The Goldwyn Follies

Starring:Adolphe Menjou, Al Ritz, Harry Ritz, Jimmy Ritz, Vera Zorina, Kenny Baker (II), Andrea Leeds, Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy (II), Helen Jepson, Phil Baker, Bobby Clark, Ella Logan, Jerome Cowan, Nydia Westman, Charles Kullmann, Frank Shields, Evelyn Terry, Anne Graham (II), Walter Sande
Director: H.C. Potter, George Marshall
Studio: Hbo Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Two great Gershwin songs in an amusing razzberry aimed at Hollywood by Sam Goldwyn and Ben Hecht
Just a Silly Musical
A turkey, but very well cooked
The "Follies" Fails
RITZ BROS. PERFORMANCE TEARS THE HOUSE DOWN

The Goldwyn Follies
Starring: Adolphe Menjou , The Ritz Brothers , Vera Zorina , Kenny Baker (II) , and Andrea Leeds
Director: George Marshall , and H.C. Potter
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 6304884397
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Customer Reviews:

Two great Gershwin songs in an amusing razzberry aimed at Hollywood by Sam Goldwyn and Ben Hecht.......2007-01-31

Probably the only reason for remembering The Goldwyn Follies is that it's the movie George Gershwin was working on when he died at 38 of a brain tumor. In truth, the movie is a mish-mash, although a good-natured one, involving comedy bits, musical numbers and what Goldwyn considered "class." The best thing about the film are two George and Ira Gershwin songs that are as fresh and wise today as when they were written, "Our Love Is Here to Stay" and "Love Walked In." The story line is as thin as a thread, designed to keep the numbers coming and to provide some fun at Hollywood's expense. Ben Hecht is credited with the screenplay. He artfully places some banderillas that probably puckered the skin of several types of Hollywood denizens, from producers to divas to sycophants to...you get the idea.

Hollywood producer Oliver Merlin (Adolphe Menjou) has convinced himself he needs someone to tell him honestly about the new movie he's working on, someone who will represent the big audience out there. On a location shoot he meets a young woman who fits the bill. She's Hazel Dawes (Andrea Leeds), gentle, sincere and honest. "I'm a producer of movies," he tells her. "I get my wagonloads of poets and dramatists, but I can't buy common sense. I cannot buy humanity!" "Well, I don't know why, Mr. Merlin. There's an awful lot of it," Hazel says. Merlin looks at her impatiently. "Yes, I know," he says, "but the moment I buy it, it turns into something else, usually genius, and it isn't worth a dime. Now, if you could stay just as simple as you are, you'd be invaluable to me. I'll put you on my staff. I'll give you a title, 'Miss Humanity.' Don't rush, you can finish your ice cream soda." Merlin brings her to Hollywood and consults her on everything from script changes to plot developments. Of course, she also meets a young man, Danny Beecher (Kenny Baker), who has a great tenor and a way with flipping hamburgers. Merlin makes changes in his movie. There's love, a brief misunderstanding quickly resolved and then a happy ending.

All this is just a clothes line to hang the comedy and musical numbers on. This is a review movie and Goldwyn gives us a lot to watch, including his idea of culture. This has usually meant excerpts from opera, over-produced and sung straight ahead. Here, we get a bit of an aria from Traviata. We also get a genuinely stunning water-nymph ballet danced by Vera Zorina, choreographed by George Balanchine and with music by Vernon Duke. But we also get the Ritz Brothers, frenetic, anarchic and, above all else, loud. They were big stuff in the Thirties. I think nowadays they'd be an acquired taste. Bobby Clark, a great burlesque, vaudeville and stage star, shows up as a casting director, all leers and cigars. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy make several appearances. I've always been intrigued at how Bergen could maintain such a sharply split personality between himself and his wooden pal. Bergen may be bland but McCarthy really is funny, especially when looking at tall showgirls. Phil Baker, a comic big in vaudeville and radio, shows up in a recurring gag and finally faces off with McCarthy. There's even Alan Ladd in a brief bit as one of several awful singers auditioning for a part in Merlin's movie. Kenny Baker, who was a singer much like a young Dick Powell but without the cockiness, does full justice to the two great Gershwin songs.

