The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)

Director:

Charles Reisner

Writers:

Al Boasberg (writer)
Robert E. Hopkins (writer)

Release Date:

23 November 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

25 of the screen's greatest stars - chorus of 200 - amazingly revolutionary motion picture!

Plot:

An all-star revue featuring MGM contract players. |

Plot Keywords:

Rainbow | Digit In Title | Two Strip Technicolor | Variety | Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Conrad Nagel	...	Himself - Master of Ceremonies
Jack Benny	...	Himself - Master of Ceremonies
John Gilbert	...	Himself / Romeo
Marion Davies	...	Herself
Norma Shearer	...	Herself / Juliet
William Haines	...	Himself
Joan Crawford	...	Herself
Buster Keaton	...	Himself / Princess Raja
Bessie Love	...	Herself
Marie Dressler	...	Herself
Cliff Edwards	...	Himself (as Ukulele Ike)
Charles King	...	Himself
Stan Laurel	...	Stan
Polly Moran	...	Herself
Oliver Hardy	...	Ollie

Also Known As:

The Hollywood Revue

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (2-strip Technicolor) | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The version shown on Turner Classic Movies is the sound-on-disc image with the left side noticeably cropped off in order to accommodate a sound-on-film track, with the result that all the ensembles appear to be photographed off center, which was not the case as the film was originally presented.

Quotes:

[To Chorus girl.]
Emcee: Haven't I met you before in Omaha?
[Chorus girl recognizes him, slaps him, leaves.]
Emcee: I never forget a face.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Garbo (2005)

Soundtrack:

YOUR MOTHER AND MINE

All-Star Revue

Key word here is "revue." Don't look for a plot--there isn't one. MGM's first big "talkie," this film also served as the official "talkie" debut for a number of major silent-screen stars. Some parts are duds; others are gems. Best of all is the "Singin' in the Rain" numbers with Cliff Edwards and the Brox Sisters. The comic reprise with Marie Dressler, Polly Moran & Bessie Love is fun too. Norma Shearer and John Gilbert do well with a few versions of the balcony scene from "Romeo & Juliet." Laurel and Hardy, Jack Benny, William Haines, Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, and Conrad Nagel are among the stars. Take this film for what it is, and remember that it was an "event picture" back in 1929, seeing all those stars talk and sing! It was nominated for an Oscar as best picture of the year.