Panama Hattie (1942)

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod
(more)

Writers:

Herbert Fields (play) and
Buddy G. DeSylva (play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

September 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

Swing as Ann Sings - Laugh as Red Clowns - Thrill to the Navy Stirring Battle-cry

Plot Keywords:

Old Dark House | Navy | Alligator | American Abroad | Bumbler

Cast

Red Skelton	...	Red
Ann Sothern	...	Hattie Maloney
Rags Ragland	...	Rags (as 'Rags' Ragland)
Ben Blue	...	Rowdy
Marsha Hunt	...	Leila Tree
Virginia O'Brien	...	Flo Foster
Alan Mowbray	...	Jay Jerkins, Dick's Butler
Dan Dailey	...	Dick Bulliard (as Dan Dailey Jr.)
Jackie Horner	...	Geraldine 'Gerry' Bulliet
Lena Horne	...	Herself - Singer in Phil's Place
The Berry Brothers	...	Themselves, Performers
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carmen Amaya	...	Dancer in "Good Neighbors" Number (uncredited)
James Berry	...	Himself - a Berry Brother (uncredited)
Nyas Berry	...	Himself - a Berry Brother (uncredited)
Warren Berry	...	Himself - a Berry Brother (uncredited)
Zedra Conde	...	Performer in "Good Neighbors" and "The Sping" Numbers (uncredited)
Carl Esmond	...	Lucas Kefler (uncredited)
Fred Graham	...	Shore Patrolman (uncredited)
The Music Maids	...	Performers in "Hattie in Panama" Number (uncredited)
Six Hits and a Miss	...	Performers in "Hattie in Panama" Number (uncredited)
Roger Moore	...	Spy (uncredited)
Carmen Morales	...	Performer in "Good Neighbors" and "The Sping" Numbers (uncredited)
Jack Perry	...	Brawler (uncredited)
Wanda Perry	...	Woman at the club (uncredited)
Lucien Prival	...	Hans (uncredited)
Suzanne Ridgeway	...	Performer in "Good Neighbors" and "The Sping" Numbers (uncredited)
Christine Stafford	...	Singer in "Good Neighbors" Number (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Jailer (uncredited)
Leo Watson	...	Drummer (uncredited)
George Watts	...	Mac the Bartender (uncredited)
Grant Withers	...	Shore Patrolman (uncredited)
Duke York	...	Bruno (uncredited)
Joe Yule	...	Waiter (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Z. McLeod
Roy Del Ruth		(director of retakes) (uncredited)
Vincente Minnelli		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Herbert Fields		(play) and
Buddy G. DeSylva		(play) (as B.G. DeSylva)
Jack McGowan		(screenplay) and
Wilkie C. Mahoney		(screenplay) (as Wilkie Mahoney)
Mary C. McCall Jr.		uncredited
Lillie Messinger		uncredited
Vincente Minnelli		uncredited
Joseph Schrank		uncredited

Produced by
Arthur Freed	....	producer

Original Music by
Cole Porter

Cinematography by
George J. Folsey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Blanche Sewell
Frank E. Hull		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Robert Kalloch		(gowns) (as Kalloch)

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bert Spurlin	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John S. Detlie	....	associate art director
Hugh Hunt	....	associate set decorator

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Camera and Electrical Department
Sidney Wagner	....	photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Léo Arnaud	....	vocal and orchestral arrangements (as Leo Arnaud)
George Bassman	....	vocal and orchestral arrangements
Roger Edens	....	musical adaptation
Burton Lane	....	composer: song "The Son of a Gun Who Picks on Uncle Sam"
Vincente Minnelli	....	stager: musical numbers
Merrill Pye	....	musical presentation
Conrad Salinger	....	vocal and orchestral arrangements
George E. Stoll	....	musical director (as Georgie Stoll)

Other crew
Daniel Dare	....	dance director
Buddy G. DeSylva	....	producer: stage play (as B.G. DeSylva)
Fred F. Finklehoffe	....	sketches (uncredited)
Jeni Le Gon	....	dance stand-in: Lena Horne (uncredited)
Sergio Orta	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Loew's
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Loew's
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #7829) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

The play opened in New York City on 30 October 1940 and closed on 3 January 1942 witha total of 501 performances. Ethel Merman played Hattie, Betty Hutton was Flo, Rags Ragland originated his movie role, Arthur Treacher played the butler, James Dunn was Bulliet, and future film stars, June Allyson, Lucille Bremer and Vera-Ellen were dancers.

Movie Connections:

References The Invisible Man (1933)

Soundtrack:

(Did I Get Stinkin') At the Savoy

Very 40's

Even though Ethyl Merman originated the role on Broadway, she was not considered attractive enough to carry the starring top billing. I am a real fan of Cole Porter and will watch anything he is involved with. Unfortunately, a lot of his work is either not included in movies that tout "music by Cole Porter", or is thrown out because it may not be mainstream for the audience of the day. Good example is "Anything Goes."

This is a movie you watch for the musical performance and dancing, not the story. Dan Daily's role could have been played by anyone.

I pull out the DVD about twice a year and again visit Cole Porter and this innocent musical.

Lena Horne is outstanding.