (1942)
Orchestra Wives (1942)
It Happened in Flatbush (1942)
My Gal Sal (1942)
A Gentleman at Heart (1942)
Cadet Girl (1941)
I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
Dance Hall (1941)
Moon Over Miami (1941) Movie Clip Betty and Carole car hopping.
Topper Returns (1941)
Road Show (1941)
Mystery Sea Raider (1940)
Turnabout (1940)
One Million B.C. (1940)
Cowboys from Texas (1939)
Daredevils of the Red Circle (1939)
Three Texas Steers (1939)
Four's a Crowd (1938)

I wake Up Screaming (1941). Suspense film.

I Wake Up Screaming (1941). Suspense film. Cast: Betty Grable, Victor Mature, and Carole Landis. It is based on the novel with the same title by Steve Fisher, with a screenplay by Fisher and Dwight Taylor. It was one of the few times Betty Grable had a straight dramatic role in a picture.

Soon after Vicky Lynn is killed, New York City police question Frankie Christopher, a promoter who sponsored Vicky. Policeman Jerry MacDonald, asks Frankie to tell them how he met Vicky, and Frankie begins his story: One evening, Frankie goes with his friends to a lunchroom where Vicky works as a waitress. Impressed with her beauty Frankie takes her to the El Chico Club and helps her get invited to the table of influential Mrs. Handel. By the end of the evening Vicky is offered two modeling jobs. After her screen test Vicky tells Frankie that she is going to Hollywood without him. Feeling betrayed, Frankie storms out of her apartment and talks with Robin and Larry, both of whom have fallen in love with Vicky. As Jill begins sharing her side of the story: she tells the police that she does not believe that Frankie is guilty of killing her sister. She informs them that before Vicky met Frankie, a strange man had been following her, and when detective Cornell enters the interrogation room, Jill realizes that he was the man who was following Vicky. Frankie believes that detective Cornell is determined to pin the killing on him. Will Jill, the victim's sister help him prove his innocence?
I Wake Up Screaming deleted scene.
I Wake Up Screaming Movie Clip #2.
Dramatic, low-key lighting is what I remember most about this film. This was Betty Grable's first non-musical role. She's sweet, practical, and a brave film noir heroine. Victor Mature is a strong and appealing protagonist. The stand-out performance is Laird Cregar as the creepy, police detective Cornell. He's truly one of the most memorable noir villains. "I Wake Up Screaming" is a wonderful film noir.
Carole's websight: I wake up screaming.

MOON OVER MIAMI (1941) Oh me, oh Mi- Ami.

Moon Over Miami(1941). Musical. Director: Walter Lang. Cast: Betty Grable, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings, Carole Landis, Jack Haley, and Charlotte Greenwood. It was one of Haley's last appearances in a major, large-budgeted film; after 1943 he began making mostly B-pictures. Haley, is best known for his performance as the, Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.

Kay and Barbara Latimer, both holding down jobs, singing at the Texas drive-in restaurant as car hops, with their aunt Susan, who is flipping burgers. Waiting for the mailman to bring their inheritance check of $55,000. Only to read the disappointing news they will only receive only $4,000. They talk Susan, into spending the money on a trip to Miami, to find rich husbands. Barbara, comes up with a plan to pretend to be Kay's secretary, and Susan her maid. They fly off to the Flamingo Hotel and make quick friends with Jack, a bartender who tells them he will protect them from the Gold Diggers.


Kay tricks Jeff into an invitation, to his party. Where she also meet meets Phil, heir to the McNeil Mines. Close friends Jeff and Phil, begin a playful competition for Kay affections. Kay finds herself not able to choose whom she would like to marry. Her sister Barbara has secretly fallen in love with Jeff.

The women find themselves in financial trouble, after a couple weeks of living it up at the fancy hotel. They need $150 to pay their hotel bill. Kay, has plans to go dancing with her two friends later that evening. Kay invites Barbara, to come along so she can dance with Jeff, while she talks with Phil.

Phil admits to her that he is broke. Kay, also admits, that she came to Miami, to find a rich husband. They decide that they are not right for each other. Phil searches out Jeff to tell him that Kay loves him, after which they becomes engaged . As the women are packing to leave for Jeff's families island, Jack overhears them talking about their Gold Digging plans, and threatens to tell Jeff. Jack finds himself locked in the bathroom, while the women quickly leave for the island.

Phil, decides he can not live without Kay, and comes up with a plan to stop the wedding. The woman are surprised to see Jack, who came to inform Jeff that Kay, is not really love him. Will Phil get there in time to stop the wedding, or ...Will Jack ruin the girls plans?

I really enjoyed watching Betty Grable sing and dance in this fun/colorful movie. I also really enjoyed the location scenes of Cypress Gardens and Silver Springs. This movie is the way they used to make movies. I'm so glad that I have, Moon over Miami, in my DVD collection.

Cast: Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Robert Cummings, and Carole Landis.
Soundtracks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Moon Over Miami"
(1935) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph Burke
Played during the opening credits
Played also as dance music at both parties


"What Can I Do For You?"
(1941)
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Sung by Betty Grable and Carole Landis as singing waitresses


"Miami (Oh Me, Oh Mi-Ami)"
(1941)
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Sung by an offscreen chorus
Sung and danced to by Betty Grable, Carole Landis and Charlotte Greenwood
Played during the end credits

"You Started Something"
(1941)
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Played on piano by Robert Cummings at the party and sung by him and Betty Grable
Danced to by Betty Grable, Frank Condos and Harry Condos
at the party
Reprised by Don Ameche as he danced with Betty Grable
Reprised by Betty Grable, Don Ameche, Robert Cummings and Carole Landis at the end


"I've Got You All To Myself"
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Sung by Don Ameche

"Is That Good?"
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Sung and danced to by Jack Haley and Charlotte Greenwood
Reprised by them at the end
Played as background and dance music

"Loveliness and Love"
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Sung by Don Ameche, Betty Grable and chorus

"Kindergarten Conga"
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Contains traditional nursery songs "Ring Around the Rosey" and "London Bridge is Falling Down"
Sung by Betty Grable
Danced to by Hermes Pan, Betty Grable and chorus

"Solitary Seminole"
Music by Ralph Rainger
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Sung and danced to by Jack Cole and Co., Frank Condos and Harry Condos