Blue Of The Night (1933)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Bing Crosby plays a crooner who gets on a train and ends up sitting by a woman (Marjorie Kane) who just happens to be about to marry another man. On the rip she jokingly says that she wishes she could marry Crosby and a reporter hears this and reports that the two are getting married, which doesn't sit too well with her real boyfriend. This was one of eight two-reelers Crosby made at Paramount under the supervision of Mack Sennett who was working at the studio during the time. If you're look for a funny comedy then you're going to be quite disappointed but even though the "story" doesn't work fans of Crosby will want to turn in for his music alone. "Ev'ry Time My Heart Beats" is sung by Crosby on the train and this is the tune used to have the woman fall for him. It's a simple number in terms of visuals but the vocals are so strong that you really don't need to be looking at anything. Another strong number is Where the Blue of the Night, which the legend performs at the very end. Again, the comic banter surrounding the sequence is pretty unfunny but it's the music that's important. The film's supporting characters are quite weak as is the direction and the slapstick obviously thrown in by Sennett really doesn't work either. Crosby gives a charming performance and that voice is certainly worth sitting through this thing for.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Bing Crosby plays a crooner who gets on a train and ends up sitting by a woman (Marjorie Kane) who just happens to be about to marry another man. On the rip she jokingly says that she wishes she could marry Crosby and a reporter hears this and reports that the two are getting married, which doesn't sit too well with her real boyfriend. This was one of eight two-reelers Crosby made at Paramount under the supervision of Mack Sennett who was working at the studio during the time. If you're look for a funny comedy then you're going to be quite disappointed but even though the "story" doesn't work fans of Crosby will want to turn in for his music alone. "Ev'ry Time My Heart Beats" is sung by Crosby on the train and this is the tune used to have the woman fall for him. It's a simple number in terms of visuals but the vocals are so strong that you really don't need to be looking at anything. Another strong number is Where the Blue of the Night, which the legend performs at the very end. Again, the comic banter surrounding the sequence is pretty unfunny but it's the music that's important. The film's supporting characters are quite weak as is the direction and the slapstick obviously thrown in by Sennett really doesn't work either. Crosby gives a charming performance and that voice is certainly worth sitting through this thing for.