Ira Gershwin

Ira Gershwin

Birth : 1896-12-06, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Death : 1983-08-17

Profile

Ira Gershwin

Movies

George Gershwin Alone
Lyricist
Live from Florence, Italy, Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone tells the story of America’s great composer, who with the groundbreaking Rhapsody in Blue made a “Lady out of Jazz.” The show incorporates the composer's best-known songs from "The Man I Love" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," through the hits of An American in Paris and Porgy and Bess, to a complete performance of Rhapsody in Blue.
The Metropolitan Opera: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess
Writer
The Gershwins’ modern American masterpiece has its first Met performances in almost three decades, starring bass-baritone Eric Owens and soprano Angel Blue in the title roles. Director James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row, a setting vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants.
An American in Paris: The Musical
Musical
Paris, after the end of the Second World War: GI Jerry Mulligan stays in the City of Lights after falling in love with a mademoiselle at first sight. Being a stranger, Jerry gets to know pianist Adam Hochberg, who - unbeknownst to Jerry - adores the same woman. The two of them have to work together for a ballet with said woman, who is promised to Henri Baurel. Henri also gets acquainted with Jerry and Adam.
Crazy For You
Musical
Crazy For You is a romantic comedy musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as "The New Gershwin Musical Comedy", it is largely based on the songwriting team's 1930 musical Girl Crazy, but incorporates songs from several other productions as well. Crazy For You won the 1992 Tony Award (Broadway), 1993 Olivier Award (London), and 1994 Dora Award (Toronto) for Best Musical. Originally aired on the PBS series "Great Performances" (season 28, episode 2).
Porgy and Bess
Lyricist
The story of a disabled beggar in Charleston,S.C. who falls in love with a prostitute, this is the first filmed version of Gershwin's opera which uses Gershwin's own orchestrations and practically all of the music, with only one major cut.
Kiss Me, Stupid
Songs
While traveling home from Vegas, an amorous lounge singer named Dino gets conned by a local mechanic/songwriter into staying in town for the night. The mechanic's songwriting partner, Orville, offers Dino his home for overnight lodging and enlists a local waitress/call girl to pose as his wife in order to placate Dino's urges.
Funny Face
Original Music Composer
A shy Greenwich Village book clerk is discovered by a fashion photographer and whisked off to Paris where she becomes a reluctant model.
The Country Girl
Songs
An ex-theater actor is given one more chance to star in a musical yet his alcoholism may prevent it from happening.
A Star Is Born
Lyricist
A movie star helps a young singer-actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
Lady in the Dark
Lyricist
The unhappy female editor of a fashion magazine is undergoing psychoanalysis.
Give a Girl a Break
Lyricist
When the temperamental star of a new Broadway musical revue in rehearsals walks out, director and choreographer Ted Sturgis suggests casting an unknown for the role. When it is announced in the newspapers, throngs of hopefuls show up. The revue's musical composer, Leo Belney, champions ballerina Joanna Moss, while gofer Bob Dowdy is enchanted by novice Suzy Doolittle. Then producer Felix Jordan persuades Ted's former dance partner, Madelyn Corlan, to come out of retirement to try out, much to Ted's great discomfort.
An American in Paris
Lyricist
Jerry Mulligan is an exuberant American expatriate in Paris trying to make a reputation as a painter. His friend Adam is a struggling concert pianist who's a long time associate of a famous French singer, Henri Baurel. A lonely society woman, Milo Roberts, takes Jerry under her wing and supports him, but is interested in more than his art.
Cover Girl
Songs
A nightclub dancer makes it big in modeling, leaving her dancer boyfriend behind.
Lady Be Good
Music
Married songwriters almost split up while putting on a big show.
A Damsel in Distress
Lyricist
Lady Alyce Marshmorton must marry soon, and the staff of Tottney Castle have laid bets on who she'll choose, with young Albert wagering on 'Mr. X'. After Alyce goes to London to meet a beau she is restricted to the castle to curb her scandalous behavior. Albert then summons Jerry to Alyce's aid in order to 'protect his investment'.
Shall We Dance
Lyricist
Ballet star Petrov arranges to cross the Atlantic aboard the same ship as the dancer and musical star he's fallen for but barely knows. By the time the ocean liner reaches New York, a little white lie has churned through the rumour mill and turned into a hot gossip item—that the two celebrities are secretly married.