Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round (1934)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Benjamin Stoloff

Writers:

Leon Gordon (story)
Joseph Moncure March (additional dialogue and scenes) ...

Release Date:

2 November 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

Underworld king Lee Lother has been killed aboard a ocean liner, several people could have been the murderer...

Plot Keywords:

Debt | Poker Game | Singer | Thief | Ocean Liner

Cast

Gene Raymond	...	Jimmy Brett
Nancy Carroll	...	Sally Marsh
Jack Benny	...	Chad Denby
Sydney Howard	...	Dan Campbell, the Drunk
Mitzi Green	...	Mitzi
Sid Silvers	...	Shorty
Frank Parker	...	Frank, the Tenor
Sidney Blackmer	...	Lee Lother
Ralph Morgan	...	Herbert Rosson
Shirley Grey	...	Anya Rosson
Patsy Kelly	...	Patsy Clarke
Sam Hardy	...	Jack Summers
William 'Stage' Boyd	...	Joe Saunders (as William Boyd)
Robert Elliott	...	Inspector 'Mac' McKinney
Carlyle Moore Jr.	...	Ned Marsh (as Carlyle Moore)

Also Known As:

Keep 'Em Laughing (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #267)

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Quotes:

Sally Marsh: [after having told Jimmy Brett that she'd got quite a past] So if you have an appointment elsewhere, I'll excuse you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hooray for Hollywood (1975)

Soundtrack:

Rock and Roll

A fine Benny Film!!

This little gem of a movie is getting harder and harder to find. It is almost 70 years old. All of the stars in this film may have been well known then but they, except for Jack Benny, are almost all unknown to viewers today.

The story is centered around a well known actress and a thief that fall in love on the cruise. She has connections to a crime boss and is trying to protect her criminal brother from the same crime boss he owes money to. The thief begins by stealing on board the boat and swindles and steals from just about everybody he sees along with his partner who works on ship as a steward. A police detective on vacation begins to figure what the thief is up to and later on attempts to solve the murder of the crime boss. In the end all the loose ends are tied up and the thief and the actress resolve their differences and move forward with their relationship.

The story is good and the support case is great. Jack Benny plays a well know radio personality that is providing the ship board entertainment along with the rest of his cast and staff. He is the quick witted, street smart good guy that has everyone pegged and helps to direct the other passengers in the right direction.

This film has several good musical numbers, typical of the day, and the comedy holds up well by todays standards. If you are able to locate this film or see that it is being aired give it a try. My guess is that you will be glad that you did.