1955
30m

Summary The original concept of the show was to allow the viewer to see the inner workings of a movie studio and featured interviews with MGM stars and explanations of how movies were made. Later, the format changed to show edited versions of MGM films. View more details

Documentary

1955
30m

MGM Parade

Directed : Unknown

Written : Unknown

Stars : George Murphy Walter Pidgeon Janet Lake Luana Lee

All cast & crew

6.5

Details

Genres : Documentary

Release date : Sep 13, 1955

Countries of origin : United States

Language : English

Filming locations : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Production companies : MGM Television

Documentary

Details

Genres : Documentary

Release date : Sep 13, 1955

Countries of origin : United States

Language : English

Filming locations : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Production companies : MGM Television

Photos

Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, and George Murphy in MGM Parade (1955)

Episodes

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Episode 1 • Sep 13, 1955

Episode #1.1

A promotional film hosted by George Murphy promoting the studio's past and its current release of "It's Always Fair Weather."

Episode 2 • Sep 20, 1955

Episode #1.2

In recapping the presentation of the "If I Only Had the Nerve/We're Off To See The Wizard" musical number, host George Murphy hopes that it will bring back fond memories for adults who have seen The Wizard of Oz (1939), and will encourage children who haven't seen the movie to see it. He is appropriately in the MGM trophy room to introduce the short The Story of Alfred Nobel (1939). He is visited by young Leo, who wants George to showcase his friends Screwball Squirrel and Meathhead as they duke it out in animated short Screwball Squirrel (1944). And he visits with Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse on the set of It's Always Fair Weather (1955). Gene is featured in the "I Like Myself" roller skating musical number from the movie.

Episode 3 • Sep 27, 1955

Episode #1.3

After thanking the viewing audience for their positive reception to the show, host George Murphy introduces from the MGM vaults the classic movie A Free Soul (1931), showing a clip featuring the Academy Award winning performance by Lionel Barrymore. Next, he shows a short film, One Against the World (1939), which chronicles the career of Dr. Ephraim McDowall, who was the first person ever to perform internal surgery, which was before then considered sacrilegious and was therefore unheard of. Then he shows Guest Pests (1945), which demonstrates the different kinds of house guests that can be an annoyance. And in the coming attraction, he shows a few scenes from Trial (1955), based on the Harper Award winning novel of the same name by Don Mankiewicz, who adapted his novel for the big screen.

Episode 4 • Oct 04, 1955

Episode #1.4

Includes clips of "Trial" (1955) and the musical number "The French Lesson" from "Good News" (1947). Also shown is a tour of Lake Metro on the MGM back lot.

Episode 5 • Oct 11, 1955

Episode #1.5

Host George Murphy talks about masks as his introduction to the short film, The Face Behind the Mask (1938), which tells the true story of Louis XIV of France and the unknown man he imprisoned behind an iron mask. He then introduces one of the late Robert Benchley's classic comic "how to" shorts, How to Train a Dog (1936). Murphy next introduces the MGM hall of fame movie of the week, Till the Clouds Roll By (1946), which is about composer, Jerome Kern. In the film clip shown, Tony Martin sings "All the Things You Are" written by Kern. Murphy lastly receives a visit from actor John Hodiak, who talks about his latest movie, Trial (1955).

Episode 6 • Oct 18, 1955

Episode #1.6

Clips from "The Amazing Mr. Nordill", Greta Garbo in "Anna Christie", and an interview with Robert Taylor.

Episode 7 • Oct 25, 1955

Episode #1.7

Included are clips from the Carey Wilson Miniature Changed Identity (1941) and the Tex Avery Cartoon The Early Bird Dood It! (1942), as well as an interview with Debbie Reynolds.

Episode 8 • Nov 01, 1955

Episode #1.8

Features film clips from The Philadelphia Story (1940) and Ziegfeld Follies (1946).

Episode 9 • Nov 08, 1955

Episode #1.9

Marlon Brando drops and talks about his role with scenes from his most recent movie, "Guys and Dolls".

