This originally started life as a straight comedy but when RKO studio heads heard about the popularity of "Sunny Side Up" they decided to stop filming, scrap the cast, all except June Clyde and then add some songs. Clyde was touted by RKO as the "Luckiest Girl in Hollywood" and for a short while she was the studio's musical hope but all too soon (by 1931) she was on poverty row. Picked for the role apparently because of her lovely legs, she plays "little Miss Fix-it" Peggy Reynolds, embarrassed at her parent's foolish cavortings - her father with flirtatious widow (Dorothy Revier) and her mother with artist Roger (Allan Kearns). Second billed in the cast was Arthur Lake as Bill, Peggy's irritating sweetie. Originally Joel McCrea was going to get his big break but he was dropped in favour of Arthur Lake, surely the whiniest actor of that or any other time (he found his dream role almost a decade later as Dagwood). He was really persevered with by the various studios, why? who knows - it may have been his family connections.
All roads lead to the Orphan's Benefit as the film starts with a panning shot of beachside frivolity then goes directly to cute as a button Peggy who sings up a storm with "Come On In", a very hummable song with gorgeous Clyde strutting her stuff in bathers and the chorus line enthusiastic as well. Another person who is unhappy about the romantic entanglements is Tootie, Roger's flapper fiancée. Ann Pennington is gorgeous, all pep and personality and she informs him of her displeasure in "You're Responsible". They both perform a great little song and dance duet which is the highlight of the movie. Kearns, who didn't really have the greatest face for a leading man, had been a star on Broadway specializing in Gershwin productions and went on to have a starring role in "Girl Crazy" - he could actually dance and matched Ann step for step!! Shock!! Horror!! - two girls saunter onto the beach in stockings and that is all that is needed for Peggy and Tootie to go into the song and dance "Tanned Legs"!!
There has to be more than just singing and dancing - where's the story!! Enter Sally Blane (originally the part was to be played by Marceline Day) - she plays Janet, Peggy's sister, in love with a ne'er do well who, unknown to everyone at the resort, is in league with the flirtatious widow and between them hoping to get as much as they can from the gullible Reynolds family. Peggy overhears her sister pleading for some incriminating letters and being sneered at for her trouble. Peggy decides to get them herself, she is seen on his balcony and her reputation is in tatters!! - "turned against by kith and kin"!! but she finds an unlikely ally who turns out to be the hero of the movie!! Not before a shot rings out and Peggy from her sick bed can give everyone a thorough dressing down worthy of Shirley Temple!!
Marshall Neilan had been a skyrocket, directing some of Mary Pickford's best films and discovering some terrific talent (Sally O'Neill, Wesley Barry) but by 1929 it had all faded in an alcoholic mist. He didn't get congratulations for "Tanned Legs", the New York Times critic scolded that the film was "unimaginatively directed like a senior high school play with sound"!!
Highly Recommended.
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