Singing in the rain from the hollywood revue of 1929 duration. Nearly the entire mgm stable of featured players, with the addition of vaudeville and comedy performers, participated in the. The highest rated film i have seen is the broadway melody. The highest rated film i have not seen is gold diggers of broadway. The hollywood revue of 1929 was the first movie of its kind, similar to the stage extravaganzas of florenz ziegfeld and george white. My father henry bergeron was an uncredited dancer in this film. Unlike most mgm musicals, this film really has no overarching plot. Applause helen morgan stars as a burlesque star plagued by tragedy.
Overview of the hollywood revue of 1929, 1929, directed by charles reisner, with conrad nagel, jack benny, john gilbert, at turner classic movies. To me its real entertainment, but out here they kick if they dont get a story. As an example of what the talking film has done to the legitimate theatre, this hollywood revue is pretty nearly the last word. Jan 19, 2014 the hollywood revue of 1929 as today is the birthday of albertina rasch see full post here and i just saw her in this movie, and ive been bursting to spread the news about this terrific movie anyway, well here we are. Alternately fascinating and flat, and not much singing, but amazing manhattan location shots and a surprisingly dark plot make this is a must see for dedicated film buffs. My excuse is that the hollywood revue of 1929 is not a film, its a television special in the days before television. In this musical revue, mgm introduced its silentfilm stars. Nominated for a best picture oscar, the movie lost to the broadway melody 1929, another mgm production to which it is very similar, except that hollywood revue has no. Oscar vault monday the hollywood revue of 1929, 1929 dir. The hollywood revue of 1929, or simply the hollywood revue, is an american precode. The hollywood revue of 1929 1929 the movie database. Much of the hollywood revue of 1929 was filmed in the graveyard shift so that the stars daytime shooting schedules would not be disrupted.
The song was originally written by arthur freed lyrics and music by nacio herb brown, and published in 1929. Id only recommend it to fellow earlysound era enthusiasts for the novelty and as a good sample of film history. Cogerson was born and raised in virginia, and is the movie fanatic. The hollywood revue of 1929 nr, 2 hr 10 min classics. Mgm had resisted talkies as long as it could, continuing. Kind of fun seeing all of these old film stars in one movie.
The hollywood revue of 1929 part color survives in a full copy with all 3 technicolor sequences broadway 1929 part color survives in a silent version because at 1929 not all theatres had sound equipment at this time, but the soundtrack still survives on phonographic records for each reel of the film on with the show 1929 full color. Jun 17, 20 producer harry rapf apparently tired to make similar film after this one was so successful it was the th highest grossing film of 1929, but had to abandon the project. The kind of skits that comprise this film continued to be made throughout the studio era, though they were released as shorts and i think they probably work a lot better than. The hollywood revue of 1929, directed by charles reisner, might be the oddest film ever to get an academy award nomination for best picture. He passed away at 93 and also bragged about the stars he worked with in his hollywood heyday. Conrad nagel, interviewed for the book the real tinsel, recalled, everybody thought harry rapf was crazy for making it. The film includes performances by once and future stars, including joan crawford singing and dancing on stage. Metrogoldwynmayers mgm the hollywood revue of 1929 was the first musical extravaganza without any attempt at a plot, according to the 15 jun 1929 hollywood filmograph. This film will not get a good reception from most modern audiences, and certainly much of the film shows its seventy plus years, but this is a delight for some of. Wonderful production but a complete boxoffice bust. The hollywood revue of 1929 1929 directed by charles reisner. The following is an overview of 1929 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.
The film was popular with audiences and received an academy award nomination for best picture. A plethora of chorus boys and girls are featured front and center in some of the song and dance numbers, and provide backup to some other acts. There are suggestions that song was written and performed as early as 1927. Rather than take full advantage of the new medium as king of jazz did, hollywood revue was little more than a case of pointing a largely immobile camera in the general direction of some out of theirelement performers and actors who should have known better. A torrent of talent takes the screen in the first allstar talkie era showcase of heretofore silentscreen players. Musicals dance films are cinematic forms that emphasize and showcase fullscale song and dance routines in a significant way usually with a musical or dance performance as part of the film narrative, or as an unrealistic eruption within the film. The circulating print of the hollywood revue of 1929 runs as follows. Before i saw the hollywood revue of 1929, i think the words id heard most often used to describe it were historical curiosity. A clunky production but, hey, it was 1929 and studios wanted to showcase their best stars in all talking pictures. Il film pare che sia uscito in italia negli anni 30, doppiato da paolo. Singing in the rain from the hollywood revue of 1929 youtube. Mgm had resisted talkies as long as it could, continuing to.
Billed as an allstar musical extravaganza, the film includes performances by once and future stars, including joan. Tcm has hollywood revue of 1929 on its august schedule, marked for the 4th of august, in the am. Conrad nagel and jack benny are cohosts of a showcase of singing and dancing mgm stars. Like the title suggests, its just a revue a series of skits, songs and dance numbers by basically everyone on the mgm lot. Hollywood revue of 1929 dvd, 2009 for sale online ebay. I urge flo and earl and george and lee and jake to take a look at it as soon as possible. Even so, it coasts by on its curiosity value, as several major mgm luminaries display their alltalking, allsinging, alldancing talents or lack of same.
