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"Shanghai Lil" in Italian! - Mario Latilla, 1933

3,593 views · Published 9 January 2015 · 3:18 · Indexed 12 November 2026

Channel: 240252 · 2015 · Music

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Mario Latilla & Orch. dir. dal M. Mariotti – Shanghai Lil (H.Warren) Foxtrot from the Film “Viva le Donne” (“Footlight Parade”), Odeon 1933 (Italy)

NOTE: This haunting song was first sung by American actor James Cagney in the  breathtaking musical filmshow  “Footlight Parade” with Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell and Dick Powell. The song immediately swept across the world,  becoming a great hit and recorded by various artists. See excellent version by Gene Kardos Orchestra with Dick Robertson’s vocal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olyYvYE6Zlo Here, “Shanghai Lil”  is sung by Italian singer Mario Latilla. He was born in 1896 in Andria, in region of Puglia, Italy. He started his career immediately after leaving the army in the end of WW1. He started perfoming as a tenor encountering many difficulties due to the fashion at the time forbidding artists to go out in public with glasses. In spite of that, in 1925 he decided to go into show business, and he started touring Italy with a company of vaudeville and in 1930 he begun regular cooperation with Teatri di Fantasia. Meanwhile he recorded for Odeon, Homocord and Columbia, becoming famous after his recordings of hits "Violino Tzigano" and "Tango Jalousie".  During the 2nd WW he performed for the Italian army and after the war, he ceased his career giving way to his son Gino Latilla, who later became a very poppular Italian singer. 

See original James Cagney’s version of “Shanghai Lil” in the film “Footlight Parade” (1933) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YXSO94aDnw  I recommend you also a fabulous British parody of that famous scene, featuring English actor and singer Michael Ball and the host of BBC show Lily Savage, where it was presented in 1997.  It’s absolutely fantastic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6W-2z5_5dU

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