Gloria Jean's Films

Gloria Jean appeared in over two dozen films between 1939 and 1962. She also made several television appearances in the 1950s and early 1960s, which are not listed here. This film list provides the title and release year of each film, a one-line synopsis, a list of supporting players, and a link if the film is available on DVD. Some song excerpts are also provided.

Click here to view an overview of Gloria's film career.

Films that are commercially available on DVD are noted, with links to their Amazon pages.
Films that are not currently available on commercial DVD releases are sometimes available on eBay from collectors. Please check there for titles you are looking for.

Gloria Jean Sings -- Visit this page for more song excerpts!

The films are listed chronologically by release date.

The Under-Pup (1939)

Also features Robert Cummings, Nan Grey, Virginia Weidler, Shirley Mills, Ann Gillis, C. Aubrey Smith, Beulah Bondi, Billy Gilbert, Dickie Moore, Butch and Buddy.

The Under-Pup was based on a short story by I. A. R. Wylie that was published in Good Housekeeping magazine in October 1938. Read the original story here, or listen to the audiobook here (in the black box, scroll down to #17).

Song excerpt: "The Penguin Song"

In this video, Gloria tells the story of how she auditioned for The Under-Pup and introduces the trailer for the film:

If I Had My Way (1940)

When Gloria is orphaned, her father's friends help her find her relatives, and she helps them open a successful nightclub.

Also features Bing Crosby, El Brendel, Charles Winninger, Nana Bryant, Emory Parnell.

Song excerpt: "Little Grey Home in the West"

A Little Bit of Heaven (1940)

Also features Robert Stack, Nan Grey, Stuart Erwin, C. Aubrey Smith, Hugh Herbert, Nana Bryant, Tommy Bond, Billy Gilbert, Eugene Pallette, Butch and Buddy.

Song excerpts: "After Ev'ry Rainstorm"; "What Did We Learn at School?"

(Note: These excerpts are from a 1940 radio broadcast, not from the soundtrack.)

Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941)

Gloria's adventures with her Uncle Bill (W. C.  Fields).

Also features W. C.  Fields, Franklin Pangborn, Leon Errol, Susan Miller, Anne Nagel, Margaret Dumont, Butch and Buddy.

Song excerpt: "Estrellita"

Jingle Belles (1941) (a.k.a. Winter Serenade, Snowtime Serenade)

This short film is sometimes included in Christmas DVD collections of public-domain material as Snowtime Serenade.

Gloria introduces excerpts from the Castle Films abridgment, Snowtime Serenade:

What's Cookin' (1942)

Also features the Andrews Sisters, Woody Herman and His Band, Jane Frazee, Robert Paige, Leo Carrillo, Billie Burke, Charles Butterworth, Grace McDonald, Franklin Pangborn, Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan.

Song excerpt: "Love Laughs at Anything"

Get Hep to Love (1942)

Singing prodigy Gloria runs away from her slave-driving aunt to find an adoptive home and a high-school boyfriend.

Also features Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, Jane Frazee, Robert Paige, Cora Sue Collins, Nana Bryant.

When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1943)

Also features Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, the Four Step Brothers, Phil Spitalny and His "Hour of Charm" All-Girl Orchestra with Evelyn and Her Magic Violin.

Song excerpt (with Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan): "One of Us Has Gotta Go"

It Comes Up Love (1943)

Also features Donald O'Connor, Ian Hunter, Frieda Inescort, Louise Allbritton, the Guadalajara Boys.

Mister Big (1943)

Gloria and the students at a theatrical academy mount a modern musical revue instead of a Greek tragedy.

Also features Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan, Robert Paige, Elyse Knox, Samuel S. Hinds, the Ben Carter Choir, Eddie Miller's Bob Cats.

Gloria recorded this special introduction to Mister Big for its screening at Cinecon in 2010:

Moonlight in Vermont (1943)

Country-girl Gloria struggles to win friends at a performing-arts school.

Also features Ray Malone, George Dolenz, Fay Helm, Betty McCabe.

Follow the Boys (1944)

Gloria appears in a very brief cameo in this wartime rally.

Also features most of Universal Pictures' contract players.

Pardon My Rhythm (1944)

Gloria hatches elaborate plots so her teenage band can win a radio contest.

Also features Mel Torme, Patric Knowles, Evelyn Ankers, Marjorie Weaver, Walter Catlett, Patsy O'Connor, Bob Crosby and His Orchestra.

