PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic Who is this guitarist?

In the movie White Christmas, during a couple of scenes and most specifically the cast party scene there is a guitarist there. Watching him closely shows he does know how to play guitar, even though he is very likely miming to background tracks as they did in those days and still do today. Anybody know who he is? Maybe just a staff musician for the studio at the time but I thought someone would know. I have searched the internet but so far have found no clues. Picture here.

Maybe just a walkon for the photo, but otherwise you should be able to find him here. I see the bass player identified by no Guitarist?


https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047673/fullcredits

White Christmas (1954) Poster
White Christmas (1954)
Full Cast & Crew

See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro

Directed by
Michael Curtiz Writing Credits
Norman Krasna ... (written for the screen by) &
Norman Panama ... (written for the screen by) &
Melvin Frank ... (written for the screen by)Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
Bing Crosby Bing Crosby ... Bob Wallace
Danny Kaye Danny Kaye ... Phil Davis
Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney ... Betty Haynes
Vera-Ellen Vera-Ellen ... Judy Haynes (as Vera Ellen)
Dean Jagger Dean Jagger ... Major General Thomas F. Waverly
Mary Wickes Mary Wickes ... Emma Allen
John Brascia John Brascia ... John
Anne Whitfield Anne Whitfield ... Susan Waverly
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bea Allen Bea Allen ... Dancer (uncredited)
Leon Alton Leon Alton ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Al Bain Al Bain ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Frank Baker Frank Baker ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Benjie Bancroft Benjie Bancroft ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Joan Bayley Joan Bayley ... Dancer (uncredited)
Brandon Beach Brandon Beach ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Mae Bruce Mae Bruce ... Lady in Depot (uncredited)
Tony Butala Tony Butala ... Child Dancer (uncredited)
Boyd Cabeen Boyd Cabeen ... Soldier (uncredited)
Glen Cargyle Glen Cargyle ... Jeep Driver (uncredited)
Albert Cavens Albert Cavens ... Soldier (uncredited)
Evelyn Ceder Evelyn Ceder ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
George Chakiris George Chakiris ... Dancer at the Carousel Club (uncredited)
Barrie Chase Barrie Chase ... Doris Lenz (uncredited)
Les Clark Les Clark ... Dancer (uncredited)
Bud Cokes Bud Cokes ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Lorinne Crawford Lorinne Crawford ... Rita (uncredited)
Paul Cristo Paul Cristo ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Robert Crosson Robert Crosson ... Albert (uncredited)
Marcel De la Brosse Marcel De la Brosse ... Carousel Club's Maitre d' (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing Sayre Dearing ... Ex-Staff Officer (uncredited)
Mike Donovan Mike Donovan ... 2nd Conductor (uncredited)
Ken DuMain Ken DuMain ... Soldier (uncredited)
Luigi Faccuito Luigi Faccuito ... Dancer (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum Franklyn Farnum ... Club Patron (uncredited)
Ernie Flatt Ernie Flatt ... Dancer (uncredited)
Bess Flowers Bess Flowers ... Club Patron (uncredited)
George Ford George Ford ... Club Patron (uncredited)
Rudy Germane Rudy Germane ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Kenneth Gibson Kenneth Gibson ... Club Patron (uncredited)
James Gonzalez James Gonzalez ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Gavin Gordon Gavin Gordon ... General Harold G. Carlton (uncredited)
Johnny Grant Johnny Grant ... Ed Harrison (uncredited)
Marion Gray Marion Gray ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Percy Helton Percy Helton ... Train Conductor (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks Chuck Hicks ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Michael Jeffers Michael Jeffers ... Stagehand (uncredited)
I. Stanford Jolley I. Stanford Jolley ... Station Master (uncredited)
Richard Keene Richard Keene ... Carousel Club's Stage Manager (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp Kenner G. Kemp ... Ex-Soldier (uncredited)
Perk Lazelle Perk Lazelle ... Club Patron (uncredited)
King Lockwood King Lockwood ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Leota Lorraine Leota Lorraine ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Herb Lurie Herb Lurie ... Dancer (uncredited)
Vivian Mason Vivian Mason ... Rehearsal Blonde (uncredited)
Peggy McKim Peggy McKim ... Child Dancer (uncredited)
William Meader William Meader ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Hans Moebus Hans Moebus ... Club Patron (uncredited)
Leighton Noble Leighton Noble ... Bandleader (uncredited)
Barry Norton Barry Norton ... Carousel Club Diner (uncredited)
Roy Palmer Roy Palmer ... Dancer (uncredited)
James Parnell James Parnell ... Sheriff (uncredited)
Joe Ploski Joe Ploski ... Ex-Soldier (uncredited)
Murray Pollack Murray Pollack ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Edward Rickard Edward Rickard ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Sig Ruman Sig Ruman ... Landlord (uncredited)
Edna Ryan Edna Ryan ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Cosmo Sardo Cosmo Sardo ... Waiter (uncredited)
Bernard Sell Bernard Sell ... Club Patron (uncredited)
Richard Shannon Richard Shannon ... Joe, Adjutant Captain (uncredited)
Dick Stabile Dick Stabile ... Band Leader at the Carousel Club (uncredited)
Norman Stevans Norman Stevans ... Club Patron (uncredited)
Grady Sutton Grady Sutton ... Mr. Herring (uncredited)
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer ... Bennie Haynes (uncredited)
Hal Taggart Hal Taggart ... Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Willard Van Simmons Willard Van Simmons ... Dancer (uncredited)
Herb Vigran Herb Vigran ... Novello, Nightclub Manager (uncredited)
Produced by
Robert Emmett Dolan ... producerMusic by
Gus Levene ... (uncredited)
Joseph J. Lilley ... (uncredited)
Van Cleave ... (uncredited)Cinematography by
Loyal Griggs ... director of photographyFilm Editing by
Frank Bracht Art Direction by
Roland Anderson
Hal Pereira Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Grace Gregory Costume Design by
Edith Head Makeup Department
Wally Westmore ... makeup supervisorProduction Management
Andrew J. Durkus ... assistant production manager (uncredited)
Curtis Mick ... unit manager (uncredited)Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John R. Coonan ... assistant director (as John Coonan)
Richard Caffey ... second assistant director (uncredited)
Bernard McEveety ... second assistant director (uncredited)Art Department
Dorothea Holt ... illustrator (uncredited)
Gene Lauritzen ... construction coordinator (uncredited)Sound Department
John Cope ... sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach ... sound recordist
Lyle Figland ... stage engineer (uncredited)
Harold Knettles ... sound editor (uncredited)Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart ... process photography
John P. Fulton ... special photographic effectsCamera and Electrical Department
Cliff Shirpser ... assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited)Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)Music Department
Robert Alton ... stager: dances and musical numbers
Joseph J. Lilley ... music director / vocal arranger
Troy Sanders ... music associate
Van Cleave ... orchestral arranger
Michael Behan ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Bernard Mayers ... composer: additional music (uncredited)
Gloria Wood ... background singer: Vera-Ellen (uncredited)Additional Crew
Richard Mueller ... technicolor color consultant
Nick Castle ... choreographer (uncredited)Crew verified as complete

