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THE TOAST OF NEW ORLEANS
![[IMAGE]](toast1.jpg)
CREDITS
1950, 97 minutes, Technicolor.
Producer, Joe Pasternak; Director, Norman Taurog; Screenplay, Sy Gomberg and George Wells; Cinematography, William Snyder; Music Direction, Georgie Stoll and Johnny Green; Choreography, Eugene Loring.
CAST
Suzette Micheline, Kathryn Grayson; Pepe Duvalle, Mario Lanza; Jacques Riboudeaux, David Niven; Nicky Duvalle, J. Carroll Naish; Pierre, James Mitchell; Maestro Trellini, Richard Hageman; Oscar, Clinton Sundberg; Mayor, Sig Arno; Tina, Rita Moreno; Manuelo, Romo Vincent.
SONGS
Be My Love; The Tina Lina; Boom Biddy Boom Boom; The Toast of New Orleans; I'll Never Love You; Song of the Bayou by Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn; Brinidisi by Verdi; O Paradiso by Ponichelli; Flower Song by Bizet; Je Suis Titania by Thomas; M'Appari by Flotow.
PLOT SYNOPSIS
"When New Orleans opera star Suzette Micheline (Kathryn Grayson) and her manager (David Niven) visit a small fishing village in the bayou, they find more than they bargained for in the form of fisherman Pepe Duvalle (Mario Lanza). Not only does Pepe exhibit a magnificent singing voice. . .but he intends to make Suzette his next catch!"
- Liner Notes from MGM/Turner Laserdisc
NOTES
"Though the narrative traded mainly in cliches, director Norman Taurog, aided by Technicolor, some glorious music and the volatile personality of his two stars, managed to impart to it a veneer of sophistication that went some way to disguise its basic lack of originality."
- Clive Hirschhorn, The Hollywood Musical
"Sheer excruciation. . .whoever it was who thought of teaming Lanza with Kathryn Grayson had a streak of malignant humor: when those voices collide and his big chest meets her big bosom, pop culture is at its climax."
- Pauline Kael, 5001 Nights At The Movies
ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION:
Best Song - "Be My Love"
![[IMAGE]](toast2.jpg)
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