Episode 10 • Nov 15, 1955

Episode #1.10

Host George Murphy introduces clips from "A Guy Named Joe" (1943), the Carey Wilson Miniature "A Door Will Open" (1940), and the Pete Smith Specialty "You Can't Win" (1948).

Episode 11 • Nov 22, 1955

Episode #1.11

Features clips from the John Nesbitt's Passing Parade short "Strange Testament" (1941), the Pete Smith Specialty "Let's Talk Turkey" (1941), and an interview with Susan Hayward.

Episode 12 • Nov 22, 1955

Episode #1.12

Host George Murphy introduces clips from "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (1944), "Home Movies" (1940), and "Master Will Shakespeare" (1936), as well as a preview of the then-upcoming "Kismet" (1955).

Episode 13 • Dec 06, 1955

Episode #1.13

Host George Murphy introduces clips featuring Fernand Gravey in The Great Waltz (1938), Susan Hayward in I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), and the MGM Historical Mystery The Miracle of Salt Lake (1938).

Episode 14 • Dec 13, 1955

Episode #1.14

Host George Murphy introduces segments from two MGM productions, the feature length movie Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and the short film The Greatest Gift (1942). He then presents a few common pet peeves, dramatized by an unfortunate man, who must wait to use the only pay telephone booth around which is occupied by a very talkative woman; as a shopkeeper, who is waiting on a customer who doesn't seem to want to spend any money but causes calamity in the store; who slips on a loose rug at the top of a flight of stairs; who battles a stuck ice cube tray in a freezer; and who needs to find the burnt out bulb on a string of Christmas tree lights. Murphy then meets with actor/singer Howard Keel, who is to appear in the upcoming MGM musical Kismet (1955).

Episode 15 • Dec 20, 1955

Episode #1.15

Host George Murphy introduces clips from Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) (as Judy Garland sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas), A Christmas Carol (1938), and Kismet (1955) ("Stranger in Paradise").

Episode 16 • Dec 27, 1955

Episode #1.16

Host George Murphy introduces the musical number "Czaritza" from the movie, Maytime (1937), sung by one of the most enduring set of screen sweethearts, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. He then introduces the short film That Inferior Feeling (1940), where everyman Joe Doakes provides examples of how men can feel inferior and, thus, make themselves look more inferior than they are. Next, Murphy introduces a short movie about a non-inferior man, Matthew Fontaine Maury, who is credited with creating the first maritime wind and currents charts. That movie is Prophet Without Honor (1939). And finally, Murphy presents a few scenes from I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), where real-life singer Lillian Roth, portrayed by Susan Hayward, admits her alcoholism.

Episode 17 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.17

Host George Murphy, who has been told that most Latin dances are flirtation set to music, presents one of the most flirtatious ever put on screen, from The Kissing Bandit (1948), featuring Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller. He then presents two shorts: The Forgotten Step (1938) in which a man recently hit hard by the stock market crash, tries to regain his fortune through committing what he considers the perfect crime; and The Story of 'The Jonker Diamond' (1936) which tells the story of the the discovery and post-discovery journey of one of the most famous jewels in the world. And finally, he introduces a scene from the new movie Diane (1956), where Marisa Pavan plays Henry VIII's current wife, Catherine de Medici, and Lana Turner plays Diane de Poitiers, the Countess de Breze, the woman that Catherine suspects Henry truly loves.

Episode 18 • Jan 10, 1956

Episode #1.18

Host George Murphy, in the hall of fame segment, introduces a scene with two of the screen's greatest stars, Greta Garbo and John Barrymore, from Grand Hotel (1932), that scene which contains one of Garbo's most famous on-screen quotes. He then presents the short film The Man on the Rock (1938) which questions what are the historically recorded facts surrounding Napoleon Bonaparte's death. Next, one can witness what it would be like to have lion cubs as pets in Lions on the Loose (1941). And Murph makes a visit to the set of Diane (1956) to speak with one of the movie's stars, Roger Moore who portrays King Henri II of France and who presents a scene from the movie.

