Dazzling the Screen Bing Crosby

American singer and actor Bing Crosby was one of the first multimedia stars and among the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. During his career Crosby made more than 70 feature films and recorded over 1,600 songs. He received the Grammy Global Achievement Award and had three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of motion pictures, radio, and audio recordings. He is remembered for his collaboration with his friend, American actor and comedian Bob Hope, starring in the “Road to…” films from 1940 to 1962. He died in 1977 at the age of 74.

Director Robert Lewis directed the 1956 American musical “Anything Goes." The film starred Bing Crosby, Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, and others.

The storyline revolves around two entertainers scheduled to appear in a Broadway show who travel to Europe. Bill Benson (Bing Crosby) goes to England and meets Patsy Blair (Mitzi Gaynor) and signs her as the female lead.

Director George Seaton directed the 1954 American drama “The Country Girl." The film starred Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and William Holden. Seaton won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Grace Kelly won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

The storyline revolves around Frank Elgin (Bing Crosby), a fading actor who has become a suicidal alcoholic. His condition put great strain on his wife Georgie (Grace Kelly in her Oscar-winning role), but things may be looking up for him when director Bernie Dodd (William Holden) casts him in his upcoming new musical. 

Director Mark Sandrich directed the 1942 Christmas musical comedy-drama “Holiday Inn." It starred Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, and Walter Abel. The music was written by American composer Irving Berlin, with the best-known song being “White Christmas." The film received the 1943 Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The storyline revolves around Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby), who pens a holiday-exclusive inn where he falls for a beautiful up-and-coming performer Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds). Things get complicated with the arrival of Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire), a former friend of Jim’s who once stole his beloved.

Director Gordon Douglas directed the 1964 American musical comedy “Robin and the 7 Hoods." The film reimagines the Robin Hood legend in a 1920s Chicago gangster setting. Produced by American singer and actor Frank Sinatra, the film introduced the hit song “My Kind of Town." The film starred Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and others.

In the storyline Bing Crosby portrayed Alan A. Dale, who, in the Robin Hood legend is a wandering minstrel who joins his band of merry men but, in the film, runs an orphanage to which the mobsters make a significant donation.

Director Gordon Douglas directed the American Western "Stagecoach." It was a color remake of the Academy Award-winning John Ford 1939 classic black-and-white film of the same name. The film starred Bing Crosby and Mike Connors. Ann Margaret, and others.

In the storyline Bing Crosby portrays Joshiah Boone, an alcoholic doctor, and the story follows a group of strangers in Wyoming Territory in 1880 on a stagecoach heading from Dry Fork to Cheyenne.

Director Michael Curtiz directed the 1954 American Christmas musical “White Christmas." The film starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen. It featured songs by Irving Berlin including a new version of the title song “White Christmas” that Crosby introduced in the 1942 film “Holiday Inn."

The storyline revolves around two GIs, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye), who team up to form a musical act, becoming popular in nightclubs and on the radio. They fall for two sisters—Betty Haynes (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera Ellen)—and accompany them on a trip to a mountain retreat in Vermont.