Tweet Crawford sings?

In the scene at the piano in POSSESSED (31), is this Crawford's own voice?

I think so- it sounds like her recording of "I never knew heaven could sing"

No, the song was called HOW LONG WILL IT LAST.

I'm reasonably sure it was her singing (but not playing, like Mary Astor, for example) in Possessed, I have a copy but I'll have to look at it again . . .

Crawford also sings in at least three other MGM early sound films, "The Hollywood Revue of 1929," "Montana Moon," also '29, and "Dancing Lady," from '33 and in which she actually dances with Astaire. Not Ginger, but not bad. They sing together, "The Gangs All Here," in a key too low for either, their voices are barely heard above the music -- I don't know what, if any, kind of dubbing technology was available at the time, but if there was one, it should have been used for that number.

She considered herself a dancer and musical talent, but MGM had lots of those with way more of that kind of talent, so we can see why those kind of "Joan Crawford" films petered out after "Dancing Lady." There may be more that I've forgotten, or aren't aware of.

Lucille 'studied' Opera, while I 'lived' @ the Ambassador Hotel, on Wilshire,
across from the "Brown Derby." Restaurant. I also Have a Recording of Her
Singing, "I Never Knew (Heaven Could Speak), 1939, one (1) of Alice Faye's
Songs, from, "Rose of Washington Square," recorded @ the Coconut Grove, @ the Ambassador, w/Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra (I think). If the Bandleader
saw a 'Star,' in the Room, who Could Sing, they were asked to do so. A lot of
the 'Stars,' COULD Sing, eg. Clara Lou Sheridan, &, the few who wished to do
so, on Film, went there, to be noticed. Lucille sang in several Films.
Sid Bloomberg

Gene,
Lucille Vasconcelles (Mary Astor), DID indeed, 'Play' the Tchaikovsky, in, "The Great Lie." Her Father Had Her taking Piano Lessons, @ a Very Early Age, as, HE Wanted HER, 2 B a "Concert Pianist."

I just realized I made a Mistake, re, something I previously said. Joan's Sing-
ing of "I Never New," @ the C. Grove, Was w/Gus Arnheim's Orch., not, Jim-
my Dorsey. She Sang two (2) Songs w/Dorsey, @ the 'Grove,' Both from,
"Ice Capades of 1939," "I'm in Love w/the Honorable Mr. So-and-So," &, "It's
All So New to Me." Just wanted to clear-up Matters. Sid Bloomberg

Didn't Ann Harding also play her own piano in scenes?

Doesn't Crawford sing in her very first scene in her very first talkie?

I've only seen UNTAMED (1929) once, but I could swear it opens with Joan as Bingo, the wild thing to which the film's title refers, warbling "Chant of the Jungle".

Doesn't Crawford sing in her very first scene in her very first talkie?

I've only seen UNTAMED (1929) once, but I could swear it opens with Joan as Bingo, the wild thing to which the film's title refers, warbling "Chant of the Jungle".

The font of all knowledge and wisdom, the imdb, has this listing for Crawford's musical contributions:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001076/#Soundtrack

some, like her numbers in Torch Song are clearly dubbed and some, like Dancing Lady's "Rhythm of the Day" she *dances* rather than sings. Most of what I assume to be instrumentals she either *plays* or dances or maybe hums or is somehow in the room when they are performed.

David Niven mentions hearing Joan's private opera recordings in `Bring on the Empty Horses'. His verdict on her talents was not flattering. I imagine she was like so many of the stars that made an attempt at becoming triple threats in the early sound era - good but not great.

David Niven mentions hearing Joan's private opera recordings in `Bring on the Empty Horses'. His verdict on her talents was not flattering. I imagine she was like so many of the stars that made an attempt at becoming triple threats in the early sound era - good but not great.

From what I've heard she had a limited range- good enough within her comfort zone. Early sound technology might have been kind to her.

Gene,
Lucille Vasconcelles (Mary Astor), DID indeed, 'Play' the Tchaikovsky, in, "The Great Lie." Her Father Had Her taking Piano Lessons, @ a Very Early Age, as, HE Wanted HER, 2 B a "Concert Pianist."

That's what I meant, that Astor was a concert pianist. Sorry I wasn't real clear about that.

