The Goldwyn Follies (1938)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Ben Hecht (story)
Sid Kuller (special sequences: Ritz Brothers) ...

Release Date:

4 February 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance

Tagline:

And now the aristocrat of the fun shows

Plot:

Movie producer chooses a simple girl to be "Miss Humanity" and to critically evalute his movies from the point of view of the ordinary person...

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Unrequited Love | Romeo And Juliet | Tiger | Radio Broadcasting

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Adolphe Menjou	...	Oliver Merlin (as Adolph Menjou)
The Ritz Brothers	...	Themselves
Vera Zorina	...	Olga Samara
Kenny Baker	...	Danny Beecher
Andrea Leeds	...	Hazel Dawes
Edgar Bergen	...	Himself
Charlie McCarthy	...	Himself
Helen Jepson	...	Leona Jerome
Phil Baker	...	Michael Day
Bobby Clark	...	A. Basil Crane Jr.
Ella Logan	...	Glory Wood
Jerome Cowan	...	Director Lawrence
Charles Kullmann	...	Alfredo in 'La Traviata'
The American Ballet of the Metropolitan Opera	...	Ballet Dancers
Nydia Westman	...	Ada

Runtime:

USA:115 min (TCM print) | 122 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording) | Mono

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #3926) | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

The American Ballet of the Metropolitan Opera is listed in the cast in the opening credits, but not in the end credits. Because of this, the IMDb cast listing uses the opening credits first, and fills in the rest of the cast from the end credits.

Quotes:

Charlie McCarthy: What did your mother say to the stork?
Michael Day: That's an insult, take it back!
Charlie McCarthy: Exactly!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fantasia (1940)

Soundtrack:

Here Pussy Pussy

So bad it's good

Some reviewers hated this movie and, admittedly, it is relatively plot-free, but it's such a time capsule of movies, acts, and music of the period that I love it. If you ignore the script and realize you're listening to some FABULOUS Gershwin songs and that you're seeing The Ritz Brothers, Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy and others, it can be pretty great. Unlike the some others, I love the Ritz Brothers' specialty about the cats. Some people just don't appreciate silly. Later on, they get bogged down in the plotlessness, but WOW!! . . the kitty cat number is hilarious!!!!!!!! "Where is the gosh, darn cat?????" Some people just don't appreciate silly. Lighten up, people!!

Face it, the movie studios of the day used to trot out all their stars for these Cast of Several movies. Take it for what it is. It was never meant to be "Gone With the Wind". It's more along the lines of "Hollywood Party" (1934) . . Enjoy!!