Vallee was at the pinnacle of his success on records and radio; a pleasant and not-threatening presence and a passable actor. Sally Blane was certainly worth asking out (and home!). Marie Dressler was one of the great comedic actors of the stage and found a new career when sound movies came along. She moved on to MGM and won an Oscar with Wallace Beery as her foil in "Min and Bill" a couple of years later.
I remember as a kid seeing a much older Rudy Vallee on the Ed Sullivan Show. He sang Winchester Cathedral and used a megaphone to enhance his voice. It was a pleasure to see and hear him in this movie. Oh for the days when popular music was so simple and sweet! Thank you for sharing.
momzpink At the time of this movie, American mothers and fathers expressed dismay over Vallee's musical performances. Their children's devotion to this upstart left them baffled, and his use of a megaphone to project his watery vocals excited derision. But that's how it's always been. The favorites of each generation are met with disdain by those who came before as well as indifference on the part of those who come along afterwards. Personally, I remember the intense adult hostility that greeted Elvis Presley's arrival. Frank Sinatra even put his name on an article denouncing Presley in terms bordering on moral hysteria. Of course, just a few years later he was hosting a "Welcome Back, Elvis" tv special. He'd seen the dollar signs on the wall.
I watched this to see Marie Dressler, Sally Blaine and Eddie Nugent. But, good grief! I got the impression someone was standing in front of Rudy Vallee with his dialogue on cue cards while pointing a gun at him! He was SO stiff he seemed terrified.
Came here to see how Rudy Vallee approaches his saxophone playing; it's very fluid, Wiedoeft-ish or Mule-ish and a far cry from the popularized breathy bebop saxophone sound.
I good flick. I watched a youtube video showing a Dec 7 1929 Broadway street scene prior to this one and was led here by a marquee with this movie on it.
Fun (but also sad) fact: In his old age, Rudy asked the city of Paris to name a street after him in this manner: "Rue de Vallee," get it? Very clever, I think, and he was well deserving. But the city rejected the request (quel dommage!).
If Rudy Vallee's ghost finds out this picture is now posted on RUclips, he'll haunt us all for payment. The man was notoriously tight with a dollar and willing to fight over dimes.
It was by the first all-talkie studio, Radio Pictures, later known as RKO Radio Pictures or simply, RKO. Fortunately, nearly all of their works survive largely complete (only 6 movies are lost from the entire RKO film library) and the company's history is rich and detailed, which is almost unheard of from any other motion picture studio from the era, which usually wound up with 50% of every movie made from 1929-1950 being totally lost. RKO Radio Pictures is one of the extremely small handful of film companies from the era with more than 99.5% of their works entirely intact. I don't know about you, but it's safe to agree that those who were responsible for the RKO library in the last 9 decades did a phenomenal job in keeping the works preserved!
This is what Wikipedia has - Vallée himself was not a fan of the film. In a 1980 TV interview, he mused, "They're still fumigating the theaters where it was shown. Almost ruined me. In fact, I think it's only shown in penitentiaries and comfort stations." His acting was dreadful in this. I never seen such a sadsack leading man.
Vallee was at the pinnacle of his success on records and radio; a pleasant and not-threatening presence and a passable actor. Sally Blane was certainly worth asking out (and home!). Marie Dressler was one of the great comedic actors of the stage and found a new career when sound movies came along. She moved on to MGM and won an Oscar with Wallace Beery as her foil in "Min and Bill" a couple of years later.
A lovely way to spend an hour. Marie Dressler is priceless
Beautiful restoration! Thank you so much for posting this piece of pop culture history. And it's especially nice to see Marie Dressler. ❤
How wonderful that this film has survived! Thank you for sharing this video film with me and many others.
Such a delightful movie. Marie's performance was hilarious. Several time I burst out into unexpected laughter when her comedic lines cut like a knife
I remember as a kid seeing a much older Rudy Vallee on the Ed Sullivan Show. He sang Winchester Cathedral and used a megaphone to enhance his voice. It was a pleasure to see and hear him in this movie. Oh for the days when popular music was so simple and sweet! Thank you for sharing.
momzpink At the time of this movie, American mothers and fathers expressed dismay over Vallee's musical performances. Their children's devotion to this upstart left them baffled, and his use of a megaphone to project his watery vocals excited derision. But that's how it's always been. The favorites of each generation are met with disdain by those who came before as well as indifference on the part of those who come along afterwards. Personally, I remember the intense adult hostility that greeted Elvis Presley's arrival. Frank Sinatra even put his name on an article denouncing Presley in terms bordering on moral hysteria. Of course, just a few years later he was hosting a "Welcome Back, Elvis" tv special. He'd seen the dollar signs on the wall.
