Glorifying the American Girl (1929)

The rise of a showgirl, Gloria Hughes, culminating in a Ziegfeld extravaganza "Glorifying the American Girl".

Director:

Millard Webb

Writers:

J.P. McEvoy (from the story by), Millard Webb (from the story by)

Stars:

Mary Eaton, Eddie Cantor, Helen Morgan

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mary Eaton	...	Gloria Hughes
Eddie Cantor	...	Himself - Appearance in Revue Scenes
Helen Morgan	...	Herself - Appearance in Revue Scenes
Rudy Vallee	...	Himself - Appearance in Revue Scenes
Dan Healy	...	'Miller'
Kaye Renard	...	'Mooney'
Edward Crandall	...	Buddy
Gloria Shea	...	Barbara (as Olive Shea)
Sarah Edwards	...	Mrs. Hughes
Singing and Dancing Chorus of Seventyfive Glorified Beauties	...	Themselves

Storyline

Gloria, Barabara and Buddy are working at the sheet music counter in a New York department store. On a trip of the whole store, Gloria, who's in love with Buddy, is spotted by vaudeville hoofer Miller, whom his partner Mooney, like her predecessors, has just left. Miller tours with Gloria and both are spotted by Ziegfeld's talent scouts, just before they were splitting up, leaving Gloria with a contract giving Miller a part of her earnings in the next few years. Gloria becomes the star of a new Ziegfeld production, but Barbara, who has been pining for buddy for quite a while, seems to have more luck with him.

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Plot Keywords:

vaudeville | partner | contract | dancer | mother daughter relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Glorificação da Beleza

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min 95 min (Raymond Rohauer print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White Color (2-strip Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eddie Cantor, Helen Morgan and Rudy Vallee are listed early in the credits, and are NOT in the comprehensive cast list presented later. Because of this, the IMDb cast list uses all actor names in order of being printed in the credits.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Baby Face"
(1926) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Akst
Lyrics by Benny Davis
Sung by Mary Eaton

User Reviews

Gramopohone exrav-org-ganza

I would give this colossal and fascinating time capsule musical a 9 for entertainment value and a 2 for the DVD quality. I was so keen to see every frame of this film, having already goggled at THE SHOW OF SHOWS and Broadway MELODY OF 1929...but the DVD I found has the final reels hacked about and urrrggghhhh NOT in the 2 color Technicolor that I was drooling about expecting. I could faintly see the B&W rendition but I knew it was in color so I was really irritated with the DVD people for releasing this great and amazing film in such a chopped and pale way. Prior to the grand finale, the rest of the film is quite interesting as a story and compelling for the visuals and clunky sound of real people and normal city life in the 20s. Sub leads Olive Shea and Edward Crandell are actually more interesting than the lead, Marilyn Miller, and the gorgeous fashions, street scenes, department store settings etc kept me fascinated. I am so keen to see this film properly with the color scenes. as a production and a vintage musical it is extraordinary and beautiful..so please check out the quality and the completeness of the finale before you purchase. If anyone has a good copy to share, complete and with color scenes they can contact me via the message boards on this site. I am so keen to see it properly...and so should you be if you really love sumptuous 20s life on film. Early in the film there is a wonderful outdoor picnic with a stage show...like a delicious 1929 picnic version of '"This Is Our Once A Year Day" from PAJAMA GAME of 1958. Just charming!