The Show of Shows (1929)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

John G. Adolfi

Writers:

J. Keirn Brennan (writer)
Frank Fay (writer)

Release Date:

29 December 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Guillotine | Two Strip Technicolor | Revue

Cast

Frank Fay	...	Master of Ceremonies
William Courtenay	...	The Minister - Guillotine sequence
H.B. Warner	...	The Victim - Guillotine sequence
Hobart Bosworth	...	Executioner - Guillotine Sequence
John Barrymore	...	Richard III in 'Henry VI Part III'
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Akst	...	Pianist - accompanying Irene Bordoni
Armida	...	Dancer
Johnny Arthur	...	Hero (song "The Pirate")
Mary Astor	...	Herself (unconfirmed) (scenes deleted)
William Bakewell	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Richard Barthelmess	...	Himself - 'Meet My Sister' presenter
Noah Beery	...	(song "The Pirate") / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")
Sally Blane	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Monte Blue	...	Condemned man (segment "Rifle Execution")
Irène Bordoni	...	Herself (song "Just for One Hour of Love")
Jack Buchanan	...	Himself
Joseph Burke		(as Joe Burke)
Marion Byron	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Georges Carpentier	...	Boulevardier (song "If I Could Learn to Love")
Ethlyne Clair	...	(song "Ladies of the Ensemble")
James Clemens		(as Jimmy Clemons)
Ruth Clifford	...	(song "Ladies of the Ensemble")
William Collier Jr.	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Betty Compson	...	(songs "The Pirate Number" / "Lady Luck")
Chester Conklin	...	Traffic Cop (song "Bicycle Built for Two")
Heinie Conklin	...	Ice Man (song "What Became of the Floradora Boys")
Dolores Costello	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Helene Costello	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Jack Curtis	...	'The Pirate' number
Viola Dana	...	(songs "The Pirate" / "Meet My Sister" / "Ladies of the Ensemble")
Alice Day	...	(songs "What Became of the Floradora Boys" / "Meet My Sister")
Marceline Day	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Sally Eilers	...	(song "Ladies of the Ensemble")
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	...	Ambrose (song "Bicycle Built for Two")
Louise Fazenda	...	'Recitations' sketch
Pauline Garon	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Albert Gran	...	Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")
Alexander Gray	...	(song "Lady Luck")
Lloyd Hamilton	...	Hansom Cabby (song "What Became of the Floradora Boys number" / (segment "Recitations") / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")
Julanne Johnston	...	(song "Ladies of the Ensemble")
Lupino Lane	...	Street Cleaner (songs "What Became of the Floradora Boys") / 'Tramp' ballet
Frances Lee	...	(song "Ladies of the Ensemble")
Lila Lee	...	(song "What Became of the Floradora Boys")
Ted Lewis	...	Himself (song "The Pirate") (as Ted Lewis & His Orchestra)
Winnie Lightner	...	(songs "Pingo Pongo" / "Singing in the Bathtub")
Beatrice Lillie	...	(segment "Recitations")
Jacqueline Logan	...	(songs "The Pirate" / "Bicycle Built for Two")
Myrna Loy	...	(songs "What Became of the Floradora Boys" / "Chinese Fantasy")
Nick Lucas	...	Lady Luck' solo (songs "The Only Song I Know" / "Chinese Fantasy")
Tully Marshall	...	(song "The Pirate") / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")
Shirley Mason	...	(songs "Meet My Sister" / "Ladies of the Ensemble")
Otto Matieson	...	'The Pirate' number
Philo McCullough	...	'The Pirate' number
Patsy Ruth Miller	...	(songs "What Became of the Floradora Boys" / "If I Could Learn to Love")
Bull Montana	...	'The Pirate' number
Lee Moran	...	Plumber (song "What Became of the Floradora Boys") / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")
Chester Morris	...	$20 bet sketch and 'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Jack Mulhall	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Edna Murphy	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Carmel Myers	...	(song "Ladies of the Ensemble")
Marian Nixon	...	(song "What Became of the Floradora Boys")
Molly O'Day	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Gertrude Olmstead	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Sally O'Neil	...	(songs "What Became of the Floradora Boys" / "Meet My Sister")
Kalla Pasha	...	(song "The Pirate") / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")
Anders Randolf	...	'The Pirate' number
Rin Tin Tin	...	Himself - introducing "An Oriental Fantasy"
Sid Silvers
Sojin
Ann Sothern	...	(songs "Meet My Sister" / "Bicycle Built for Two") (as Harriet Byron)
Ben Turpin	...	Waiter (song "What Became of the Floradora Boys")
Ada Mae Vaughn	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Alberta Vaughn	...	'Meet My Sister' number
Lolita Vendrell	...	Dancer (as Lola Vendrell)
Edward Ward		(as Eddie Ward)
Alice White	...	(song "If I Could Learn to Love")
Ted Williams	...	Himself (as Ted Williams Adagio Dancers)
Lois Wilson	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Grant Withers	...	'Bicycle Built for Two' number
Loretta Young	...	'Meet My Sister' number

Runtime:

USA:128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

According to the original review published in 'Variety' 27 November 1929, only 21 minutes of the total running time were not in Technicolor, a 17 minute section of Part One, and a four minute opening of Part Two.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Voice That Thrilled the World (1943)

Soundtrack:

Jumping Jack

An intermittently entertaining showcase for current stars

It is difficult to evaluate this or any other comparable film of the early sound era in terms that one might use for ordinary film commentary. At times there is almost a desperation, as many film personalities of the silent era try their wings at sound, surely fearing that they will be left by the wayside (as did happen to some), Rin-Tin-Tin. however, was pertfectly natural. In such a vaudeville of unrelated sequences, some were sure to stand out John Barrymore's soliloquy from Richard II is a moment certainly worth preserving. By and large, only those with earlier stage training exuded confidence. However, this is over all reasonably entertaining, and a must for "film buffs" especially interested in the silent to sound transition