Monday, December 11, 2017

Love and Hisses (1937), 6-

As part of their public feud, Bandleader Bernie pretends a girl singer is no good so columnist Winchell promotes her in his column.
(82 min) Released 1937-12-21
Director: Sidney Lanfield
Stars: Walter Winchell, Ben Bernie, Simone Simon
Nick Castle ... choreographer
Geneva Sawyer ... choreographer

Genres: Comedy | Musical
Watched online, decent quality; part 1 was 41:52, part 2 was 42:58

This is a followup to Wake Up and Live ('37), which is mentioned early in this film ("you know them from WUAL", them being Winchell and Bernie, playing themselves.)

I was beginning to think the only justification for Musical was going to be Simone Simon's singing. Then in part 2, at 9:45, the radio broadcast begins (interrupted by story scenes):
  • Twins Barbara and Gloria Brewster sing Be A Good Sport 
  • Simone Simon sings Sweet Someone 
More of the broadcast continues from Ben Bernie's club with Broadway's Gone Hawaii at 27:40 (lasts until 34:00):
  • Ruth Terry sings
  • 24 chorus girls in tinsel grass skirts and top hats dance 
  • the Peters Sisters sing and dance (their feet make some tap movements, but no taps on these shoes)
  • specialty dance by Carol Chilton and Maceo Thomas (very athletic and artistic; their only other feature credit is Strike Me Pink ('36); they put this film on the Tap! Appendix. deservedly so.)
  • RT returns with chorus girls
I dislike the kidnapping plot; even fake kidnapping between friends is illegal and wrong. The Hawaii number saves this from being a 5.

Fox, dir. Lanfield; 6-
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