Story of a saxophonist and his rise to fame as a singing star.Story of a saxophonist and his rise to fame as a singing star.Story of a saxophonist and his rise to fame as a singing star.
J. Carrol Naish
- Nick Meyer
- (as J. Carroll Naish)
Luis Alberni
- Tamborini
- (uncredited)
William Bailey
- Man on Dance Floor
- (uncredited)
Herman Bing
- Vaudevillian with Dachshunds
- (uncredited)
Jack Byron
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
- Nightclub Dance Patron
- (uncredited)
Virginia Dabney
- Girl in Nightclub
- (uncredited)
Louise De Friese
- Nightclub Girl
- (uncredited)
James Donlan
- Non-Fan with Radio
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDonald Novis provided David Manners's singing voice. Rudy Vallee was originally considered, but his contract at the time prevented his participation in this film. Having Manners "sing" through a megaphone was a clever way to cover the dubbing.
- SoundtracksSweethearts Forever
(uncredited)
Music by Cliff Friend
Lyrics by Irving Caesar
Performed by David Manners and band
Played and sung often throughout the picture
Copyright 1932 by M. Witmark & Sons
Featured review
Rather routine precode most notable for its trivia and gimmicks
There is nothing really remarkable about the story in this one. David Manners plays Ted Taylor, saxophonist in a band that has been having a hard time finding quality gigs. Anne Dvorak plays Ted's girl, Judy Mason. When Ted's band finally gets a spot in a club of some quality, their singer falls ill. The only band member that remotely has a voice is Ted, but unfortunately he doesn't have much volume. When he gets up to sing, nobody can hear him.As a joke, a passing drunk (Guy Kibbee) gives him a megaphone and he becomes a sensation, particularly with the ladies.
Time passes, and Ted becomes a big star with his ego growing to match. The best parts of the film are the small anecdotes and scenes that accompany the main story, which is actually quite mundane. For example, after Ted's fame increases, he's singing at a club where he runs into the original drunk that gave him the megaphone. Kibbee yells up to Ted that he's the guy who gave him the megaphone that first night where he is promptly rebuffed by a now self-important Ted. Kibbee responds by saying "I'm sorry fella, I would have never have done it if I'd have known that you'd turn out like this". Kibbee seldom had starring vehicles of his own, but his antics sure could spice up a movie.
There's also a humorous scene where Ted stands up to sing and the effect on the nightclub's wash rooms is shown. In the ladies' room the place empties as the girls rush out to see Ted sing, while the mens' room becomes full of the ladies' neglected and ignored dates. At a nearby table a willowish wisp of a man says that he thinks Ted is divine, while his husky female companion barks back that she thinks he's lousy.
There is also the legend that the part of Ted was slated to be Dick Powell's first film role, and it's interesting to think how he might have done the role differently, though I think David Manners does a wonderful job with what was obviously meant to be one of Warners' B film efforts.
Time passes, and Ted becomes a big star with his ego growing to match. The best parts of the film are the small anecdotes and scenes that accompany the main story, which is actually quite mundane. For example, after Ted's fame increases, he's singing at a club where he runs into the original drunk that gave him the megaphone. Kibbee yells up to Ted that he's the guy who gave him the megaphone that first night where he is promptly rebuffed by a now self-important Ted. Kibbee responds by saying "I'm sorry fella, I would have never have done it if I'd have known that you'd turn out like this". Kibbee seldom had starring vehicles of his own, but his antics sure could spice up a movie.
There's also a humorous scene where Ted stands up to sing and the effect on the nightclub's wash rooms is shown. In the ladies' room the place empties as the girls rush out to see Ted sing, while the mens' room becomes full of the ladies' neglected and ignored dates. At a nearby table a willowish wisp of a man says that he thinks Ted is divine, while his husky female companion barks back that she thinks he's lousy.
There is also the legend that the part of Ted was slated to be Dick Powell's first film role, and it's interesting to think how he might have done the role differently, though I think David Manners does a wonderful job with what was obviously meant to be one of Warners' B film efforts.
helpful•30
- AlsExGal
- Feb 27, 2010
Details
- Runtime1 hour 8 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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