Pick a Star (1937)

A Cinderella story of a young country girl who comes to Hollywood and achieves movie stardom with the help of a publicity man.

Director:

Edward Sedgwick

Writers:

Richard Flournoy (original story and screenplay), Arthur V. Jones (original story and screenplay),

Stars:

Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, Rosina Lawrence

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patsy Kelly	...	Nellie Moore
Jack Haley	...	Joe Jenkins
Rosina Lawrence	...	Cecilia Moore
Mischa Auer	...	Rinaldo Lopez
Lyda Roberti	...	Dagmar
Stan Laurel	...	Stan Laurel
Oliver Hardy	...	Oliver Hardy
Charles Halton	...	Julius Klawheimer
Tom Dugan	...	Dimitri Hogan
Russell Hicks	...	Mr. Stone
Cully Richards	...	Night Club M.C.
Spencer Charters	...	Contest Judge Pike
Sam Adams	...	Sheriff
Robert Gleckler	...	Head Waiter
Joyce Compton	...	Newlywed

Storyline

A Cinderella story of a young country girl who comes to Hollywood and achieves movie stardom with the help of a publicity man.

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Plot Keywords:

hollywood | singer | nightclub | automobile accident | pretending | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Movie Struck

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min 70 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The opening credits show a picture of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy on the frame following Lyda Roberti's name, but they are not identified. Also, they are not in the comprehensive cast list in the end credits; so, technically, they both are uncredited.

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Quotes

Rinaldo Lopez: Do you mind if I smoke?
Nellie Moore: I don't care if you burn!

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Connections

Remake of Free and Easy (1930)

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Soundtracks

"Pick A Star"
(1937)
Music and Lyrics by R. Alex Anderson
Sung by Rosina Lawrence (uncredited)
Reprised by her at the studio test and sung a bit by Jack Haley (uncredited)

User Reviews

Musical comedy feast, with Laurel and Hardy on the side.

Director Edward Sedgwick, an old hand at visual comedy, successfully leads this Hal Roach road show which tenders a fast-moving and adroit scenario and excellent casting, employing a large number of Roach's reliable performers. Although the film was originally plotted as a vehicle for Patsy Kelly, sunny Jack Haley stars as Joe Jenkins, a young Kansan who sells his auto repair business and journeys to Hollywood, where he attempts to wangle a screen role for the girl he loves, star-struck Cecilia (Rosina Lawrence). Sedgwick, who prefers using the entire M-G-M studio as his set, does so here as Cecilia, always ready for an audition, is treated by a would-be paramour, cinema star Rinaldo Lopez (Mischa Auer), to behind-the-scenes action of, naturally, a musical comedy, featuring Broadway headliner Lyda Roberti. Laurel and Hardy provide several enjoyable interludes, including their well-known skit involving a tiny harmonica, and we watch fine turns by such as Joyce Compton, Russell Hicks and Walter Long. On balance, one must hand the bays to Mischa Auer, who clearly steals the picture as an emotional movie star, a role which he largely creates, and to the director for his clever closing homage to Busby Berkeley's filmic spectacles.