Marie Dressler steals the show!
What a fun film, and the music is great. It ain’t real life, but it ought to be.
There were so many great character actors back in the day.
Thank You 😊
Awe. This was a cute movie.
great pick me up movie. thank you.
Marrie Dressler!!!! always funny - that screen presence !
TCM should do a tribute to Marie!
greatest acting till spencer tracy , greatest musical till 42nd street . thank you.
Rudy Vallee’s voice will always be authentic & unforgettable!
But quite a lousy actor, if this is any indication. Better in "The Palm Beach Story"
He hated this movie
I wish I could say that about Valentino's speaking voice. We'll, at least we Valentino fans, have 2 recordings of 2 songs he recorded.
I watched this to see Marie Dressler, Sally Blaine and Eddie Nugent. But, good grief! I got the impression someone was standing in front of Rudy Vallee with his dialogue on cue cards while pointing a gun at him! He was SO stiff he seemed terrified.
Came here to see how Rudy Vallee approaches his saxophone playing; it's very fluid, Wiedoeft-ish or Mule-ish and a far cry from the popularized breathy bebop saxophone sound.
thank you for this old movie I love it take care.
Great movie; when movies were movies !!!
That was really good!
I good flick. I watched a youtube video showing a Dec 7 1929 Broadway street scene prior to this one and was led here by a marquee with this movie on it.
Fun fact: Sally Blane was Loretta Young's sister and just as beautiful.
Interesting because I saw one of Loretta's earliest films and she was a horrible actress also. Both got better.
Fun (but also sad) fact: In his old age, Rudy asked the city of Paris to name a street after him in this manner: "Rue de Vallee," get it? Very clever, I think, and he was well deserving. But the city rejected the request (quel dommage!).
Just finished watching it. Thank you for posting :-)
I fell asleep on the the movie
I'll try to watch it again next weekend
Rudy wearing more makeup than all the women combined!
This annnnnunnnnciationnnnnn is THE BOSS!!
good movie
If Rudy Vallee's ghost finds out this picture is now posted on RUclips, he'll haunt us all for payment. The man was notoriously tight with a dollar and willing to fight over dimes.
Tom Hall correction my PizzaFRIEND, somewhere in our universe Rudy Vallee is smiling.
Rudy was so cute!
Great quality print. Thanks very much for posting. The acting was so wooden and amateurish it was loveable. Music was great fun.
Yes I agree to a degree about the amateur acting, but exclude Marie Dressler who was a brilliant comedienne and a fine actress
I agree with all three points. I'm wondering if the acting was so stilted because talkies were new?
What a great fellow, Rudy was the greatest, carry on, Cary Grant, he was the best.
Rudy was the best, and got so many folks into the bands, songs and movies. He was a frontier great guy.
...this had to be one of the first "Talkies"!
It was by the first all-talkie studio, Radio Pictures, later known as RKO Radio Pictures or simply, RKO. Fortunately, nearly all of their works survive largely complete (only 6 movies are lost from the entire RKO film library) and the company's history is rich and detailed, which is almost unheard of from any other motion picture studio from the era, which usually wound up with 50% of every movie made from 1929-1950 being totally lost. RKO Radio Pictures is one of the extremely small handful of film companies from the era with more than 99.5% of their works entirely intact. I don't know about you, but it's safe to agree that those who were responsible for the RKO library in the last 9 decades did a phenomenal job in keeping the works preserved!
Didn't know that ,they had these old movie. Been watching them. The words totally not the same.
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Thank you for sending me comments of the reply, of understood of my words and sentences.
Excellent quality print and sound. Nice music and fashions. Stilted dialog and acting - probably because talkies were new? Still, enjoyable.
28:12 When you realise that those kids are now long gone.
Yes. How time gets away. We think we are here forever.
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Thanks
This is what Wikipedia has - Vallée himself was not a fan of the film. In a 1980 TV interview, he mused, "They're still fumigating the theaters where it was shown. Almost ruined me. In fact, I think it's only shown in penitentiaries and comfort stations."
His acting was dreadful in this. I never seen such a sadsack leading man.
Marie Dressler saved the film (at least, for me)
He sounds a bit similar to Roy Orbison.
3:06
17:05
another white American hero