Hoop-La (1933)

A hula dancer at a carnival sets out to seduce the son of the show's manager.

Director:

Frank Lloyd

Writers:

Kenyon Nicholson (play), Bradley King (screenplay),

Stars:

Clara Bow, Preston Foster, Richard Cromwell

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Clara Bow	...	Lou
Preston Foster	...	Nifty Miller
Richard Cromwell	...	Chris Miller
Herbert Mundin	...	Hap Spissel
James Gleason	...	Jerry
Minna Gombell	...	Carrie
Roger Imhof	...	Colonel Gowdy
Florence Roberts	...	Ma Benson
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Damorès	...	Colonel Gowdy aka Colonel Cody (French Version) (voice)

Storyline

A hula dancer at a carnival sets out to seduce the son of the show's manager.

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Plot Keywords:

dancer | carnival | female protagonist | law student | passion | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 November 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gøglerliv

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Clara Bow''s final film.

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Connections

Featured in Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl (1999)

User Reviews

Clara Bow Calls It Quits

Fresh-faced student Richard Cromwell (as Chris Miller) jumps off a train, to join father Preston Foster (as Nifty Miller)'s traveling carnival. Mr. Foster wants his son to stay away from the sleazy side-show folk, and pursue his interest in becoming a lawyer; but, Mr. Cromwell wants to spend some quality time with his dad. With the kid around, Foster must move bed-partner Minna Gombell (as Carrie) to other quarters; so, she slips under the covers with Clara Bow (as Lou). Ms. Gombell doesn't appreciate losing her bed-space to Cromwell; so, she asks Ms. Bow to seduce him. Bow says she doesn't want to be a "cradle robber", but changes her mind for $100.00.

Bow and Cromwell try to make it believable, after her swimming scene (to their credit); but, watching them is like watching Mae West seduce Charles Ray. A re-make of "The Barker" doesn't seem like an inappropriate vehicle; however, "Hoop-la" exploits the plumper Bow's past and (at the time) notoriety. This is precisely the kind of exploitation Bow should have been moving away from, at this point in her career. Not an awful film, all things considered. But not enough for Bow to carry on after all the "Hoop-la". So Bow, born within only two years of Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, and Katharine Hepburn… sadly, retired.

***** Hoop-la (11/30/33) Frank Lloyd ~ Clara Bow, Richard Cromwell, Preston Foster