George Y. Harvey Movies
The first of 20th Century-Fox's college musicals, Pigskin Parade is also close to the best of them in musical terms -- though they were all at least pretty good on that level -- principally thanks to the presence of 13-year-old Judy Garland, playing an Arkansas farm girl with surprising sincerity and success (in addition to belting out a couple of numbers with the depth and sincerity of a performer at least twice that age). The plot starts rolling when the Yale University football team, looking for a credible but not too tough opponent for a charity game, accidentally invites the team from tiny Tesax State University (enrollment 700) instead of the University of Texas (enrollment 7500). Texas State has also just gotten a new football coach, Slug Winters (Jack Haley), who's had a lot of success coaching high school back in Flushing, New York but still has to prove himself with college players -- he arrives with his brassy, outspoken wife (Patsy Kelly) just ahead of the invitation from Yale, which nearly sends them running back to New York. Through sheer luck and Mrs. Winters' brainstorm, however, they figure out a way they can meet the Yale team on the field and not get steamrollered -- they come up with a fast, highly mobile brand of football that makes them contenders, but then they lose their star-player. Mrs. Winters manages to stumble onto Amos Dodd (Stuart Erwin), an Arkansas farm boy who developed his arm by tossing watermelons around, and brings him and his sister (Judy Garland) to the college. But now they have to make Amos -- who never finished high school -- eligible, and keep him interested enough in the team and the college to get him to the game. It's all a lot of fun, with lots of comic antics and a song spicing up the pace every few minutes, and Haley and Kelly are a delight to watch together. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, (more)
- 1929
This early talkie is the film that destroyed the career of popular silent leading lady Louise Brooks. A detective story, it centers upon a conniving "canary" (a nightclub singer) who takes on wealthy lovers and then blackmails them into giving her money. If they don't cooperate, she will tell their wives and ruin their lives. It all unravels when she falls in love with a handsome young man and accepts his marriage proposal. She goes to each of her lovers and demands they each make one final large payment. She is found dead the next day and her fiancé is blamed until ultra-suave gumshoe Philo Vance shows up and proves his innocence. Originally, the film was made without sound. Later when Paramount decided to dub in voices, it recalled all of the actors, including Brooks, who was in Europe working with filmmaker Pabst. Brooks disdained talkies and refused to participate. This was a serious breach of contract, and she was released. Margaret Livingston ended up dubbing her voice for Brooks' role. Though later Brooks returned to Hollywood, she was relegated to appearing in low-budget Westerns. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Powell, James Hall, (more)
- 1928
Another in the popular series of Wallace Beery-Raymond Hatton farces, Wife Savers eschews the slapstick of the earlier efforts in favor of situation comedy. While stationed in Switzerland, soldiers Louis (Beery) and Rodney (Hatton) fall in love with local damsel Colette (Sally Blane), much to the dismay of Colette's self-appointed boyfriend General Lavoris (Tom Kennedy, a carryover from the previous Beery-Hatton comedies). Mustered out of service, Rodney trusts Louis to look after Colette in his absence. General Lavoris then passes a law that all single girls be married immediately, hoping to turn this new edict to his advantage. To protect Colette from the General, Louis marries the girl. Rodney returns, misunderstands the situation, and challenges Louis to a duel. Our heroes are spared the necessity of wiping each other out when Colette steps forth with her new sweetheart. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wallace Beery, Raymond Hatton, (more)
