Harry Rosenthal (15 May c. 1893 – 10 May 1953) was an orchestra leader, composer, pianist and actor.

Harry Rosenthal
Born(1893-05-15)May 15, 1893[1]
Belfast, Ireland
DiedMay 10, 1953(1953-05-10) (aged 59)
Occupation(s)actor, composer, pianist, orchestra leader
Years activec.1920–1949

Biography

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Rosenthal was born in Belfast in 1893,[2] and by the 1920s he was in London where he had a thriving musical career as a composer, bandleader and pianist, including composing five operettas which met with great success.[3] He came to the United States by 1929, when he wrote songs for Herbert Stothart's musical Polly on Broadway,[4] and in 1930 acted in Ring Lardner and George S. Kaufman's play June Moon, which was revived in 1933.[5] After he met Edward, the Prince of Wales at a reception, he accompanied the heir to the British throne on a world tour.[3]

Rosenthal's film career began in 1931 and ended in 1948, during which time he worked on 19 films, playing pianists, orchestra leaders and also non-musical roles, as well as composing music (for The Sin of Harold Diddlebock) and conducting (on For Me and My Gal).[6] In the early 1940s, Rosenthal was part of writer-director Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in all of Sturges' films from The Great McGinty (1940) through The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947) with the exception of Hail the Conquering Hero.[7]

Both in New York and in Hollywood, Rosenthal was often mentioned in gossip columns, surprisingly so, given the small size of the parts he played.[3] His death in 1953, from a heart attack, was similarly noted.[8]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1931 Merely Mary Ann
1939 Tail Spin Harrison, Cafe Manager Uncredited
1939 Wife, Husband and Friend Bill Wilkins
1940 Johnny Apollo Piano Player performed two songs
1940 The Great McGinty Louie - The Boss' Bodyguard
1940 Christmas in July Harry
1941 The Lady Eve Piano Tuner Uncredited
1941 Unfinished Business Piano Player
1941 Birth of the Blues Piano Player
1941 Sullivan's Travels The Trombenick
1942 The Palm Beach Story Orchestra Leader
1942 For Me and My Gal Orchestra Conductor & Arranger Uncredited, also music conductor
1943 Presenting Lily Mars Pianist Uncredited
1944 The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
1944 The Great Moment Mr. Chamberlain Uncredited
1945 The Horn Blows at Midnight Sherman Starr Uncredited
1947 The Sin of Harold Diddlebock Reveler Uncredited, also composer
1948 The Big Clock Charlie
1949 Red, Hot and Blue Piano Player Uncredited, (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ "This day, May 15, in Jewish history". Cleveland Jewish News. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  2. ^ Harry Rosenthal (actor) at the Internet Broadway Database
  3. ^ a b c Harry Rosenthal at AllMovie
  4. ^ ​Polly​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  5. ^ ​Moon June​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  6. ^ Harry Rosenthal at IMDb
  7. ^ Rosenthal appeared in The Great McGinty, Christmas in July, The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels, The Palm Beach Story, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The Great Moment, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
  8. ^ IMDB Bio
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