50 CLASSIC MUSICALS - PAGE A:

MUSICALS - GREAT GABBO, THE(1929)

This is quite creepy! I've never been a fan of
ventriloquists, or, more specifically their
dummies! This is about a dranged man who treats
people like shit. Not a great movie, except
for its time it was probably considered ground
breaking! C

From IMDb.com:

My grandfather always used to chuckle when he
recalled this film, since the soundtrack got out
of sync when he saw it, like the premiere of
'The Duelling Cavalier'.

Immaculately turned out as ever, von Stroheim
in the title role - like Mel Ferrer in 'Lili' - is
only able to display his sweet side through little
Otto; but you know that this time round it's all
going to end in tears.

In addition to the three principals who make up
the rather dour central triangle (if you don't
count Otto), Margie Kane occasionally enlivens
things by shaking a leg in the extravagantly daft
Pre-Code musical numbers (originally in colour)
arranged by Maurice Kusell and designed by Andre-ani
that punctuate the thing, boasting "an ensemble
of 350". - richardchatten

Erich von Stroheim ... Gabbo (as Eric Von Stroheim)
Betty Compson ... Mary
Donald Douglas ... Frank
Marjorie Kane ... Babe (as Margie 'Babe' Kane)
George Grandee ... Otto (uncredited) (voice)
John F. Hamilton ... Neighbour (uncredited)
Harry Ross ... Performer (uncredited)
Marbeth Wright ... Dancer (uncredited)

MUSICALS - GLORIFYING THE AMERICAN GIRL(1929)

Basically a showcase for Flo Ziegfeld! Some
amazing talent from the era: Eddie Cantor,
Rudy Vallee, Irving Berlin, Noah Berry &
Johnny Weissmuller!

The basic story: the old boy loves girl, girl
loves singing, boy gets tired of waiting for
girl, girl realzes her errors too late story!
Etc., etc, etc!

Not the best acting, story or music to tell
the truth, but not a total waste of time. C+

From IMDb.com:

This film may be a bit creaky, but still it is
very satisfying to watch. I DID NOT need the fast
forward button. To see a filmed performance of a
probably pared down Ziegfield Show was an enjoyable
experience overall. The music and the dance scenes
were excellently executed and are a treat. Many
of the principals had very limited film exposure
afterwards, especially Mary Eaton and Dan Healy
The specialties by Cantor and Vallee were also
good, But, it was a pure thrill to see Helen
Morgan singing, "What Wouldn't I Do for That
Man"!! - WCFIELDS

Mary Eaton ... Gloria Hughes
Eddie Cantor ... Eddie Cantor - Appearance in Revue Scenes
Helen Morgan ... Helen Morgan - Appearance in Revue Scenes
Rudy Vallee ... Rudy Vallee - Appearance in Revue Scenes
Dan Healy ... 'Miller'
Kaye Renard ... 'Mooney'
Edward Crandall ... Buddy
Gloria Shea ... Barbara (as Olive Shea)
Sarah Edwards ... Mrs. Hughes
Singing and Dancing Chorus of Seventy-Five Glorified Beauties ... Chorus Members
Noah Beery ... Noah Beery (uncredited)
Irving Berlin ... Irving Berlin (uncredited)
Norman Brokenshire ... Norman Brookshire - Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Billie Burke ... Billie Burke (uncredited)
Desha Delteil ... Dancer in Bubble Dance Sequence (uncredited)
Charles B. Dillingham ... Charles Dillingham (uncredited)
Texas Guinan ... Texas Guinan (uncredited)
Otto Kahn ... Otto Kahn (uncredited)
Nancy Kelly ... Child (uncredited)
Ring Lardner ... Ring Lardner (uncredited)
Bull Montana ... Customer Requesting 'Baby Face' (uncredited)
Tony Sansone ... Harkrider's Finale Revue (uncredited)
Louis Sorin ... Tailor's Assistant (uncredited)
Jimmy Walker ... NYC Mayor Jimmy Walker (uncredited)
Johnny Weissmuller ... Adonis - Segment 'Loveland' (uncredited)
Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. ... Florenz Ziegfeld (uncredited)
Adolph Zukor ... Adolph Zukor (uncredited)

MUSICALS - DIXIANA(1930)

A very wierd mixture of song and comedy! Dixiana
is a young entertainer who falls for a well-to-do
man whose mother is appalled at his choice of bride
to be! Of course there are several others who want
her affections! The music is questionable at best! C

From IMDb.com:

In antebellum New Orleans, two men vie for the
affections of a beautiful young girl during Mardi
Gras.

Very early sound film with silent film star BeBE
Daniels.

Frankly, I really tired of people drinking the kool
aid and having to highlight what they described as
"racist" imagery of the film. This is 1930 not 2014.
Get over it.

Blacula has racist overtones and nobody says a peep.

This is an odd film that somehow mixes the circus
with the plantation. And the plantation owner has
a Jewish accent. In fact a bunch of the actors have
odd accents. Not the typical Hollywood accents of
the time.

The film mixes song and drama and comedy.

So is this a good movie? Uh not really. It drags
and wheeler and woolsy are not my cup of tea.

