Best Movie Songs of the 1930s
In the 1930s, the movie industry was still in its infancy. Yet, that did not stop it from giving us some classics such as Gone with the Wind and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. It was too soon for movie executives to consider connecting songs with their movies–that would not occur until the 1950s. It was “The Golden Age of Hollywood” and songs that endured from this era is legendary.
Also in its infancy in the 1930s was the connection of sound and color to the movies. While the era entered in with black and white classics such as Frankenstein by the end of the decade films such as The Wizard of Oz were being released in full technicolor. In fact, in the original novel, Dorothy’s shoes were silver. They were changed to red in the film to highlight the color aspect of the film.
Unfortunately, film makers had not grasped the concept of connecting soundtracks to their films–that would not come until the 1950s. Any music that is associated with films from this era comes from musicals. Luckily, we had legends such as Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers brightening up the screen with their outstanding vocals. Behind them, were legendary song writers such as Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Ira & George Gershwin.
Many of these songs were never released on albums until much later, and some of them have never been released as singles (unless they are recorded by other artists). For this reason, our playlist may not include a preview for every song in the list below.
“A Message From the Man in the Moon” by Allan Jones from A Day At the Races (1937)
“A Pretty Girl is Like A Melody” by Allan Jones (for Dennis Morgan) from The Great Ziegfeld(1936)
“Babes in Arms” by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Douglas McPhail & Betty Jaynes from Babes in Arms (1939)
“Begin the Beguine” by Artie Shaw & his Orchestra from Jubilee (1935)
“Cheek to Cheek” performed by Fred Astaire from Top Hat (1935)
“Dear Mr Gable/You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want to Do It)” by Judy Garland from Broadway Melody of 1938 (1938)
“Easy To Love” by James Stewart & Marjorie Lane from Born to Dance (1936)
“Hooray For Hollywood” by Dick Powell, Francis Langford, Johnny ‘Scat’ Davis, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman & his Orchestra from Hollywood Hotel (1937)
“Girls, Girls, Girls” by Maurice Chevalier from The Merry Widow (1934)
“Going Hollywood” by Bing Crosby from Going Hollywood (1933)
“Good Morning” by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney from Babes in Arms (1939)
“Hollywood Party” by Frances Williams from Hollywood Party (1934)
“I Only Have Eyes For You” by Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler & The Chorus from Dames (1934)
“Indian Love Call” by Jeanette Mac Donald & Nelson Eddy from Rose Marie (1936)
“Jeepers Creepers” by Louis Armstrong from Going Places (1938)
“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” performed by Fred Astaire from Shall We Dance (1937)
“Let’s Face The Music and Dance” by Fred Astaire from Follow the Fleet (1935)
“Lullaby of Broadway” by Winifred Shaw & Dick Powell from Gold Diggers of 1935
“My Man” by Fanny Brice from The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
“Night and Day” by Fred Astaire from The Gay Divorcee (1932)
“Ol’ Man River” by William Warfield from Show Boat (1936)
“Pass That Peace Pipe” by Joan McCracken from Good News (1930)
“Puttin’ On the Ritz” by Clark Gable from Idiot’s Delight (1939)
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland from The Wizard of Oz (1939)
“Some Day My Prince Will Come” by Adriana Caselotti from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
“Swing, Mr. Mendelssohn” by Judy Garland from Everybody Sing (1938)
“Swingin’ the Jinx Away” by Frances Langford & Buddy Ebsen from Born to Dance (1936)
“Temptation” by Bing Crosby from Going Hollywood (1933)
“The Way You Look Tonight” performed by Fred Astaire from Swing Time (1936)
“We’re In The Money (The Gold Diggers Song)” by Ginger Rogers from Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
“You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” by Dick Powell from Hard To Get (1938)
“Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” by Judy Garland from Listen, Darlin’ (1938)