Artists & Models (1937)initiated by martin on September 18, 2008 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028587/) ARTISTS AND MODELS (Paramount, 1937), directed by Raoul Walsh, stars the legendary comedian Jack Benny in a lively musical as Mac Brewster, the head of a failing advertising agency who tries to promote a new campaign, the Artists and Models Ball. He uses Paula Sewell (Ida Lupino), his fiancee, to pose as a socialite who later falls in love with Brewster's important client, Alan Townsend (Richard A more ARTISTS AND MODELS (Paramount, 1937), directed by Raoul Walsh, stars the legendary comedian Jack Benny in a lively musical as Mac Brewster, the head of a failing advertising agency who tries to promote a new campaign, the Artists and Models Ball. He uses Paula Sewell (Ida Lupino), his fiancee, to pose as a socialite who later falls in love with Brewster's important client, Alan Townsend (Richard Arlen), in fact, his only client. Brewster is given the task of crowning a queen of the Artists and Models Ball, and Paula goes after the crown to be awarded at the ball by Townsend. Because Paula is snubbed for being a professional model instead of a debutante, she grows more determined, taking the next airplane to Miami to compete against Cynthia Winworth (Gail Patrick), an attractive socialite who catches the eye on Brewster. In between song numbers, situations arise during the Artists and Models Ball when Brewster's engagement is to be publicly announced, first to Cynthia at 11:30, and to Paula at the stroke of midnight.The supporting cast includes Cecil Cunningham as Stella, Brewster's secretary; Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Townsend, Alan's mother; along with Sandra Storme as herself in a brief model bit; Peter Arno, McClelland Barclay, Arthur William Brown, John Lagatta and Rube Goldberg as the artists; Russell Patterson's Personettos; Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra, among others.While not "colossal, tremendous, gigantic, stupendous, the super special epic of the year" as addressed during the opening and closing of the story by Brewster's wacky associates (played by the Yacht Club Boys) who not only supply some wild antics, but one comedic musical number that opens up the story which has Brewster politely offering his opinion that "It stinks." Aside from that, ARTISTS AND MODELS succeeds with its amusing screenplay and its share songs and musical numbers in the lineup.The musical program in order as they appear includes: "Sasha-Pasha" (performed by the Yacht Club Boys); "Pop Goes the Bubble" (written by Ted Koehler and Burton Lane/ sung by Judy Canova); "Whispers in the Dark" (written by Frederick Hollander and Leo Robin/ sung by Connee Boswell); "Stop, You're Breaking My Heart" (by Koehler and Lane/ sung by Judy Canova and Ben Blue); "Mister Esquire" (by Koehler and Victor Young/ instrumental with Ben Blue surrounded by puppet musicians); "The Ballad of Frank and Jesse James" (performed by The Canova Family); and "Public Melody Number 1" (by Koehler and Lane/ sung by Martha Raye and Louis Armstrong). Judy Canova, who would specialize in starring in a series of hillbilly "B" comedies for Republic and Columbia during the 1940s and '50s, is in rare form here. While in the past she appeared in films mostly in specialty musical acts, including IN CALIENTE (WB, 1935), but in this instance, she is given a substantial role essential to the plot playing Ida Lupino's best friend and roommate of three years. Of the memorable highlights, the first finds Canova in the shower singing "Pop Goes the Bubble," which has her stepping out, unwrapping her towel from around her only to reveal that she is sporting a bathing suit underneath; followed by another sequence such as her confrontation with a "screwball" loverboy named Jupiter Pluvius II (Ben Blue), a rainmaker whose father, it is revealed, was responsible for the Johnstown flood. Jupiter: "Hi, I'm Jupiter Pluvius the Second," Judy: "Don't tell me there are two of you?" Following their exchanges along with Blue's shyful laughter, this leads to an amusing song and dance number, "Stop You're Breaking My Heart," the tune which underscores the opening and closing credits. Blue also takes part in a quite original number, "Mister Esquire," which is performed by Russell Patterson's Personnettos, or better known as "live" puppets playing musical instruments. Interestingly, while Canova's interplays could have been performed just as well by Martha Raye, who had performed similar chores as the loyal friend-type in THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1937 (1936), for example, she in turn is given a specialty musical act set in Harlem, the grand finale titled "Public Melody Number 1," opposite Louis Armstrong. Darkened up in the style of a light-skinned Negress, she belts out the lyrics with the sounds of Armstrong's trumpet playing and gun shots scoring out in the background. Observing through the opening credits, Vincente Minnelli is credited for directing this production number. This is his earliest known screen credit, some years before achieving success as a director for MGM musicals during the 1940s and 1950s. This Raye/ Armstrong number, along with the Canova Family ballad about outlaws Frank and Jesse James were usually eliminated from television prints in order to fit in this 100 minute movie into a 90 minute time slot plus commercial breaks. Thankfully these occasionally deleted musical sequences have been restored. On a final note, Connee Boswell, one of the singing Boswell sisters, seen only in silhouette, is the vocalist to the soothing "Whispers in the Dark," which becomes a large scale swimming number. This song became nominated for an Academy Award.Aside from these production numbers taking a major part in ARTISTS AND MODELS, its top-billed star Jack Benny does find time in supplying some real funny moments on screen, including he being mistaken by underwear salesmen as a model, and his physical examination with Doctor Zimmer (Donald Meek). There is even some inside humor as Brewster is escorting Cynthia (Gail Patrick) to the Artists and Models Ball and walking past a live radio where announcer Don Wilson is introducing Jack Benny, followed by Benny going on the air, "Hello, again, this is Jack Benny talking ..." Mac: "Very clever fellow, I've always liked him." Cynthia: "Oh, really, I've never cared for him." Mac: "Oh, well, everyone to his own taste. It is also interesting seeing Benny, long associated with comedy, having his tender moments with Ida Lupino near the beginning of the story.The success of ARTISTS AND MODELS did intend for Paramount to start a new annual musical series, which is hinted by the Yacht Club Boys ("Hey boss, have we got it, a great idea for the show next year.") Although Paramount did distribute another, ARTISTS AND MODELS ABROAD (Paramount, 1938), bringing back Jack Benny, this time playing Buck Boswell, and the Yacht Club Boys, with Joan Bennett as the female lead, it obviously didn't do as well as the initial film, so further Artists and Models musicals never materialized. However, in 1955, Paramount released a musical comedy, ARTISTS AND MODELS, starring the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, but bears no relation to the Benny films except in name only. For a good time, watch the original. |
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