Raise the Roof (1930) User Reviews

Lively Musical Marks the end of Betty Balfours time at the top

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 31 May 2011]

This is a lively backstage musical wit a resemblance to The Good Companions.A moth eared troop is taken over by a rather naive investor played by a very young Maurice Evans.His parents disapprove.He agrees with his father played by Sam Livsey,father of Roger,that if he doesn't make a success of it in a month he will give it up.The father hires an actor ,played by Jack Raine to join the company and sabotage the company.This he does quite well till his plan is discovered by Balfour.With no costumes they make their own out of newspaper.They stage the show which is a great success and Maurice is going to marry Betty.Betty Balfour was a very experienced 27 years old when she made this film and she puts on a really good show.Maybe not in the class of Jessie Matthews but nevertheless a pretty good second.Now apart from The Nipper filmed the same year she would not appear in another film for 4years and then as a supporting performer in Evergreen.It has to be said that when this film came out musicals were on the wane so that may be a cause for her absence.What has to be said though is that this musical is technically very far behind American musicals.However it is an engaging film well worth rediscovery.