New Faces of 1937
New Faces of 1937 | |
---|---|
RKO Home Video (USA) (video) (laserdisc) | |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $728,000[1] |
Box office | $775,000[1] |
New Faces of 1937 is a 1937 American
Plot
A crooked theatrical producer deliberately sets about creating an unsuccessful show after selling more than 100% of it to investors.
Cast
- Joe Penner as Seymore Seymore, aspiring actor
- Milton Berle as Wallington 'Wally' Wedge
- Parkyakarkus as Parky
- Harriet Hilliardas Patricia 'Pat' Harrington
- William Brady as James 'Jimmy' Thompson
- Jerome Cowan as Robert Hunt
- Thelma Leeds as Elaine Dorset
- Lorraine Krueger as Suzy
- Tommy Mack as Judge Hugo Straight, Conductor
- Bert Gordon as Count Mischa Moody
- Patricia Wilderas Pat, Hunt's Secretary
- Richard Laneas Harry Barnes, Broker
- Dudley Clements as Plunkett, Stage Manager
- William Corson as Assistant Stage Manager
- George Rosener as Peter, Stage Doorman
- Dewey Robinson as Joe Guzzola
- Harry C. Bradley as Count Moody's Secretary
Production
An alternate title for this film, which was in production from late March to mid-May 1937, had been listed as Young People. Singer Rene Stone, who appears in the film, was discovered by Edward Small singing while cleaning dishes in a Manhattan restaurant.[2]
Soundtrack
- "New Faces"
- (1937)
- Music and Lyrics by Charles Henderson
- Played during the opening credits
- Sung and danced by showgirls (including The Brian Sisters) and showboys to open the final show
- Danced by Ann Miller
- Sung by Harriet Hilliard and showgirls
- "The Widow in Lace"
- (1937)
- Music by Harold Spina
- Lyrics by Walter Bullock
- Sung by Thelma Leeds and showgirls at rehearsal
- Played and danced by unidentified children, probably The Loria Brothers
- "Our Penthouse on Third Avenue"
- (1937)
- Music by Sammy Fain
- Lyrics by Lew Brown
- Played on piano by Harriet Hilliard and sung by her and William Brady
- "It Goes to Your Feet"
- (1937)
- Music by Sammy Fain
- Lyrics by Lew Brown
- Played and sung by Eddie Rio and Brothers
- Danced by Lowe, Hite and Stanley act, with Lorraine Krueger
- "If I Didn't Have You"
- (1937)
- Music by Sammy Fain
- Lyrics by Lew Brown
- Sung by Harriet Hilliard and William Brady
- "Love Is Never Out of Season"
- (1937)
- Music by Sammy Fain
- Lyrics by Lew Brown
- Sung by William Brady and danced by Harriet Hilliard and male chorus
- "When the Berry Blossoms Bloom"
- (1937)
- Written by Joe Penner and Hal Raynor
- Sung and danced by Joe Penner in the show
- "Peckin'"
- (1936)
- Music and Lyrics by Ben Pollack and Harry James
- Additional lyrics by Eddie Cherkose (1937)
- Sung and danced by The Three Chocolateers, The Four Playboys and chorus in the big finale in the show
- "Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)"
- (uncredited)
- from "Lohengrin"
- Music by Richard Wagner
- Swing version in the song "Peckin'"
- "The Wedding March"
- (uncredited)
- from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"
- Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
- Swing version in the song "Peckin'"
Reception
The film recorded a loss of $258,000.[1] Reviews were mixed.[3][4]
The film was meant to be the first in a series of musical revues designed to introduce new RKO talent, but this did not eventuate. Film writers Richard B. Jewell and Vernon Harbin wrote that:
Containing not a single memorable musical number or inspired comedy routine, this tedious mish-mash caused the studio embarrassment a-plenty. Theatre owners and audiences displayed such hostility towards the Edward Small production in general, and Penner and Parkyakaras in particular, that RKO cancelled plans to make a New Faces of 1938.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931–1951', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1, 1994 p57
- ^ Read, Kendall. (May 18, 1937). "Around and About in Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
- ^ "THE THEATRE: Top Summer Fare". Wall Street Journal. July 2, 1937. p. 13.
- ^ FRANK S. NUGENT (July 2, 1937). "THE SCREEN: A Suspicious Glance at 'New Faces of 1937,' at the Music Hall-New Films at Rialto and Palace At the Rialto". New York Times. p. 25.
- ^ Richard B. Jewell & Vernon Harbin, The RKO Story, Octopus 1984 p 108
External links
- New Faces of 1937 at IMDb
- New Faces of 1937 at the American Film Institute Catalog
- New Faces of 1937 at The New York Times
- New Faces of 1937 at Answers.com
- New Faces of 1937 at Flixster
- New Faces of 1937 at the TCM Movie Database
- "Wanna Buy a Duck?" New Faces of 1937, by Craig Hodgkins