Category Archives: 1935

Shipmates Forever (1935)

Shipmates Forever isn’t really a comedy but it was deceptively marketed as one by Warner Bros. It may even have been originally conceived as one. It stars Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler at the peak of their popularity. It has tunes by Warren and Dubin, Dick Powell’s regular providers of hits in his crooning comedies.Continue reading “Shipmates Forever (1935)”

She Married Her Boss (1935)

Gregory La Cava was an ingenious, supremely gifted director of comedies. He was universally respected and admired, but like his peer Leo McCarey, he has never been accorded auteur status because he didn’t have the power (and probably the desire) to write his own screenplays like Preston Sturges, or to choose scripts that could beContinue reading “She Married Her Boss (1935)”

Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)

Broadway Melody of 1936 was the first of a series of Broadway Melody films that MGM made to match Busby Berkeley’s successful backstage Broadway series, which by 1936 had already delivered five films and had a sixth (Gold Diggers of 1937) in production. Despite their titles, the Broadway Melodies of ’36, ’38 and ’40 wereContinue reading “Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)”

Every Night at Eight (1935)

Every Night at Eight was one of the dozens of “Radio Contest/Singing Sisters” movies made in the ’30s. It has very little to recommend it. Directed by Raoul Walsh, a director I don’t like, its male lead is George Raft, an actor I detest. It tells the tired tale of a group of young workingContinue reading “Every Night at Eight (1935)”

Folies Bergère de Paris (1935)

Folies Bergère de Paris has become one of my favorite musical comedies of the period. It was Maurice Chevalier’s last American film before the end of World War II, and it’s one of his best. At the moment, I’d place it up there with Love Me Tonight. I’ve always taken Chevalier in small doses. HisContinue reading “Folies Bergère de Paris (1935)”

Thanks a Million (1935)

Thanks A Million is, like most of the Dick Powell comedies of the mid-1930s, a pip, a perfect example of a neglected gem. It fits somewhere on the line of Depression-era political satire-comedies that stretches from Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932) to The Devil and Miss Jones (1941). In many respects it follows the template of theContinue reading “Thanks a Million (1935)”

Hooray for Love (1935)

I’m crazy fond of Hooray for Love. It has a limited — very limited — legendary status because of a spectacular number performed by Bill Robinson, Fats Waller, Jeni LeGon, and an ensemble of some of the best Black Broadway performers of the time. It’s truly a phenomenal piece. (I’ll embed a video of itContinue reading “Hooray for Love (1935)”

Broadway Gondolier (1935)

I’m very fond of Broadway Gondolier. It’s probably more responsible for my getting into this blogging project than any other film. I recorded it from TCM one night many years ago for later watching. When I got around to seeing it, I was thoroughly charmed. I’d never heard of it before — but that’s noContinue reading “Broadway Gondolier (1935)”

Roberta (1935)

The second of the Astaire-Rogers star vehicles, Roberta has its fans. I’m not one of them. Although, admittedly, many of its fans admire the duo’s dances as if the rest of the film did not exist. If those are the terms, then I’m on board, too. The film contains some memorable chemistry between Astaire andContinue reading “Roberta (1935)”