Sing Your Worries Away (1942)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Charles Belden (idea)
Erwin S. Gelsey (story) ...

Release Date:

6 March 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

This package for comedy and the musical numbers has Luke Brown being drugged by the gangster operators...

Plot Keywords:

Cousin | Inheritance | Rowboat | Heir | Missing Person

Cast

Bert Lahr	...	Clarence 'Chow' Brewster
June Havoc	...	Roxey Rochelle
Buddy Ebsen	...	Tommy Jones
Patsy Kelly	...	Bebe McGuire
Dorothy Lovett	...	Carol Brewster
Sam Levene	...	Smiley Clark
Margaret Dumont	...	Flo Faulkner - Landlady
Alvino Rey	...	Himself - Orchestra Leader (as Alvino Rey and His Orchestra)
King Sisters	...	Themselves (as The King Sisters)

Runtime:

70 min | USA:71 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #7789)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Two cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): 'Linda Rivas' (Cigarette girl) and Warren Jackson (Song publisher).

Quotes:

Luke Brown: Aren't you afraid?
Clarence 'Chow' Brewster: Have you ever heard my courage question?
Bebe McGuire: I've never even heard it mentioned.

Soundtrack:

Nothing Can Change My Mind

Labored and Tedious

I really wanted to enjoy this seldom seen little RKO musical, directed by Edward Sutherland, starring Bert Lahr, Buddy Ebsen, Patsy Kelly, Kings Sisters, Alvino Rey & His Orchestra. But it didn't dazzle me as much as I wanted to. In spite of the nice, freewheeling songs, "Sing Your Worries Away" feels oddly flustered or clumsy.

It mainly works as a so-so vehicle for Bert Lahr and his zany jokes which are painstakingly obvious and labored. If you can stand the jokes, then the movie may be eminently watchable. Lahr plays a happy-go-lucky composer, Chow Brewster, who inherits $3,000,000 at a Boathouse Inn, where a crook (Sam Levene) and his gang drive Lahr to commit suicide so they can grab the money. Patsy Kelly provides nice supporting role as the eccentric hotel worker; Buddy Ebsen is very entertaining in his part as the friend of the slain victim. We also see some interesting appearances by June Havoc & Margaret Dumont to display their inimitable character traits.

For me, the high point is the rendition of the title number by the King Sisters at the hotel, and then Ebsen exuberantly dances with one of the sisters. It's a joyous little moment, but mostly the movie is a tedious affair.