Here's a link to a tidbit about JC and her operatic endeavours:
http://operafresh.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-joan-crawford-met-rosa-ponselle.html

Joan Crawford was an OK singer, but she had a great voice nevertheless. They way she spoke was so nice! Her voice had a velvety quiality.. she was not Garbo, but she produced nice sounds and as she aged, her voice also aged gracefully... unlike Bette Davis. Miss Davis had a terrible voice later on... she seemed to be a wicth! (she would have loved me for that!)

Watched Untamed. Yes indeed, Joan Crawford sings in "Chant of the Jungle" in her opening scene in her starring talkie debut. She has a pleasant, low voice. She also sings "That Wonderful Something Is Love." Of course Robert Montgomery also sings, but the less said the better.

As the wild thing, Crawford is pretty shaky but as the film goes on she turns in a solid talkie performance. When it came to her career, Crawford learned and she learned fast.

I believe Crawford did all her own singing in her early talkies but later on she was dubbed.

Her singing was entirely good enough for Montana Moon, I thought, & I appreciate the distinctive quality of her voice. And dubbing was certainly available from the very get-go, as Barthelmess' counter-tenor "voice" in Weary River, 1929, so painfully demonstrated.

Another pleasing voice--I did NOT say Met-worthy!--was that possessed by Ruth Chatterton, though she was rarely allowed to use it. I also thought Gloria Swanson sang beautifully in Tresspasser, though I'll no doubt be ridiculed for saying so. (Her songs therein were actually released on shellac.)

and Bebe Daniels in several early musicals.

Bebe's singing career endured long beyond those early musicals, beyond Hollywood, & even beyond the U. S. of A. Although RCA released several of her show tunes in this country, I get the impression from British song-sheets with her name or image on them that she became better known as a vocalist in the UK, where she & Ben moved in the late 30s. (Will learn the details of that, presumably, when my copy of Bebe & Ben arrives.) The only currently available collection of her songs on DVD (all war-time numbers) is a British import on the Vocalion label.

Bebe's singing career endured long beyond those early musicals, beyond Hollywood, & even beyond the U. S. of A. Although RCA released several of her show tunes in this country, I get the impression from British song-sheets with her name or image on them that she became better known as a vocalist in the UK, where she & Ben moved in the late 30s. (Will learn the details of that, presumably, when my copy of Bebe & Ben arrives.) The only currently available collection of her songs on DVD (all war-time numbers) is a British import on the Vocalion label.

CD, I meant.

Bebe and Ben had a hit radio program called "Hi, Gang!," which was made into a 40s feature film (which is actually pretty good). She sang on that show. She apparently did stage work in UK also but I can't find any record of what she did. After that they starred on radio and then on TV with their "Life with the Lyons" show (with their 2 kids). That show gave birth to 2 feature films.

I think Bebe's last USA musical was Music Is Magic, which I liked a lot.

I think Bebe's last USA musical was Music Is Magic, which I liked a lot.

So do I, but third-billed to non-entity Ray Walker after 25 yrs in the biz...? Gratitude, Hollywood style. Little wonder she sailed for Britania.

Billing aside, she was quite good in it....

Even Mitchell and Durant were less annoying than usual in it.

Yes.... I never remember which is which, but the tall one is very good

"Here's a link to a tidbit about JC and her operatic endeavours:
http://operafresh.blogspot.com/2011/01/ ... selle.html"

There's a private recording of Verdi's "Recordatus" with Joan Crawford and an unnamed soprano who sounds like (and probably is", Rosa Ponselle?

Really???

Has it survived? Has it ever been released?

It was released on a album in the 70s on the Curtain Calls label.http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=390382612552&nma=true&rt=nc&si=YGcKeAi01OftlqNcK5SL%252BIgcYDo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

One thing about Bebe & Ben is that they did not jump ship to USA when Hitler tried to come to tea. That's how America got Hitch but lost David Niven for the war effort. Other than that they did a short stint for Ben in USA than back to UK for the rest of Bebe's life and then Ben came back to USA and remarried(Marian Nixon?). I think his birth state is bigger than the UK. A late friend in London said she was a lovely lady and compassionate. He was at the BFI at the time and went to her Paddington house.

Ben Lyon was decorated in UK for his war efforts.

The Font of All Knowledge (Wikipedia) reports Truman awarded her Medal of Freedom. Have wondered what reason for this might have been. USO tours, or other entertainment venues? Several songs on her Your Company's Requested album are obvious "morale builders," inc. "When That Man Is Dead & Gone," featuring quite bizarre lyrics about Hitler.