The Show of Shows (1929)

It's 1929. The studio gave the cinema its voice gave offered the audiences a chance to see their favorite actors and actresses from the silent screen era to see and for the first time can ... See full summary »

Director:

John G. Adolfi

Writers:

J. Keirn Brennan, Frank Fay,

Stars:

Frank Fay, William Courtenay, H.B. Warner

Cast

Complete credited 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	...	Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number (as Mimi Vendrell)
Johnny Arthur	...	Hero - Performer in 'The Pirate'
Mary Astor	...	Performer in 'The Pirate' Number
William Bakewell	...	Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number
Richard Barthelmess	...	Meet My Sister Presenter
Noah Beery	...	(Performer in "The Pirate" Number / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")
Sally Blane	...	Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number
Monte Blue	...	Condemned Man (segment "Rifle Execution")
Irène Bordoni	...	Performer in 'Just for One Hour of Love' Number

Storyline

It's 1929. The studio gave the cinema its voice gave offered the audiences a chance to see their favorite actors and actresses from the silent screen era to see and for the first time can be heard in a gaudy, grandiose music comedy revue. But also appear actors and actresses from the first 'talkies', stars from Broadway and of course the German shepherd Rin-Tin-Tin. Frank Fay is the host of the more than 70 well-known stars who show various acts.

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Plot Keywords:

revue | reference to shakespeare's richard iii | guillotine | two strip technicolor | dog

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Genres:

Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 December 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Parada das Maravilhas

Box Office

Budget:

$850,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Vitaphone) (Western Electric Apparatus)

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two reels of color footage survive.

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Connections

Featured in The Voice That Thrilled the World (1943)

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Soundtracks

"Ping Pongo"
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph Burke
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Sung by Winnie Lightner

User Reviews

Mixed Bag, But Worth Seeing

One of a handful of "revue" films from the early sound era, this film mixes musical numbers and comedy routines, a la vaudeville. Some items don't really work, in particular Frank Fay's role as emcee, and the finale, which is rather loosely structured. On the other hand, Winnie Lightner does two terrific turns, especially with "Singin' in the Bathtub," which is put over with punch. Some versions have the "Li-Po-Li" segment in 2-strip Technicolor, which gives the routine unusual sheen and polish, playing off the strengths of the system, especially in the use of turquoises and reds.

Generally superior, I think, to MGM's "Hollywood Revue of 1929," and worth watching if you can