Episode 19 • Jan 17, 1956

Episode #1.19

Host George Murphy first introduces the song and dance number "The Babbit and the Bromide" performed by Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in Ziegfeld Follies (1945), that number which satirizes clichéd social niceties. Next, several serial cartoonists are shown at work in the short film People on Paper (1945). Murph then introduces another short film, Ghost Treasure (1941), which details the treacherous search for gold in the inhospitable Death Valley. And in the coming attractions segment, he introduces Ransom! (1956), the clip shown which highlights the pros and cons of paying ransom in a kidnapping situation.

Episode 20 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.20

In the family album segment, host George Murphy introduces the water ballet performed by Esther Williams in Ziegfeld Follies (1945). Next, he introduces the short film Our Old Car (1946), which presents the various automobiles owned by one family over the years and generations. The transportation/travel theme is continued with the next short film, What Do You Think?: Tupapaoo (1938), which describes the first encounter between a South Pacific island's inhabitants and the first non-native to land on the island. Finally, Murphy pays a visit to actress Donna Reed, who talks about her intense role in the soon to be released film, Ransom! (1956), from which a scene is shown.

Episode 21 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.21

In the MGM trophy room, host George Murphy is proud to display the latest award for the studio, specifically Redbook Magazine's annual movie award to Dore Schary. In the hall of fame segment, Murph introduces a scene from The Champ (1931), where the character portrayed by Wallace Berry, who won a Best Actor Oscar for this performance, announces from his prison cell his long term future plans for his adoring son, Dink. Next, he introduces the short film The Lady or the Tiger? (1942), which posits whether a cold hearted woman would rather send her lover to death or into the arms of another woman. He then introduces the "Number Please" skit from the movie revue, Ziegfeld Follies (1945), where an exasperated man is having problems getting through to his friend Louis on the telephone though of no fault of his own. Finally, he chats with Russ Tamblyn about his latest movie, The Last Hunt (1956).

Episode 22 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.22

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy sing "Sweetheart" from Maytime (1937); Chic Sale plays Abraham Lincoln in The Perfect Tribute (1935); Lena Horne sings "Love" in Ziegfeld Follies (1945); Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball introduce a scene featuring themselves in Forever, Darling (1956).

Episode 23 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.23

Host George Murphy shows a segment from "The King Without a Crown", the dance of Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse from "Anchors Aweigh", and a short chronicle of the filming of a buffalo stampede from the upcoming MGM release "The Last Hunt".

Episode 24 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.24

Host George Murphy shows clips from previous MGM classics plus a promotional clip for the studio's Western "The Last Hunt."

Episode 25 • Feb 27, 1955

Episode #1.25

Host George Murphy introduces Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones who perform in a clip from The Firefly (1937). Murphy then introduces Dan Dailey who introduces a clip from Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956) in which he and Cyd Charisse star.

Episode 26 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.26

Host George Murphy introduces the Judy Garland showcased musical number "On the Atcheson, Topeka and the Santa Fe" from the movie The Harvey Girls (1946). The next feature is of the short movie The Man in the Barn (1937), which provides an alternate view of the death of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth. A clip of the family movie The Yearling (1946) is shown, followed by one from the upcoming movie Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956) featuring Dan Dailey and Cyd Charisse. As Murphy will be traveling for the next few weeks, he lets the viewer know of his temporary replacement and the movie which he will feature on the next show.

Episode 27 • Mar 27, 1956

Episode #1.27

Host Walter Pidgeon introduces the movie Captains Courageous (1937). Based on a novel by Rudyard Kipling, it is the first MGM feature film ever to be shown on network television. It tells the story of a spoiled boy who falls overboard of a luxury liner. He's picked up by a fishing boat. He has to endure life on the boat until they dock in two weeks, but it's more like the fishing crew have to put up with his spoiled ways. Pidgeon then introduces his latest starring role, that in the movie Forbidden Planet (1956). The segments shown from both movies are only the first installments, with future installments shown in weeks to come.

Episode 28 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.28

Host Walter Pidgeon continues with the second of three installments of the movie Captains Courageous (1937) and the second and final installment of the preview of his new movie Forbidden Planet (1956). With the former, Pidgeon discusses a little of the source material - a novel by Rudyard Kipling - before continuing on with the story of the movie, where spoiled Harvey Cheyne has transformed into a responsible young man wanting to please his new friend, fisherman Manuel Fidello. With the latter, Pidgeon introduces one of his key co-stars in the movie, namely Robby the Robot. As his movie's character, Dr. Edward Morbius, Pidgeon ponders Robby's true artificial intelligence.

