Somewhat Secret (1939)

At the Dimsdale Hall Finishing School, Assistant Dean Emily Godsall declares that any student who associates herself with swing music will be severely punished. Complications develop when ... See full summary »

Director:

Sammy Lee

Writers:

Richard English (story), Julian Hochfelder (screenplay),

Stars:

Mary Howard, Tom Collins, Benny Rubin

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Mary Howard	...	Assistant Dean Emily Godsall
Tom Collins	...	Benjamin 'Barrelhouse Benny' Barnes
Benny Rubin	...	Swingopater Trombonist
Mary Bovard	...	Alice, the Tattletale

Storyline

At the Dimsdale Hall Finishing School, Assistant Dean Emily Godsall declares that any student who associates herself with swing music will be severely punished. Complications develop when she finds out that her boyfriend, a chemistry professor at the school, is also a well-known swing bandleader.

---

Plot Keywords:

chemistry | professor | student | dean | finishing school | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance | Short

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1939 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

21 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?"
Music from the German folk song "Der Deitcher's Dog"
Played as background music in Atlantic City

User Reviews

Silly swing vs. classical music with Mary Howard as prim schoolteacher...

It's a wonder that June Allyson doesn't turn up in this MGM short at a time when she was doing exactly this sort of thing at Warner Bros. in their Vitaphone musicals.

Instead, we have prim MARY HOWARD as a dedicated basher of swing music who suddenly changes her mind when her sweetheart goes off to Atlantic City where he plays piano in a swing festival. Sharp-eyed moviegoers will recognize PHILIP TERRY as the emcee of the dance festival.

TOM COLLINS is the college professor who harbors a secret passion for swing music while working as a chemistry professor.

Odd little short used a theme later taken and developed into a full-length feature by Warner Bros. when they did MY LOVE CAME BACK (swing music vs. classical) in 1940.