Saturday, July 30, 2011

HULLABALOO

Hullabaloo
MGM, 1940, B/W, 77 minutes, ***
Released October, 1940

Great fun with zany vaudevillian Frank Morgan trying to break into radio. Billie Burke, Connie Gilchrist and Sara Haden play his three wives who throw a monkey wrench into Frank's plans when they show up demanding back alimony payments. Newcomer Leni Lynn is fun as Frank's daughter, and Dan Dailey and the beautiful Virginia Grey make the perfect young lovers. Leni Lynn's "We've Come a Long Way Together" is a definite high-point in the film.

Producer: Louis K. Sidney
Director: Edwin L. Marin
Screenplay: Nat Perrin (based on an idea by Bradford Ropes and Val Burton)
Song Score: various
Art Director: Eddie Imazu
Set Decorator: Edwin B. Willis
Wardrobe: Dolly Tree
Director of Photography: Charles Lawton
Film Editing: Conrad A. Nervig

Cast: Frank Morgan [Frank Merriweather], Virginia Grey [Laura Merriweather], Dan Dailey [Bob Strong], Billie Burke [Penny Merriweather], Nydia Westman [Lulu Perkins], Ann Morriss [Wilma Norton], Donald Meek [Clyde Perkins], Reginald Owen ["Buzz" Foster], Charles Holland [Bellhop], Leni Lynn [Judy Merriweather], Virginia O'Brien [Virginia Ferris], Curt Bois [Armand Francois], Sara Haden [Sue Merriweather], Larry Nunn [Terry Merriweather], Barnett Parker [Stephens], George Lessey [Arthur Jay Norton], Cy Kendall [Wilson], Connie Gilchrist [Arline Merriweather]

Musical Program: [0:02] Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (Charles Holland, then Virginia O'Brien); [0:26] You Were Meant for Me (Frank Morgan); [0:38] Vaudeville medley (Frank Morgan, Virginia Grey, Leni Lynn, Larry Nunn); [0:41] We've Come a Long Way Together (Leni Lynn); [1:04] Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Leni Lynn, then Virginia O'Brien); [1:11] Vesti la giubba (from the opera PAGLIACCI, sung by Charles Holland); [1:16] We've Come a Long Way Together (Finale: Frank Morgan, joined by Ensemble)

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