
Acting
Benay Venuta
Born 1911-01-27 · San Francisco, California, USA
Acting credits
7.1After young playwright, David Shayne obtains funding for his play from gangster Nick Valenti, Nick's girlfriend Olive miraculously lands the role of a psychiatrist—but not only is she a bimbo who could never pass for a psychiatrist—she's a dreadful actress. David puts up with the leading man who is a compulsive eater, the grand dame who wants her part jazzed up, and Olive's interfering hitman/bodyguard—but, eventually he must decide whether art or life is more important.
Bullets Over Broadway
1994
6.1On New Year's Eve 1946, Sheila Page kills her husband Barney. She wishes that she could relive 1946 and avoid the mistakes that she made throughout the year. Her wish comes true but cheating fate proves more difficult than she anticipated.
Repeat Performance
1947
7.0On the day before Easter in 1911, Don Hewes is crushed when his dancing partner (and object of affection) Nadine Hale refuses to start a new contract with him. To prove Nadine's not important to him, Don acquires innocent new protege Hannah Brown, vowing to make her a star in time for next year's Easter parade.
Easter Parade
1948
6.7Gunslinger Annie Oakley romances fellow sharpshooter Frank Butler as they travel with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
Annie Get Your Gun
1950
NRBroadway legend Helen Morgan 's life as told by her mother, from her early start in second rate speakeasies to star of top rated shows and owning her own club. Also seen is her poor choices, such as her affair with a married man, her short marriage to a much younger man, a court fight over an adopted baby and her fatal descent into booze addiction.
The Helen Morgan Story
1957
6.4While stationed in France during World War II, an American fighter pilot marries a French girl but leaves her behind when he returns to the U.S. The French woman follows him to America only to discover he’s already married to a successful lawyer.
I, Jane Doe
1948
6.0When beautiful blonde movie star Laurel Stevens is kidnapped on the verge of the premiere of her film “The Kidnapped Bride”, everyone thinks it's a publicity stunt. It's not.
The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown
1957
10.0Odd-couple private detective team Bertha Cool and Donald Lam investigate a seemingly-simple infidelity case that leads to murder.
Cool and Lam
1958
NRFreddie Rich and his band perform a selection of musical numbers.
Song Hits on Parade
1936
6.1Fortune hunters from all over the country rushing to the Klondike in 1897 to seek their fortunes in the gold are tested by hardships of the journey.
The Trail of '98
1928
NRWhen Zachary and Elsa separate, each seems tempted to start a new love affair.
Made in Heaven
1956
6.8A G.I. in occupied Japan tries to re-woo his old love, who's putting on a show for the troops.
Call Me Mister
1951
7.0This 1967 TV Movie featured the cast of the recent Lincoln Center and Broadway Revival of the classic musical. Starring Ethel Merman, who recreated her original 1946 role as sharp shooter Annie Oakley, the telecast co-starred Bruce Yarnell, Jerry Orbach and Benay Venuta. Running only 90 minutes and with no studio audience, this TV version was the most popular single musical special of the season for NBC. It raked in a total of 60 million viewers. The special retains a certain notoriety as a "lost" program. Seemingly the only surviving videotapes were erased at some point, with no copies found in the collections of Merman or composer Irving Berlin. A complete audio recording captured by a fan off the television can be sourced for listening online.
Annie Get Your Gun
1967
8.0Marjorie Main is the whole show in the Universal programmer Ricochet Romance. Playing the outspoken new cook at a rundown dude ranch, Marjorie forces everyone around her to pitch in and bring some life back into the place. She also sets her sights on old layabout Chill Wills, scheming to rope the critter into marriage. Veteran comedy director Charles W. Lamont moves the proceedings along with style, never missing an opportunity for a low-comedy slapstick turn. The most surprising aspect of Ricochet Romance is that it is not an entry in Marjorie Main's Ma and Pa Kettle series.
Ricochet Romance
1954