The director really enjoyed doing close-ups on Alice White! He keeps doing a freeze frame on her, as she plays "Dixie". She sings "I've got my eye on you!" . Some big shots in here, and/or folks that would go on to be big shots -- Walter Pidgeon, Loretta Young, Al Jolson, the Beery brothers. The stars here .. Alice White, Jack Mulhall, John Miljan.. had all been in films for some time now. This was an early talkie, in the times of the poor, helpless female at the mercy of the working males. Some fun views of Los Angeles from 1930. This story is kind of a "how to get started in Hollywood" story. Dixie meets up with "Donny Harris", played by Blanche Sweet.. she was a silent film star for YEARS. She stopped making films for years, and then disappeared. And the Vibratto from Sweet in "Tear for Every Smile"... Yeesh!... its OK. I guess its historically important to still have these around, but this is NOT the best example of an early talkie. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, who had only been directing for a couple years. Catch this for the early appearance of some big names, but the plot is pretty lame. They keep talking about "Vitaphone"... breaking that fourth wall. But it IS a good chance to see some stars in their early days!
Review of Show Girl in Hollywood