Episode 29 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.29

Walter Pidgeon uses a standing set on the Metro lot to introduce clips from the 1937 classic "Captains Courageous" and a scene from the studio's "Tribute to a Bad Man."

Episode 30 • Apr 03, 1956

Episode #1.30

Host Walter Pidgeon admits that he made himself available to host this episode if only to be able to discuss the film career of the legendary Greta Garbo. He mentions her short stint of making movies in Europe before coming to the United States, where, in American movies, she became an instant star in silent films in the mid-1920s. She was arguably the biggest movie star in the world by the end of the silent era. There was some speculation on whether she could sustain that stardom into the talkies, especially as she had a strong Swedish accent, but those fears were laid to rest with her memorable screen entrance in her first talkie, Anna Christie (1930). Pidgeon takes her film retrospective up to the mid-1930s, when her stardom was brighter than ever. Film newcomer Irene Papas discusses filming the movie Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) starring James Cagney. Next week's show will conclude the retrospective on Garbo's film career, and will have as a guest another European transplant to American movies, Leslie Caron.

Episode 31 • Apr 10, 1956

Episode #1.31

Host Walter Pidgeon continues with the film career retrospective of Greta Garbo, stating that this and the last show were the most highly anticipated ever since they were announced. The retrospective continues from the mid 1930s and the remake of Anna Karenina (1935) (There was an earlier silent version which also starred Garbo.) to her comedy success in Ninotchka (1939). Director George Cukor, who directed Garbo in Camille (1936), provides his insight into her as an actress and person. Pidgeon ends the retrospective with a fan letter writing campaign to encourage Garbo to return to making movies. As an upcoming feature, Pidgeon discusses the new movie Gaby (1956), starring Leslie Caron and John Kerr. And he provides a preview of upcoming episodes, which will feature scenes from The Pirate (1948) and The Swan (1956).

Episode 32 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.32

Host Walter Pidgeon and his two female helpers are relaxing in a West Indies setting to discuss this week's feature presentation of the movie The Pirate (1948) starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. This week's discussion will be the first of three parts. In part one, a young woman named Manuela dreams of a pirate named Macoco, but who is betrothed to the mean spirited mayor Don Pedro. While Manuela visits a nearby town, a traveling theater troupe arrives and one of its performers, Serafin, falls in love with Manuela at first sight. He is hoping that she secretly loves him, but under hypnosis, admits to him that she dreams of Macoco instead. Pidgeon then introduces the coming attraction, The Swan (1956), starring Grace Kelly, Alec Guinness, and Louis Jourdan.

Episode 33 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.33

Host Walter Pidgeon and his female guests continue with part two of their presentation of the movie The Pirate (1948) starring Judy Garland as Manuela and Gene Kelly as Serafin. Despite Manuela's growing attraction to Serafin, she is still determined to go through with her marriage to Don Pedro. But Serafin tries to use what knowledge he has of Don Pedro's true identity to twist it to his own advantage in wooing Manuela. But Serafin's plan may backfire on him. Pidgeon and his guests then introduce the new feature, Gaby (1956), starring Leslie Caron and John Kerr.

Episode 34 • Dec 31, 1969

Episode #1.34

Host Walter Pidgeon and his two female assistants, Luana Lee and Janet Lake conclude their presentation of the movie The Pirate (1948) starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland. Don Pedro is about to have Serafin hanged for being the pirate Macoco, which he knows is not the case since Don Pedro himself is Macoco. Manuela, who now realizes that she loves Serafin and not Macoco, tries to save him. Being an actor, Serafin does his own improvisation to try and save himself. Pidgeon and his assistants then move on to the week's upcoming attraction, The Swan (1956), starring Alec Guinness, Grace Kelly and Louis Jourdan whose characters are matched in a royal love triangle.

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MGM Parade

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