Just watched this on the Gold Diggers of 1933 DVD. It stars one Lita Grey Chaplin who I just found out on this site was indeed once married to the legendary movie comic. She stars as a greeting card proprietor who comes up with musical cards-something that's in vogue today-to spice up her business. Many of the songs are sung by her including "I've Got to Sing a Torch Song" which is in that movie I mentioned earlier. Also, we see a group called The Sizzlers singing that other song from the movie-"Pettin' in the Park" only instead of "bad boy, bad girl" it's "nice boy, nice girl" in the lyrics. Then there's a band called The Village Barn Hill Billies that must have pleasantly astounded with their sound and some of the instruments like a spoon that one of them plays on his teeth! One more point of interest is the appearance of one Sammy Davis, Jr., here just about pre-teen age at maybe 7 and pretty recognizable even at that young! He doesn't sing but does provide some amusements with his lines. Okay, so on that note, Seasoned Greetings is worth a look if you're curious enough...
9 Reviews
Lita Grey Has The Delivery Of A Block Of Wood
boblipton20 December 2021
Carlton Macy has been going out of business so often he has it chiseled on the building. He's so good at it that he's driving Lita Grey out of her greeting card business. Her solution is to hire entertainers to sing.
In other words, it's an excuse to offer a variety of performers singing and performing a variety of songs, from "Red River Valley" to Warren & Dubin hits. That part is entertaining, but Miss Grey has little emotion in her delivery, although she sings well. So why did they choose her to headline this short? Because she's credited as Lita Grey Chaplin, the erstwhile wife of Charlie Chaplin.
In other words, it's an excuse to offer a variety of performers singing and performing a variety of songs, from "Red River Valley" to Warren & Dubin hits. That part is entertaining, but Miss Grey has little emotion in her delivery, although she sings well. So why did they choose her to headline this short? Because she's credited as Lita Grey Chaplin, the erstwhile wife of Charlie Chaplin.
An unexpected little delight
I_Ailurophile14 March 2022
'Seasoned greetings' is what happens when the concept of the variety show is condensed into a mere 20 minutes. (Just think how much better 'The Star Wars Holiday Special' could have been if it were abridged to one-seventh its length!) I admire the clear talent of those offering musical contributions to this short (borrowing a bit from the exceptional 'Gold diggers of 1933' along the way), as well as the work that otherwise went into bringing this to fruition. The work of editing, costume design, hair and makeup, and set design is very well considered, and though brief and curt, the scene writing is very suitable to play its part. Moreover, there's simple but worthy cleverness peppered throughout the small story that the short has to offer.
I can't say I had high expectations before I started watching, but to my delight, this was more well made, and more fun, than I anticipated. One hardly need to out of their way for 'Seasoned greetings,' and it will only appeal to those viewers who already have an appreciation for old movies. Yet for all that, and some outright silliness, this is a pleasant way to spend 20 minutes.
I can't say I had high expectations before I started watching, but to my delight, this was more well made, and more fun, than I anticipated. One hardly need to out of their way for 'Seasoned greetings,' and it will only appeal to those viewers who already have an appreciation for old movies. Yet for all that, and some outright silliness, this is a pleasant way to spend 20 minutes.
Nice Short
Michael_Elliott23 December 2013
Seasoned Greetings (1933)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Vitaphone two-reeler about a greeting card store owner (Lita Grey) who finds herself losing customers to her rather crooked rival. In order to strike up some new business she comes up with a new form of cards. At first they simply sing and eventually you can eat them. SEASONED GREETINGS isn't the greatest movie ever made but there are several factors that make it of interest to film buffs. For starters, Lita Grey was obviously at one time married to Charles Chaplin so that holds some interest. Secondly, a very young Sammy Davis, Jr. can be briefly spotted towards the end of the picture. Third, actor Robert Cummings makes his debut here. The "story" itself is somewhat of an interesting one but of course it's mainly used to highlight various musical acts. The musical acts here certainly aren't the worst I've seen in a Vitaphone short but at the same time none of them are going to have you rushing out to try and find copies of the songs. Grey actually turns in a nice little performance and Carleton Macy is also very good as the mean-spirited rival.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Vitaphone two-reeler about a greeting card store owner (Lita Grey) who finds herself losing customers to her rather crooked rival. In order to strike up some new business she comes up with a new form of cards. At first they simply sing and eventually you can eat them. SEASONED GREETINGS isn't the greatest movie ever made but there are several factors that make it of interest to film buffs. For starters, Lita Grey was obviously at one time married to Charles Chaplin so that holds some interest. Secondly, a very young Sammy Davis, Jr. can be briefly spotted towards the end of the picture. Third, actor Robert Cummings makes his debut here. The "story" itself is somewhat of an interesting one but of course it's mainly used to highlight various musical acts. The musical acts here certainly aren't the worst I've seen in a Vitaphone short but at the same time none of them are going to have you rushing out to try and find copies of the songs. Grey actually turns in a nice little performance and Carleton Macy is also very good as the mean-spirited rival.
A Hallmark card never said it like this.
mark.waltz25 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The Scrooge like Carlton Macy finds his convienance store business threatened when card store owner Lita Grey Chaplin comes up with the idea of musical greeting cards, and later chocolate greeting cards that literally puts the music in her customer's soul. This isn't really all that notable except the presence of the young Sammy Davis Jr. as a young customer who wants a copy of "St. Louis Blues".