However what makes the picture interesting are
is the last two reels -- first time use of 2 strip
technicolor. Its worth watching for that alone. - arfdawg-1

Bebe Daniels ... Dixiana Caldwell
Everett Marshall ... Carl Van Horn
Bert Wheeler ... Peewee
Robert Woolsey ... Ginger Dandy
Joseph Cawthorn ... Cornelius Van Horn - Carl's Father
Jobyna Howland ... Mrs. Birdie Van Horn
Dorothy Lee ... Nanny - Pewee's Girl
Ralf Harolde ... Royal Montague
Bill Robinson ... Specialty Dancer / Plantation Butler
Eddy Chandler ... Blondell - Montague's Henchman (uncredited)
Bruce Covington ... Colonel Porter (uncredited)
Jan Duggan ... Society Woman in Theater Box (uncredited)
Dell Henderson ... Society Man in Theater Box (uncredited)
George Herman ... Contortionist (uncredited)
Eugene Jackson ... Cupid - Plantation House Boy (uncredited)
Robert Livingston ... Circus Troupe / Bachelor Party / Plantation Party (uncredited)
Raymond Maurel ... Cayetano - Hippodrome Owner (uncredited)

MUSICALS - REACHING FOR THE MOON(1930)

Quite a stretch to call this a musical!! Only
one song(sung by Bing)! Not a terrible movie
and slighly humorous! Not one that I would
watch time and again! C+

From IMDb.com:

Looking at this film it is impossible to understand
why Douglas Fairbanks never made it as a talkie actor.
He really is splendid as a high-flying businessman who
gives it all up for love. Energy to burn and still
striking to look at (at 48 years old - he even has
a shirtless scene) his star presence is undiminished
by words. But the words are actually pretty good - the
film is based on an Irving Berlin musical, but only
one song remains (and that is sung for no apparent
reason in the middle of the film, by a baby-faced
Bing Crosby.)

Also good is Bebe Daniels as an aviatrix and especially
fine is Edward Everett Horton as Fairbanks' valet. Their
rapport and obvious affection for one another is very
touching and provides for some great comic moments.

And the art deco sets are to die for! - David-240

Douglas Fairbanks ... Larry Day
Bebe Daniels ... Vivien Benton
Edward Everett Horton ... Roger - the Valet
Claud Allister ... Sir Horace Partington Chelmsford
Jack Mulhall ... Jimmy Carrington
Walter Walker ... James Benton
June MacCloy ... Kitty - Aero Girl With Long Earrings
Helen Jerome Eddy ... Larry's Secretary
Bing Crosby ... Bing
James Conaty ... Office Worker (uncredited)
Marcelle Corday ... Vivian's Maid (uncredited)
Emmett Corrigan ... Timothy Grovener - Bank President (uncredited)
Adrienne D'Ambricourt ... Vivian's Maid (uncredited)
Jay Eaton ... Ship's Party Guest Listening to Singer (uncredited)
Bill Elliott ... Ship's Party Guest (uncredited)
Bud Geary ... Flier (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell ... Warden (uncredited)
Toshia Mori ... Coat Girl (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer ... Ship's Party Guest (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien ... Servant Telling Larry London is Calling (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe ... Ship's Party Guest (uncredited)
Kate Price ... Fat Woman (uncredited)
Tot Qualters ... Woman (uncredited)
Ronald R. Rondell ... Ship Baggage Steward (uncredited)
Larry Steers ... Flier (uncredited)
Phil Tead ... Reporter Looking for Aero Girls (uncredited)
Luana Walters ... Undetermined Subordinate Role (uncredited)
Lloyd Whitlock ... Associate (uncredited)
Florence Wix ... Outraged Mother at Ship's Party (uncredited)

MUSICALS - CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK(1933)

There is very little music here! Really shouldn't
be classified as a musical!! This is quite reminiscent
of the Abbott and Costello movies! Not terrible, but
not a musical!! C+

From IMDb.com:

Let's just start by addressing the elephant in the room.
The two main characters are portrayed in BlackFace. Most
likely for no good reason other then the old idea that
poorly educated African Americans are funner than their
white counterparts. I feel these characters language
quirks could easily just be contributed to their orgins
of poor folks from Georgia and not really the color of
their skin.

The main characters were not portrayed as evil or bad,
infact they were some of the most admirable characters
in the whole film. I did not care for the secondary love
triangle plot and preferred the slapstick parts featuring
Amos and Andy. An interesting watch that I don't
regret. - crisco-45001

Freeman F. Gosden ... Amos
Charles J. Correll ... Andy
Sue Carol ... Jean Blair
Irene Rich ... Mrs. Blair
Ralf Harolde ... Ralph Crawford
Charles Morton ... Richard Williams (as Charles S. Morton)
Edward Martindel ... John Blair
Rita La Roy ... Elinor Crawford (as Rita LaRoy)
Russ Powell ... Kingfish
Roscoe Ates ... Brother Arthur (as Rosco Ates)
Duke Ellington Orchestra ... The Cotton Club Orchestra (as The Cotton Club Orchestra)
Barney Bigard ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Wellman Braud ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Harry Carney ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
G. Pat Collins ... Angry Policeman (uncredited)
Pat Conway ... Policeman (uncredited)
Sonny Greer ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Fred Guy ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Johnny Hodges ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Robert Homans ... Mason (uncredited)
Freddie Jenkins ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Joe 'Tricky Sam' Nanton ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe ... Party Guest (uncredited)
Larry Steers ... Party Guest (uncredited)
Juan Tizol ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Arthur Whetsol ... Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)
Cootie Williams ... Member, Cotton Club Orchestra (uncredited)