normally, if you watch the credit roll at the end....and have your finger on the pause button, they tell you.

I see Music Student gave a list but alas.... no guitarist at the party is listed.... hmmmmmmmm.

Yeah, I have seen all the cast lists etc. from all over the internet. These old movies credits were not as extensive as they are today. Now you get 5 or 6 minutes of credits rolling and every single person that did anything gets listed. Back then they only listed the major players in the project.

I appreciate the try!

"Maybe just a walkon for the photo, but otherwise you should be able to find him here. I see the bass player identified by no Guitarist?"

He was in a couple of scenes and they were playing background music for the scene so he was miming the part, but watching his hands he is really playing chords, real chords. So I made an assumption that he was a real guitar player, not an actor etc. Anyway, just wondering. Thanks for looking.

Have you searched the bass player's name? Many times they list who he played with so maybe this guitarist is listed.

From IMDB

Music Department
Robert Alton ... stager: dances and musical numbers
Joseph J. Lilley... music director / vocal arranger
Troy Sanders ... music associate
Van Cleave ... orchestral arranger
Michael Behan ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Bernard Mayers ... composer: additional music (uncredited)
Gloria Wood ... background singer: Vera-Ellen (uncredited)

Don't know how that could help you any, because you have probably seen it as you researched it, but there it is for all to see.

Gus Levene, born Gershun Levene (July 11, 1911 – February 9, 1979), was an American arranger, composer, orchestrator and guitarist.
According to https://mubi.com/en/films/white-christmas/cast he is listed as music. He was uncredited in the movie. IMDB has him listed as one of the composers (uncredited).