The Goldwyn Follies sprawls all over the place, still I like it. First, because it provides a look at some stars we've nearly forgotten, people like Edgar Bergen, Vera Zorina, Phil Baker and Bobby Clark. Even the Ritz Brothers. These were people who knew their stuff. They were professionals and it comes through. Second, those Gershwin songs. They are so good they lift the movie whenever Baker sings them. For me, they create a bittersweet feeling. George Gershwin was at the height of his powers when he wrote them. What on earth could he have created if he'd lived? So here's to George and Ira...

The more I read the papers, the less I comprehend.
The world and all it's capers and how it all will end.
Nothing seems to be lasting, but that isn't our affair.
We've got something permanent,
I mean in the way we care.

It's very clear, our love is here to stay.
Not for a year, but ever and a day.
The radio and the telephone
And the movies that we know,
May just be passing fancies and in time may go.
But, oh my dear, our love is here to stay.
Together we're going a long, long way.
In time the Rockies may crumble,
Gibraltar may tumble, they're only made of clay.
But our love is here to stay.

If you look, the Goldwyn Follies can be found VHS tape and a DVD edition. Occasionally it shows up on cable. Let's hope that one of these days we can see it on a readily available DVD.

Just a Silly Musical.......2006-03-05

The Goldwyn Follies is Samuel Goldwyn's answer to the popular Ziegfeld Follies films based on the work of Florenz Ziegfeld of the 1920s. This film is packed with musical and vaudeville-type numbers. The mood is very light and silly, but it is also quite fun at times.

There are three stars. Adolph Menjou plays a film director who stumbles upon an average country girl (Andrea Leeds) with many opinions about why films fail. He hires her to help him with his next picture and she agrees. In the process, he begins to fall for her, but she meets and falls for a crooning hamburger stand man (Kenny Baker) who she helps become a star in films. In the meantime, there is a frustrated accordian player, the outrageous Ritz Brothers who might as well be the singing version of The Three Stooges, and a strange ventriloquist. Leeds looks like Janet Gaynor and is as sweet as she is too. Baker sounds exactly like Dick Powell and the two sort of look alike too; it is eerie at times.

The musical numbers vary in style and in quality. Some are entertaining and some fall flat. There is a dance illustrating Romeo and Juliet between ballet and jazz dancers; it is strangely similar to West Side Story only this was made years earlier. There are several operatic scenes with "Traviata." There are a few extravagant dance sequences like one around a fountain. There is one very entertaining sequence about pussy cats done by the Ritz Brothers too.

A turkey, but very well cooked.......2005-08-06

I was expecting to see a bad movie, but I have to confess I was pleasantly surprised. Even though the comedy moments are a bit dated, the main storyline moves flawlessly and the actors are likable. DVD quality is superb, the picture and sound clarity are perfect and the colours are amazing. The musical numbers and especially the ballet sequences are enjoyable and strikingly avant garde for 1938. All in all, a very pleasant hour and 50 minutes indeed.

The "Follies" Fails.......2004-10-22

"The Goldwyn Follies" has a nice look to it, good actors, and a memorable Gershwin score, yet somethow it's disappointing. Normally that's all I need for a musical to succeed, but "Goldwyn Follies" left me wanting less, not more.

The plot of the film could have been compressed to about 90 minutes, instead the film holds off the payoff so it can elongate the sketches and provided for longer dance sequences. But, I think the film could have had the same amout of songs, same amout of dances and move at a faster tempo, simply because nothing important is being said.

Fans of the genre, and I'm one, may not mind the pace because as the saying goes, "they don't make 'em like they use to". But, they also didn't make them this slow.

Take Astaire and Rogers for example. Their movies have a better pace to them, have great songs and dance numbers and are told at shorter length.

"The Goldwyn Follies" is about a small town girl Hazel Dawes (Andreal Leeds) who finds herself working for a Hollywood producer, Oliver Merlin (Adolphe Menjou). Merlin has had a string of flops lately as audiences are not able to relate to his works. Merlin decides his films need a more "human touch" and decides the only way that can be accomplished is if he has someone outside of Hollywood help him with his stories.