The hollywood revue of 1929, or simply the hollywood revue, is an american precode musical comedy film released by metrogoldwynmayer. Buster keaton, joan crawford, and lionel barrymore. Credit for the innovative idea was given to producer harry rapf. The hollywood revue of 1929 1929 directed by charles. Apr 20, 2008 the only major mgm stars missing from the revue are. Henry reeve, mission theatre, menard, texas, exhibitors herald world, january 18, 1930. Stanlio e ollio maghi da hollywood revue of 1929 youtube. The film is sometimes cited as being the direct cause of john gilberts downfall, due to his pleasant tenor voice. An early sound musical, this plotless revue, emceed by conrad nagel and jack benny, is a big mishmash with shearer and barrymore acting.
Or they are films that are centered on combinations of music, dance, song or choreography. Mgms entry in this allstar genre was hollywood revue of 1929, which, though a boxoffice smash and a best picture oscar nominee, is an absolutely deadly experience when seen today. Unlike mgms imposing feature films, which always boasted strong story values, the hollywood revue of 1929 was a plotless parade of variety acts. An early sound musical, this plotless revue, emceed by conrad nagel and jack benny, is a. Jan 17, 2010 mgms hollywood revue of 1929 features many of that studios fabled roster of contract players john gilbert, norma shearer, buster keaton, joan crawford, william haines gamely singing. The hollywood revue of 1929 full frame, manufactured on. Rather than take full advantage of the new medium as king of jazz did, hollywood revue was little more than a case of pointing a largely immobile camera in the general direction of some outoftheirelement performers and actors who should have known better. Too often, however, the results were along the lines of the hollywood revue of 1929. I have seen 24 movies from 1929 including blackmail which was not included in this chart, but that steve reminded me with his post was hitchcocks first sound film from 1929. The hollywood revue of 1929 1929 the doll shop 1929 manhattan serenade 1929 short its a great life 1929 chasing rainbows 1930 pirates 1930 short the flower garden 1930 lord byron of broadway 1930 free and easy 1930 our blushing brides 1930 good news 1930 love in the rough 1930 the march of time 1930. The hollywood revue of 1929 1929 sfdb svensk filmdatabas. Id also heard those words used to describe movies like the broadway melody, but they didnt deter me from watching it and actually kind of liking it. Oscar vault monday the hollywood revue of 1929, 1929. The film is considered by many as one of the best movies ever made.
A chorus line from hollywood revue of 1929, directed by charles f reisner and starring amongst others jack benny, buster keaton, joan crawford and norma shearer. Watch hollywood revue movie trailers, exclusive videos, interviews from the cast, movie clips and more at. The only major mgm stars missing from the revue are. Early color talkies classic movies, great and historic. The hollywood revue of 1929 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. The hollywood revue of 1929, a showcase of talent under contract to mgm. Cliff edwards would perform the song in the 1929 film musical the hollywood revue of 1929. Mgms hollywood revue of 1929 features many of that studios fabled roster of contract players john gilbert, norma shearer, buster keaton, joan crawford, william haines gamely singing. Buy the hollywood revue of 1929 dvd full frame, manufactured on demand, mono sound at. The broadway melody, also known as the broadway melody of 1929, is a 1929 american precode musical film and the first sound film to win an academy award for best picture. Reportedly features every major mgm star of the day with the exception of greta garbo, ramon novarro and lon chaney. I dont know if they came upon this by listening to us or on their own, but im glad none the less.
Singing in the rain from the hollywood revue of 1929. Conrad nagel, representing the hollywood movie community, and jack benny, representing the broadway stage community, act as the interlocutors of a musical comedy revue. All this film is is a collection of sketches performed on a stage by thenfamous hollywood stars. The hollywood revue of 1929 1929 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. It was one of the first musicals to feature a technicolor sequence, which sparked the trend of color being used in a flurry of musicals that would hit the screens in 19291930. Woc wife of cogerson was born and raised in alabama, is the computer expert. Feb 01, 2011 before i saw the hollywood revue of 1929, i think the words id heard most often used to describe it were historical curiosity. Here is a link to hollywood revue of 1929 in which he took a part in and also the main website showcasing his career. The title tune of singin in the rain 1952, sung and danced so joyously by gene kelly in that classic musical, actually became an mgm signature song courtesy of the early talkie the hollywood revue of 1929 1929. It was mgms second featurelength musical and one of the studios earliest sound films.
Best picture i dont normally look at films i havent seen in full. The hollywood revue of 1929 dvdr warner archive collection. I have seen clips of this movie many times before, but always believed they were only surviving fragments of a lost film. The hollywood revue of 1929 as today is the birthday of albertina rasch see full post here and i just saw her in this movie, and ive been bursting to spread the news about this terrific movie anyway, well here we are. Film musicals were either portmanteau revues like king of jazz, hollywood revue of 1929, or paramount on parade. The hollywood revue of 1929, a showcase of talent under contract to mgm hot for paris, from fox film corporation the hound of the baskervilles, directed by richard oswald, starring carlyle blackwell and alexander murski germany. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards. Or, failing that, everybody step in place during the famed singin in the rain finale. The arthur freedherb nacio brown song was introduced by cliff edwards in the latter movie and became its leitmotif. Seeking copy of hollywood revuew of 1929 page 3 general. A chorus line from hollywood revue of 1929, directed by.
A scene from the film hollywood revue of 1929 with jack benny and william haines. Mark hellinger in the new york daily news 1929 if this film doesnt catch on like wildfire, i am calvin coolidges old electric horse. The film is sometimes cited as being the direct cause of john gilberts downfall, due to his pleasant tenor voice not quite matching his heroic, dashing screen image. It was the studios second featurelength musical, and one of their earliest sound films.