The silent era was still barely twenty years ago when this third version of the early 20's Broadway hit (which had then of course been a contemporary subject) was made; and to make the era quainter the action has been moved back to 1915 (Harry Leon Wilson's original novel had been published in 1922), although it makes little difference, and one doesn't really get much authentic flavour of silent days.
Five years later came Hollywood's definitive pastiche of Hollywood during the twenties - 'Singin' in the Rain' - and the cast of 'Merton of the Movies' even includes (playing Leo Ames' manager) Douglas Fowley, who played the hapless silent director coming to terms with the microphone in the later film. Blonde movie star Beulah Baxter proves a much more likeable person than the ghastly Lina Lamont immortalised by Jean Hagen in 'Singin' in the Rain'; and scarily staring-eyed Virginia O'Brien might have made a more convincing silent-screen vamp than baby-faced Gloria Grahame during her brief mid-forties incarnation here as a blonde. What Miss O'Brien sees in that gurning galoot Red Skelton is anybody's guess, but she makes an interesting heroine, and the film is pleasant enough if superficial.
Five years later came Hollywood's definitive pastiche of Hollywood during the twenties - 'Singin' in the Rain' - and the cast of 'Merton of the Movies' even includes (playing Leo Ames' manager) Douglas Fowley, who played the hapless silent director coming to terms with the microphone in the later film. Blonde movie star Beulah Baxter proves a much more likeable person than the ghastly Lina Lamont immortalised by Jean Hagen in 'Singin' in the Rain'; and scarily staring-eyed Virginia O'Brien might have made a more convincing silent-screen vamp than baby-faced Gloria Grahame during her brief mid-forties incarnation here as a blonde. What Miss O'Brien sees in that gurning galoot Red Skelton is anybody's guess, but she makes an interesting heroine, and the film is pleasant enough if superficial.