Some of the songs are newly filmed versions of hits from Warner Brother's 1933 edition of the "Gold Diggers" series, but other segments are extremely dated in their corniness, particularly a hillbilly number that is filled with stereotypical instruments like jugs and spoons. Gray doesn't have the greatest singing voice show her attempt to be the next Helen Morgan in her warbling of a few torch songs isn't all that appealing, and Davis, dressed in a "piccaninny" outfit, only pops up in the last few minutes for a segment that is stereotypical and disappointing. Still historically, it's interesting to see him as a child but it would have been nice to see him get a full production number or something that showed off the talents that America would come to love decades later.
Some of the songs are newly filmed versions of hits from Warner Brother's 1933 edition of the "Gold Diggers" series, but other segments are extremely dated in their corniness, particularly a hillbilly number that is filled with stereotypical instruments like jugs and spoons. Gray doesn't have the greatest singing voice show her attempt to be the next Helen Morgan in her warbling of a few torch songs isn't all that appealing, and Davis, dressed in a "piccaninny" outfit, only pops up in the last few minutes for a segment that is stereotypical and disappointing. Still historically, it's interesting to see him as a child but it would have been nice to see him get a full production number or something that showed off the talents that America would come to love decades later.
Only as a sing-along maybe
Horst_In_Translation2 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Seasoned Greetings" is an American black-and-white sound short film from 1933, so this one has its 85th anniversary this year. The director and two writers may have been pretty prolific back in the day, but these 20 minutes we have here are today known for (if at all) Lita Grey and her connection to Charlie Chaplin, but most of all the very young Sammy Davis Jr. (under the age of 10 still). I'd say this is a fairly mediocre 30s film as a whole. Story-wise, it was especially uunderwhelming, but the one thing it is worth checking out for is the music that is not only a lot in quantity, but also decent in quality, even if the connection to the plot is fairly vague at times. If there is anything you can call a plot here. It seems as if eventually they also just thought never mind we're going 100% music now and this probably wasn't the worst decision. However, I don't really see a lot of reason why you won't just listen to a record instead of seeing this one here as well, the video side just isn't on par. With the music and with other short films that the 30s had to offer, at least if we are looking at the better ones. All in all, a thumbs-down here. Not recommended.
Sammy Davis Jr's first film appearance!
bobwagner119 March 2006
I loved this short film which not only captures the era, but has the very rare gem of Sammy Davis Jr's first film appearance. At age 7, he already exhibits the qualities that would entertain the world for the next 60 years!
The film is about two competing card shops next door to one another. One has an owner who resorts to unscrupulous methods to try and dupe people into buying his cards. The other uses her imagination to come up with a brand new kind of greeting card that soon everyone wants. After several wonderful vignettes, we see Sammy in the highlight of the film. It is available as an extra in The Busby Berkeley Collection on the Gold Diggers of 1933 disc.
The film is about two competing card shops next door to one another. One has an owner who resorts to unscrupulous methods to try and dupe people into buying his cards. The other uses her imagination to come up with a brand new kind of greeting card that soon everyone wants. After several wonderful vignettes, we see Sammy in the highlight of the film. It is available as an extra in The Busby Berkeley Collection on the Gold Diggers of 1933 disc.
Charming little musical
didi-510 January 2010
Two points of interest in this 1933 Vitaphone short - headline star is Lita Grey Chaplin, second wife of Charlie, who is a rather heavy-set and moonfaced girl with an average voice; she has most of the numbers in this short. The more interesting thing about Seasoned Greetings is the little black boy who features in the closing vignette - a 7 year old Sammy Davis Jr, looking immediately recognizable and stealing the film.
Plot-wise this short fits in the depression with two greeting card stores going head to head - Lita coming up with first talking cards, then something even more appealing to the kids. Available in a lovely print with sharp visuals and sound, this is a vintage extra on the DVD of Gold Diggers of 1933.
Plot-wise this short fits in the depression with two greeting card stores going head to head - Lita coming up with first talking cards, then something even more appealing to the kids. Available in a lovely print with sharp visuals and sound, this is a vintage extra on the DVD of Gold Diggers of 1933.
totally fun "in betweener" on Turner Classics
ksf-222 November 2014
Competing stores vie for business at Valentines Day. Lita Grey is the owner of one store, and she butts heads with the owner of the store next door to win the business before she goes under. George Haggerty is her clerk, "Parky". Check out the bio on Lita Grey (Chaplin... yes, she was married to Charles Chaplin when she was only 16.. that's a whole different story...) Watch for the featured act "Beverly Barn Hill Billies"..... fun, and funny. One guy flips his ear forward with his fingers, while another plays the spoon... and a whole bunch of violins. Carleton Macy is Mr. Beetle, who wants to buy out his competitor (Grey). Grey sings several songs, and does a great job of it. Fun twenty minute shorty by Warner Brothers. Directed by Roy Mack... one of the first things he ever did was direct Judy Gumm Garland... in one of the first films SHE ever did... in "Bubbles" ! Fun bits, nonsense story, but if you go with it, it wont hurt a bit. Fun song by "the Sizzlers... Pettin in the Park. ...Chocolate Music. You play it, then you eat it! WHY does this only have 5.8 stars, as of today ??
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