Hazel is just swept away by the more glamorious lifestyle and soon meets a boy, Danny Beecher (Kenny Baker) whom she thinks has real talent and wants to give him a break.

Unless this is the first film you have ever seen, you csn guess where the material will go. Only the film arrives at these conclusions at such a slow rate.

Just like a "real" follies show we are treated to music, dance, romance, and comedy. And none of it blends correctly. The Ritz Brothers and Edgar Bergen are the main comic relief, only one has to admit, they serve no purpose to the plot. In fact they slow the movie down. The plot would not change one bit if their characters were removed. We would have exactly the same story being told.

The music in the film is supplied by George and Ira Gershwin, and I believe was the last time the two worked together, George died suddenly. The score includes; "Our Love Is Here To Stay", "I Was Doing All Right", "I Love To Rhyme", and apparently the song the producers thought would be the big hit, "Loved Walked In". Funny how "Our Love...ect" became more popular.

And that's another problem I have with the movie. I think it would have ended better if "Our Love" was the last song sung. It would have fit in better with the plot.

In a prime example of Hollywood being out of touch with the public, pay attention to the cliche, "Hollywood" ideas Hazel gives Oliver. It makes one wonder, why couldn't he think of it?

But, those who watch this movie may not even be paying attention to such things. And they have a right not to, only I couldn't help myself. ** 1\2 out of *****

Bottom-line: Well meaning but ultimately flat musical from Hollywood's "Golden Age". Lots of stars and good Gershwin score give the film whatever amount of charm it has.

RITZ BROS. PERFORMANCE TEARS THE HOUSE DOWN.......2004-08-25

This film is a treasure. It is an artfully done Hollywood does Hollywood film, circa 1938; with it's tongue in it's cheek, and a great sense of humour, panache and whimsy.
It is so very flavorful of the period, that wafts of nostalgic sighs are brought on by the efforts...particularly hearing and seeing George & Ira Gershwin's poignant "Love Walked In", as sung by Kenny Baker, who really had a fantastic voice.
The film score was almost entirely a Gershwin job, with the exception of the music for the ballet (directed by Ballenchine!) sequence, written by Vernon Duke.
I am told that this was the last score done by George Gershwin before his untimely passing soon after.
Vera Zarina is superb, no matter what anyone said. She could dance,and she could act....and she was beautiful.
Edgar Bergan and Charlie McCarthy make their screen debut here.
Adolph Menjou effortlessly outdoes "himself" in a role so similar to so many he played. He's wonderful!
Andrea Leeds is sweetly adorable and sings sweetly too!
Although Phil Bakers part could have been expanded to get more of his ability and talent exposed, his appearance here is an enjoyable extra attraction....and the irony is that the character that he is playing is getting the same treatment in the sub-plot story line, make of it what you will!
Ben Hecht and others of no small abilities contribute to the writing mix.
The entire production just reeks of talent:
- writing, cast, music, choreography, photography, lighting, direction and all!
Really speaking, this film is showcase for some fantastic specialty acts of the day....nevermind the plot line!
And while all the "acts" are a pleasure to watch in the luscious pastel shades of vintage technicolour; it is the antics of the infamous Ritz Brothers that steals the show.
After viewing them do their shtik in the "Serenade to a Fish"
routine, you will know why the rest of the cast seems to be sleepwalking through the picture by comparison.
The under rated by posterity Ritz Bros. were a talented trio
who were capable of far more than is revealed in this picture, as anyone who ever saw them dance could attest to; They could leave you breathless at their agility and finesse, while at the same time have you rolling in the aisle laughing.
Seeing them do their thing here, even though their bits are short and leave you hungry for more for, is; as used to be said; worth the price of admission alone!
While, of course, the Ritz Bros. are not everyone's cup of tea, as neither is Vera Zarina, Adolph Menjou, Kenny Baker, Bergan & McCarthy et al.....they do deserve special mention here, as they get ignored by others too often
as unmentionable or unworthy of notice, which is unfortunate; as they gave a lot of people a lot of joy.
If you are a Ritz Bros.fan, you will love this film, and you will be rewinding to see their bits again and again to savour every precious moment of it. And if you are just a fan of this genre and period; the film as a whole, will bring many happy smiles.

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