MGM distinguished itself during the Golden Era of Hollywood, particularly the 1940s, by featuring famous classical musicians in its major films. They not only performed musical numbers but also played acting roles in the stories.
One of my favorite wartime musicals is “Music for Millions” (1944), which is perfectly described by its title and features musical performances by two very different but equally legendary musical talents, José Iturbi and Jimmy Durante. Iturbi, the Spanish concert pianist and conductor who made 10 movies at MGM in the 1940s and 1950s, and Durante, the Brooklyn vaudevillian with a raspy voice and a hilariously rambunctious piano style, couldn’t be more different.
