Three movie genres of the 1930s, boxing films, World War I aviation dramas, and backstage Broadway musicals, are satirized using the same cast.
Director: Stanley Donen
Stars: George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Red Buttons, Eli Wallach, Harry Hamlin, Ann Reinking, Michael Kidd, Barry Bostwick, Art Carney.
Michael Kidd ... Baxter's Beauties of 1933 musical numbers staged by
Jerry Trent ... assistant choreographer (uncredited)
No songs in the Soundtracks, but plenty in film, even in the boxing half.
I'm watching this late. I realized that this was the only Donen music/al that I didn't have, and found it at a decent price.
The "aviation drama" was only a trailer between the 2 half-films.
This has lots of silly jokes/puns/malapropisms, but silly-funny, clever, living up to the expectation of seeing Larry Gelbart was one of the writers. The film is both a send-up of these genres, and a valentine to them: pastiche all the way. Strangest part: Reinking was in the boxing half, but as a cabaret singer/dancer, hence our having at least 1 song in the first half.
The boxing film was in b/w, but the musical, which is set in 1933, was in color. Very few musicals were in color before Wizard of Oz ('39). The first 3-strip Technicolor film was in '36.
Donen had a cameo in each half.
Disc includes lengthy (separate) interviews with HH, BB and Kathleen Beller. They discuss this film and others in their careers.
ITC Films, distr. Warner, dir. Donen; 7
