Helen Morgan

Born: 1900-08-01

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.


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American Pop

as Singer in Raided Nightclub (archive footage)
Released: 1981-02-13

The history of American popular music runs parallel with the history of a Russian Jewish...

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Show Boat

as Julie LaVerne
Released: 1936-05-17

Despite her mother's objections, the naive young daughter of a show boat captain is thrust into...

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Glorifying the American Girl

as Self
Released: 1929-12-07

A young woman, who wants to be in the Follies, is making ends meet by working at a department...

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Go Into Your Dance

as Luana Wells
Released: 1935-04-20

An irresponsible Broadway star gets mixed up with gambling and gangsters.

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The Gigolo Racket

as Helen Marlowe
Released: 1931-06-15

As a publicity stunt, a musical comedy star announces her engagement to a young man she believes...

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Applause

as Kitty Darling
Released: 1929-10-07

This early example of the "backstage" musical genre tells the story of Kitty Darling, a fading...

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Marie Galante

as MissTapia
Released: 1934-10-25

On the French coast, unlucky Marie Galante is abducted and forced to board an American cargo...

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Roadhouse Nights

as Lola Fagan
Released: 1930-02-15

Based on the Hammett novel, this ultra-rare film—is nominally taken from the author's classic...

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Sweet Music

as Herself
Released: 1935-02-23

A midwest band leader and his lead singer share a love-hate relationship as they try for success...

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Hollywood on Parade No. B-1

as uncredited
Released: 1934-03-02

Short film in which Frankie Darro as a Telegram delivery boy visits various Hollywood locations...

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Frankie and Johnnie

as Frankie
Released: 1936-04-30

The story of a woman, Frankie, and the man who has done her wrong, Johnnie.

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Show Boat

as Julie LaVerne [prologue]
Released: 1929-07-27

This film sticks very closely to the Edna Ferber novel, rather than the musical based on the...

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Six Cylinder Love

as Extra (uncredited)
Released: 1923-11-04

After buying a car, Richard Burton finds that his wife and daughter have become unreasonably...

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You Belong to Me

as Bonnie Kay
Released: 1934-09-08

When vaudeville performer Florette Faxon is left penniless with her six-year-old son Jimmy, she...

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Musical Comedy Tonight III

as uncredited
Released: 1985-11-22

Sylvia Fine hosts this musical show featuring some great American singing and dancing stars,...

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