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TOMMY RALL
biography . . .
Chapter 1: The Early Years Chapter 4: More Film Work
Chapter 2: Broadway
Chapter 5: Back to Broadway
Chapter 6: Beyond Broadway
Chapter 3: MGM
Chapter 4:  More Film Work
The following year, Columbia Studios offered Tommy the role of Chick Clark, the opportunistic newspaper reporter in the underrated My Sister Eileen.  Although a �B� class film, it did have the advantage of a fine cast in Janet Leigh in the title role, Bob Fosse as her boyfriend, Betty Garrett her sister, Ruth, and Jack Lemmon as Ruth�s magazine editor love interest.  The cast�s ensemble work elevates the film above the arguably inferior score and lyrics and Betty Garrett in particular makes the most of her snappy lines.  It also has Bob Fosse in his first position as the film�s primary choreographer.  One of My Sister Eileen�s best scenes is a �challenge� dance between Tommy�s and Fosse�s characters who are vying for Eileen�s affections.  Fosse�s choreography suits their abilities, showcasing their impeccable style and strengths.  Tommy more than ably handles Fosse�s signature small movements and executes superb leaps and spins.  He has said that �some of [his] best on-screen work� was done in this film.

Tommy next signed a long term contract in 1955 with Universal Studios, intending to continue to perform in musicals.  The one musical he did participate in was Universal-International�s attempt to borrow from the success of
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers called The Second Greatest Sex.  It was also placed in a rural setting, also based on an ancient source, Aristophanes� comedic play, Lysisitrata, in which the women rebel against their perpetually-warring spouses by refusing sex with their partners unless the fighting stops.  A very uneven film, it contains a few relatively charming songs but is mainly an inferior effort.  Two of the better musical numbers are a marriage celebration, similar to Seven Brides� barn raising dance and a dream sequence in which pop singer, Kitty Kallen, pining for her missing husband (Tommy�s character), drinks a hallucinogenic potion, sings �How Lonely Can I Get?� and visualizes Tommy dancing on a bar and swinging from a chandelier.  Other cast members include Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion), George Nader, Jean Crain, Jimmy Boyd, singer of �I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus� and platinum-blonde bombshell Mamie van Doren.

In 1956, Audie Murphy was the star of Tommy�s next two films,
World in My Corner and Walk the Proud Land.  In the former, Tommy is Murphy�s good-natured but unscrupulous boxing manager, Ray Kascmerek.  This substantial dramatic supporting role provides possibly the best showcase of Tommy�s acting ability.  In the latter, Murphy is a Caucasian �Indian agent� assigned by the US government to oversee residents of an Apache reservation in Arizona.  The respect he shows toward his Apache charges eventually overcomes the distrust Tommy�s character, Taglito and his brethren feel toward him.  Both Tommy and cast member Anne Bancroft became ill on the desert location and upon returning to Los Angeles, he entered the hospital, requiring several months� rest.  This marked the end of his tenure with Universal as the studio opted to terminate his contract.

Tommy�s final appearance in an MGM musical was
Merry Andrew in 1958, starring an appealingly understated Danny Kaye and Pier Angeli.  It was directed by Seven Brides� choreographer Michael Kidd.  Kaye, a private school teacher, falls in love with luminous Angeli, a performer in an Italian circus and must contend with her overprotective trapeze artist brothers, including Ugo, Tommy�s character.  Through a variety of misunderstandings, Kaye finds himself engaged to her.  The film has a number of entertaining Johnny Mercer songs, including �Salud� at the engagement party in which Tommy and the other brothers entertain the group with an exuberant celebratory dance under the circus� big top.

                                                to...Chapter 5: Back to Broadway
with Dick York, Kurt Kaznar, Jack Lemmon & Betty Garrett - conga finale of My Sister Eileen
Conga finale of My Sister Eileen, with Dick York, Kurt Kasznar, Jack Lemmon & Betty Garrett
Blood brothers with Audie Murphy in Walk the Proud Land
Tommy and Audie Murphy are blood brothers in Walk the Proud Land
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