Peach-O-Reno (1931)

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

Tim Whelan (written by)
Ralph Spence (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

WORLD'S GREATEST CLOWNS RUNNING RIOT IN RENO! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

After a quarrell at their 25th wedding aniversery, Joe and Aggie Bruno decide to divorce each other...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Judge | Co Respondent | Lawyer | Train

Cast

Bert Wheeler	...	Wattles
Robert Woolsey	...	Julius Swift
Dorothy Lee	...	Prudence Bruno
Zelma O'Neal	...	Pansy Bruno
Joseph Cawthorn	...	Joe Bruno
Cora Witherspoon	...	Aggie Bruno
Sam Hardy	...	Judge Jackson
Mitchell Harris	...	Ace Crosby
Arthur Hoyt	...	Secretary
Josephine Whittell	...	Mrs. Doubleday-Doubleday

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Stanley Fields and Kitty Kelly were in a pre-production new item as cast members, but they were not seen in the movie.

Soundtrack:

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes

My Favorite Wheeler & Woolsey

Perhaps DIPLOMANIACS is their unsung classic, while COCKEYED CAVALIERS might be considered their most lushly produced. There is much to be found in HALF SHOT AT SUNRISE; KENTUCKY KERNELS; THE NITWITS; and HIPS! HIPS! HOORAY!, but for my money, PEACH O'RENO is my favorite Wheeler & Woolsey picture. I never knew about these two, but after my Dad mentioned that they had been his boyhood favorites, I took a close look at their stuff. The first thing that hooked me was the music, for in most of their work, there is at least one terrific song, usually performed by the unsung, underrated genius Bert Wheeler, and his very pretty, very unpretentious partner, Dorothy Lee. Wheeler was not just a good comic and good dancer, he was a clever, gifted dancer, and an inspired, original comedian. A notable 1920s "star of tomorrow," Bert Wheeler's singing was just a fabulous extra. When we are lucky, the songs in his pictures are extended by way of a comic verse for Bob Woolsey, a rather wacky character man who will confuse many until they realize that despite the glasses and the ever present cigar, he is not George Burns. The two were teamed by the legendary Flo Ziegfeld for RIO RITA, and they came along as part of the package when RKO filmed it, with Dorothy Lee selected by Wheeler himself (she appeared as part of the team 13 times). PEACH is that type of film you always hope you'll find along the way – a picture you can recommend to anyone and you can depend on a positive reaction. PEACH can be compared, foot for foot, to any of the best Marx Brothers, I think it is that funny, that unexpected, and that entertaining. Just simply accept Wheeler & Woolsey as Divorce Attorneys, and you too can buy into this inspired satire on the divorce game in Reno, circa early Depression. Divorce? Well, you bet this is pre-code, and when these lawyers need to hire a correspondent, they just dress up Bert Wheeler, who will amaze you with this brilliant turn. Not content to merely parade or mimic, Bert's naughty, slightly debauched femme fatal should place him among America's comedic giants. There have been good drag acts on film, but very few have offered the detailed, inspired, finely-tuned portrayal served up here! In addition, Wheeler taps, the music is fun, the supporting cast is uniformly game and marvelous, the W & W schtick (trick settings, trick costumes, trick photography) is often a delight, the script is crackling, and although her best lines were cut by the censors way back when, we get a rare appearance by Broadway great Zelma O'Neal (GOOD NEWS; FOLLOW THRU!) as Woolsey's opposite.