Los Angeles documentary filmmaker , Susan Morgan Cooper has a new short documentary, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love [ The Jimmy McHugh Story] The film opens at the Music Hall, Beverly Hills on Sept 12 for one week for Academy Award Consideration.
Director/Producer Susan Morgan Cooper has tackled several serious issues in her films.
Susan’s film To the Moon and Back [ How President Putin held hostage 350 Russian orphans, and their American parents with the Russian Adoption Ban ] had a Congressional Screening leading to the passage of the Intercountry Adoption Law, making international countries more accountable with adoption.
Susan’s film Fatal Distraction [ Georgia father sentenced to life without parole for accidental hot car death of his toddler son] has helped pass the HOTCARS Act and helped persuade the Supreme Court to throw out the father’s murder charge.
When Executive Producer, Ellis Goodman [E.P. on Susan’s film Mulberry Child and the film Judy ] wanted to make a documentary on Jimmy McHugh, I Can’t Give You Anything , Love was made as a short and a promo. It is a departure for the director and is a light nostalgic look at the glamorous life of a famous Hollywood songwriter.
McHugh began at the Cotton Club , moving on to Broadway, movie musicals and Vegas. He was one of the first songwriters to hire a female lyricist, Dorothy Fields and he propelled the careers of many black artists including Duke Ellington. He wrote songs for the first all- black musical on Broadway. Blackbirds of 1928 was a huge success .Jimmy McHugh wrote On the Sunny Side of the Street , I’m in the Mood For Love, and has been recorded by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga.
Co-Producer Lee Newman is the great grandson of songwriter Jimmy McHugh and a musician himself. Lee is also the great grandson of movie star Eddie Cantor who has three stars on Hollywood Blvd and who founded the March of Dimes.