Ghost Catchers (1944)

Gloria is caught up in a ghostly mystery with nutty comedians Olsen and Johnson.

Also features Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson, Martha O'Driscoll, Kirby Grant, Walter Catlett, Ella Mae Morse, Morton Downey.

Reckless Age (1944)

Gloria, a department-store heiress, runs away to become a salesgirl in one of her grandfather's stores.

Also features Franklin Pangborn, Marshall Thompson, Jane Darwell, Judy Clark, Jack Gilford, Harold Nicholas, the Delta Rhythm Boys; Gloria's nephew Ricky appears as a baby on a train.

Destiny (1944)

In an exceptional dramatic performance, Gloria plays a blind farm girl confronted by an escaped criminal.

Also features Alan Curtis, Frank Craven, Grace McDonald, Vivian Austin, Minna Gombel.

In this video, Gloria introduces the trailer for Destiny:

I'll Remember April (1945)

Gloria helps a radio newsman solve a murder mystery in which her father is implicated.

Also features Kirby Grant, Edward Brophy, Milburn Stone, Jacqueline deWit, Samuel S. Hinds.

Easy to Look At (1945)

Gloria is a young costume designer fresh from Maine who has designs on her boss.

Also features Kirby Grant, J. Edward Bromberg, Eric Blore, George Dolenz, Mildred Law, Leon Belasco.

Song excerpt: "Come Along, My Heart"

River Gang (1945)

Gloria is drawn into a waterfront murder mystery involving a sinister peg-legged man and a priceless violin.

Also features Keefe Brasselle, Sheldon Leonard, John Qualen, Bill Goodwin, Gus Schilling.

Copacabana (1947)

Available on DVD --- click here to purchase from Amazon.

Secretary Gloria carries a torch for her boss, who runs the Copacabana nightclub.

Also features Groucho Marx, Carmen Miranda, Andy Russell, Steve Cochran.

I Surrender Dear (1948)

Gloria becomes a band singer, finds romance with the bandleader, and rejuvenates her father's fading radio career.

Also features David Street, Don McGuire, Robert Emmett Keane, Alice Tyrrell, the Novelites; cameos by Jack Eigen, Dave Garroway, Peter Potter.

Song excerpts: "Sailing Along" ("The Blue Danube"); "I Surrender Dear"

An Old-Fashioned Girl (1948)

Gloria plays the heroine of Louisa May Alcott's classic book.

Also features Jimmy Lydon, John Hubbard, Frances Rafferty, Mary Ellen Donahue (Elinor Donahue), Douglas Wood, Irene Ryan.

Manhattan Angel (1949)

Gloria plots to keep a youth club for street kids from closing.

Also features Ross Ford, Patricia White, Thurston Hall, Russell Hicks, Alice Tyrrell, Toni Harper.

There's a Girl in My Heart (1950)

In 1899 New York City, a local politician plots to evict Gloria and her neighbors and demolish the street she lives on to build a sports arena.

Also features Lee Bowman, Elyse Knox, Peggy Ryan, Lon Chaney (Jr.), Ray McDonald, Ludwig Donath.

Wonder Valley (1952)

In her only color film, Gloria plays a farm girl in this independently produced valentine to Arkansas. (This film is considered lost; no prints are known to exist.)

Also features Walter Kingsford, Thurston Hall, Lance Devro, John Fontaine, Dwight McLin, Mirna Liles, Lisa Abbott; cameo by Arkansas governor Sid McMath.

Air Strike (1955)

Gloria has very little screen time in this mess of military stock footage -- her song is the high point of the film.

Also features Richard Denning, Don Haggerty, Stanley Clements, William Halop (Billy Halop); bit part by Bonnie Schoonover (Gloria's sister).

Song excerpt: "Each Time You Leave Me"

The Ladies' Man (1961)

Don't blink, or you'll miss Gloria's barely visible cameo role in this Jerry Lewis comedy.

Laffing Time (1964) (a.k.a. The Madcaps)

Gloria plays the mother of a zany household in this featherweight family comedy. (This film is currently unavailable for viewing; there are no rental prints or video available.)

Also features Eddie Finn (Edward Finney), El Brendel, Nina Varela, Jane and Janette Carty, Yvonne White, Brad Olson, Hank Ladd, Flo Bert.

Tobo the Happy Clown (1966)

Gloria is seen only briefly in footage lifted from Laffing Time. The rest of the film is compiled from old silent films linked by newly shot footage of Edward Finney as Tobo.