In 1914 eccentric comedienne Charlotte Greenwood's boundless energy stole the show from leading lady Fritzi Scheff in "Pretty Mrs. Smith" and from then on producers clamoured to star her in several shows based on her character, Letty Proudfoot. Sixteen years later Warner's paid her $30,000 to star in their all talkie/ all singie version of "So Long Letty" but as usual only the title song was retained from the stage show - Grant Clarke and Harry Akst, Warner's house composers wrote the rest.
At just over an hour it is lively and fast paced and for once sassy Marion Byron gets a chance to shine as one of the perky grand-daughters (Helen Foster is the other) of grumpy old ketchup and tomato king Claude Davis (Claude Gillingwater). He takes an instant dislike to long legged Letty, manageress of the resort's beauty parlour who scouts for business by visiting new guests. Unknown to Davis, she is married to his nephew, Tommy (Bert Roach) - but even before he arrives there is trouble brewing in the Davis home. Tommy is tired of Letty's shiftless ways and longs for the stability and home cooking enjoyed by neighbour Harry (Grant Withers) who, in turn, is fed up with his pretty but boring wife Grace (Patsy Ruth Miller of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" fame). They decide to swap wives for a week and hopefully Tommy will be able to find favour and inheritance from Uncle Claude, especially as "Unckie" seems very taken with Grace's domestic ways.
Of course both boys soon long for their respective spouses. Tommy gets bored with the repetitiveness of home cooked meals and Harry longs for a respite from non stop party central!! The climax is a big, rowdy, boozy party which has Uncle Claude ringing in a complaint to the local police. There is Letty, legs flying, singing and "Clowning". Harry now completely fed up with late nights has to be dragged to it kicking and screaming although Withers gets into the mood instantly and teams up with sassy Ruth for the movie's highlight "One Sweet Little Yes", complete with voe doe deos from Byron!! Letty sings "My Strongest Weakness Is You" (the song hit of the movie) - even Tommy has wandered over, eager for excitement. It seems the only one left out is Grace.
Wisecracks abound - "my wife doesn't understand me - well why don't you stay home nights and tell her a bit about yourself", "Letty, you have lovely hands. Grace's hands are all thumbs - mostly down", "You'll eat your words - he'll eat anything he can get to his mouth". Greenwood also sings the spirited "My Beauty Shop" to the delight of the young flappers. Even though the theme of "wife swapping" sounds risqué, reviewers of the time weren't impressed and saved their highest praise for Charlotte.
At just over an hour it is lively and fast paced and for once sassy Marion Byron gets a chance to shine as one of the perky grand-daughters (Helen Foster is the other) of grumpy old ketchup and tomato king Claude Davis (Claude Gillingwater). He takes an instant dislike to long legged Letty, manageress of the resort's beauty parlour who scouts for business by visiting new guests. Unknown to Davis, she is married to his nephew, Tommy (Bert Roach) - but even before he arrives there is trouble brewing in the Davis home. Tommy is tired of Letty's shiftless ways and longs for the stability and home cooking enjoyed by neighbour Harry (Grant Withers) who, in turn, is fed up with his pretty but boring wife Grace (Patsy Ruth Miller of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" fame). They decide to swap wives for a week and hopefully Tommy will be able to find favour and inheritance from Uncle Claude, especially as "Unckie" seems very taken with Grace's domestic ways.
Of course both boys soon long for their respective spouses. Tommy gets bored with the repetitiveness of home cooked meals and Harry longs for a respite from non stop party central!! The climax is a big, rowdy, boozy party which has Uncle Claude ringing in a complaint to the local police. There is Letty, legs flying, singing and "Clowning". Harry now completely fed up with late nights has to be dragged to it kicking and screaming although Withers gets into the mood instantly and teams up with sassy Ruth for the movie's highlight "One Sweet Little Yes", complete with voe doe deos from Byron!! Letty sings "My Strongest Weakness Is You" (the song hit of the movie) - even Tommy has wandered over, eager for excitement. It seems the only one left out is Grace.
Wisecracks abound - "my wife doesn't understand me - well why don't you stay home nights and tell her a bit about yourself", "Letty, you have lovely hands. Grace's hands are all thumbs - mostly down", "You'll eat your words - he'll eat anything he can get to his mouth". Greenwood also sings the spirited "My Beauty Shop" to the delight of the young flappers. Even though the theme of "wife swapping" sounds risqué, reviewers of the time weren't impressed and saved their highest praise for Charlotte.