New Faces Of 1937
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''New Faces of 1937'' is a 1937 American
musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...
directed by Leigh Jason and starring Joe Penner, Milton Berle and Harriet Hilliard. Its plot is similar to '' The Producers'' (1968). Intended as the first film of an annual
RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, is an American film production and distribution company, historically one of the major film studios, "Big Five" film studios of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood's Clas ...
revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...
series, poor reception ended plans for future productions.


Plot

A crooked theatrical producer deliberately sets about creating an unsuccessful show after selling more than 100% of it to investors.


Cast

* Joe Penner as Seymore Seymore, aspiring actor * Milton Berle as Wallington 'Wally' Wedge * Parkyakarkus as Parky * Harriet Hilliard as Patricia 'Pat' Harrington *William Brady as James 'Jimmy' Thompson * Jerome Cowan as Robert Hunt * Thelma Leeds as Elaine Dorset * Lorraine Krueger as Suzy *Tommy Mack as Judge Hugo Straight, Conductor * Bert Gordon as Count Mischa Moody * Patricia Wilder as Pat, Hunt's Secretary * Richard Lane as Harry Barnes, Broker *Dudley Clements as Plunkett, Stage Manager * William Corson as Assistant Stage Manager * George Rosener as Peter, Stage Doorman * Dewey Robinson as Joe Guzzola * Harry C. Bradley as Count Moody's Secretary


Production

An alternate title for this film, which was in production from late March to mid-May 1937, had been listed as ''Young People''. Singer Rene Stone, who appears in the film, was discovered by Edward Small singing while cleaning dishes in a Manhattan restaurant.


Soundtrack

* "New Faces" :(1937) :Music and Lyrics by Charles Henderson :Played during the opening credits :Sung and danced by showgirls (including The Brian Sisters) and showboys to open the final show :Danced by Ann Miller :Sung by Harriet Hilliard and showgirls * "The Widow in Lace" :(1937) :Music by Harold Spina :Lyrics by Walter Bullock :Sung by Thelma Leeds and showgirls at rehearsal :Played and danced by unidentified children, probably The Loria Brothers * "Our Penthouse on Third Avenue" :(1937) :Music by Sammy Fain :Lyrics by Lew Brown :Played on piano by Harriet Hilliard and sung by her and William Brady * "It Goes to Your Feet" :(1937) :Music by Sammy Fain :Lyrics by Lew Brown :Played and sung by Eddie Rio and Brothers :Danced by Lowe,
Hite Hite or HITE may refer to: *HiteJinro, a South Korean brewery **Hite Brewery *Hite (surname) *Hite, California, former name of Hite Cove, California *Hite, Utah Historic Hite is a flooded ghost town at the north end of Lake Powell along the Co ...
and Stanley act, with Lorraine Krueger * "If I Didn't Have You" :(1937) :Music by Sammy Fain :Lyrics by Lew Brown :Sung by Harriet Hilliard and William Brady * "Love Is Never Out of Season" :(1937) :Music by Sammy Fain :Lyrics by Lew Brown :Sung by William Brady and danced by Harriet Hilliard and male chorus * "When the Berry Blossoms Bloom" :(1937) :Written by Joe Penner and Hal Raynor :Sung and danced by Joe Penner in the show * "Peckin'" :(1936) :Music and Lyrics by
Ben Pollack Benjamin "Ben" Pollack (June 22, 1903 – June 7, 1971) was an American drummer and bandleader from the mid-1920s through the swing music, swing era. His eye for talent led him to employ musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Glenn Mil ...
and
Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band to great commercial success from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947, but ...
:Additional lyrics by Eddie Cherkose (1937) :Sung and danced by The Three Chocolateers, The Four Playboys and chorus in the big finale in the show * "Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)" :(uncredited) :from "Lohengrin" :Music by Richard Wagner :Swing version in the song "Peckin'" * "The Wedding March" :(uncredited) :from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61" :Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy :Swing version in the song "Peckin'"


Reception

The film recorded a loss of $258,000. Reviews were mixed. The film was meant to be the first in a series of musical revues designed to introduce new RKO talent, but this did not eventuate. Film writers Richard B. Jewell and Vernon Harbin wrote that:
Containing not a single memorable musical number or inspired comedy routine, this tedious mish-mash caused the studio embarrassment a-plenty. Theatre owners and audiences displayed such hostility towards the Edward Small production in general, and Penner and Parkyakaras in particular, that RKO cancelled plans to make a ''New Faces of 1938''.Richard B. Jewell & Vernon Harbin, ''The RKO Story'', Octopus 1984 p 108


References


External links

* * *
New Faces of 1937
' at
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
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New Faces of 1937
' at Answers.com *
New Faces of 1937
' at Flixster * *

', by Craig Hodgkins {{Edward Small 1937 films 1937 musical films Films with screenplays by Irving Brecher Films with screenplays by Philip G. Epstein American black-and-white films Films produced by Edward Small American musical films RKO Pictures films Films directed by Leigh Jason 1930s English-language films 1930s American films English-language musical films