MovieChat Forums > The Great Ziegfeld (1936) Discussion > Dennis Morgan or Allan Jones?

Dennis Morgan or Allan Jones?

posted 10 years ago by johnaquino
11 replies | jump to latest

I keep reading that while Dennis Morgan is shown singing "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" his voice was dubbed by Allan Jones. This has become part of the lore, and it may be backed up by documentation. The problem is, having seen and heard Allen Jones in "A Night at the Opera," made the year before "The Great Ziegfeld," and "The Firefly" and "A Day at the Races," made the year after, and having seen and heard Dennis Morgan is a dozen films made during the 1940s--"Christmas in Connecticut" was shown on TCM over the holidays and Morgan sings in that, the singer of "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" doesn't sound like Allen Jones but he does sound like Dennis Morgan. Sometimes people just make stuff up and it sticks. Does anyone know more about this?

[–] bari2525 10 years ago

According to Robert Osborne's comments after tonight's showing the film...they used Allan Jones' voice for the voice dubbed while Dennis Morgan mouthed the words...

I don't act...I react. John Wayne

[–] howyoodoon 9 years ago

Hey John...I've had this very same question for many years. I'd been programmed to believe, without questioning, that Dennis Morgan was dubbed by Allan Jones in "The Great Ziegfeld". But after seeing it countless times--and having learned much more about both singers, I also think this was Dennis Morgan singing--and NOT Allan Jones. I've never found an adequate reason why they would NEED to dub him, either. In any case, poor Dennis must have undergone a major identity crisis during the second half of the 1930's! He performed under no less than THREE stage names during a two year period (1936-38), billed as "Stanley Morner" (his real name), "Richard Stanley" and finally, "Dennis Morgan".

I'm going to dig further into this "fact". I want to see concrete proof that this was dubbed by Allan Jones!

[–] howyoodoon 9 years ago

Hmm...the TCM "Great Ziegfeld" page offers this possible explanation: They already owned a recording of Allan Jones singing the song and decided to cut corners by using the recording instead of re-recording. Interesting theory...still, I'm not entirely convinced either way!

"The "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" number, part of the "Ziegfeld Follies" sequence of the picture, is one of the most famous musical numbers ever filmed. The so-called "Wedding Cake" set took several weeks to rehearse and shoot, featured 180 performers and required 4,300 yards of silk rayon for the curtains, according to the film's pressbook. The number cost $220,000 to produce or, according to Liberty, "$40,000 more than the entire Follies would have set back Ziggie himself in the grand days." The actor who appears as the singer in the number, Stanley Morner, did not actually sing the song. Morner, who later changed his name to Dennis Morgan, was an accomplished singer, but the song had previously been recorded by Allan Jones, another M-G-M contract player, and the studio apparently decided not to re-record the number. No located contemporary publicity or reviews note the dubbing and the Variety review praised Morner's "tenoring...in fine style and excellent camera advantage. It again suggests him as another surprise Metro discovery." The review also indicated that the role seemed to be a composite of "Follies" entertainers John Steel and Irving Fisher."

[–] mrshvd3 9 years ago

I love the information you posted here -- I think the "A Pretty Girl..." number is everybody's favorite, whether in "The Great Ziegfeld" or "That's Entertainment!"

You seem well versed in this particular number, so I'm hoping you can tell me -- who is the beautiful lady in the enormous gown at the very top of the "wedding cake"? She looks so familiar, but I can't place her and can't seem to find an answer.

Heck is where people go who don't believe in Gosh.

[–] kelkyl 9 years ago

That would be Virginia Bruce(first wife of John Gilbert) as Audrey Dane.

[–] joystar5879 9 years ago

Actually, Virginia Bruce was John Gilbert's FOURTH, and Final wife.

I do hope he won't upset Henry...

[–] kelkyl 9 years ago

You are correct - I was reading Ms. Bruce's bio. He was HER first HUSBAND.

[–] fugazzi49 9 years ago

This isn't documentation, but I went to You Tube and listened to recordings of Morgan and Jones including Morgan's operetta work. There is a certain tone to Alan Jones's voice and a bit of a vibrato that to my ears totally matches the voice in this number. Until I see absolute documentation otherwise, I believe the voice is dubbed, probably for the reasons stated about MGM owning Jones's recording. What's always made it questionable is the fact that Dennis Morgan was such an accomplished singer himself.

[–] howyoodoon 9 years ago

Yes, that has always been the "red herring" for me, too--why dub Dennis Morgan (then named Stanley Morner), when he had such an exquisite singing voice of his own? Which is why, I think, the theory of MGM simply using their existing recording of Allan Jones the most valid explanation I've yet heard.

Tangentially--but something some of you might find interesting--and something that's almost been totally forgotten in Hollywood history: Originally cast as "Gaylord Ravenal" in the James Whale, Universal film of "Showboat" (eventually released in 1936) was the 'tragic crooner,' Russ Columbo. The film was only in the beginnings of its development when Columbo was accidentally shot and killed by his best friend, who was mishandling a loaded pistol--which discharged, ricocheted, and went through the left eye of the popular singer in September, 1934. The production went into hiatus as Universal sought out a suitable replacement for Columbo--which they found in Allan Jones.

[–] Braddx 7 years ago

This entire thread was fascinating. To read so many replies by so many posters who are obviously great lovers of the movies AND so well-informed has been a more-than-fun experience for me. Thank you, everybody.

[–] joystar5879 7 years ago

Personally, I think they BOTH sang in that number. It sounds like Morgan crooned "A PRETTY GIRL (IS LIKE A MELODY"), while Jones sang the Operatic section.

Jones had already proved his Musical ability, while Morgan was much more of a "crooner" at that time.

I love Both fellows' voices, and I'd bet the ranch on it....(If I had a ranch to bet.)

I completely agree with johnaquino.🎶🎶

I do hope he won't upset Henry...