Melody Cruise (1933) User Reviews

Innovative editing and pre-Code sensibility

[warrenk-2 · 7/10 · 14 March 2005]

"Melody Cruise" is a breezy RKO musical made just before the beginning of the Astaire-Rogers series. Directed by Mark Sandrich (who directed five of the Astaire-Rogers films), it is still easy viewing today because of its innovative editing style and its pre-Code sensibility.

I believe this is one of the films that established the use of the playback system for musical numbers, giving filmmakers more freedom for visual creativity. Only one of its songs is presented in a traditional way of having a performer sing while another listens, and even this progresses into a sequence of invention. Other songs are often spoken by various members of the chorus, each saying one line -- at one point, just a single word -- as the musical narrative proceeds. The song, "He's Not the Marrying Kind," perfectly illustrates this.

The musical numbers play energetically with the editing and seem to enjoy their own inventiveness. The opening sequence shows how movies can create an engaging musical number out of such non-musical elements like someone pushing a broom, a man blowing at his hands to keep warm, a shop sign swinging in the wind. Only the ice skating ballet disappoints as a limp Busby Berkeley imitation.

Many transitions are done by using a wipe, a popular editing device of the period. The film editors and effects team seem to have had fun creating wipes that visually comment on the story. (The great Linwood Dunn was one of the special effects artists.) A shot of the cruise ship in rough sea with high waves wipes to a shot of Charles Ruggles feeling seasick in his stateroom by using the visual effect of water washing down the screen. A flower vase falls and "breaks" onto a cymbal in the ship's dance band just as the drummer hits it. A love dialogue between Phil Harris and Helen Mack is protracted over a number of scenic California locations, first through diagonal wipes and then jump cuts.

Naughty pre-Code elements are embodied, literally, in the presence of Vera and Zoe (Shirley Chambers and June Brewster), two party girls who pass out in Ruggles' cabin after the bon voyage party instead of leaving the ship. When told their clothes have been thrown overboard, Vera reminds Zoe: "It's possible, Zoe. You know whenever you get a few drinks in you, you always want to take your clothes off."

The film offers an early version of the driver's license/marriage license scene the ended George Cukor's version of "Born Yesterday".

Interesting 'Musical-Comedy' with very little music.

[rayb7067 · 7/10 · 28 July 2002]

This is a musical comedy with hardly any songs, but is still interesting to watch because of its style. Outside of Phil Harris, none of the other 'leads' sing a note. Many of the songs are 'talked' by uncredited performers, and parts of the film are spoken in verse. The use of sound effects(train whistles, telegraph keys) are cleverly incorporated into the songs, creating an interesting approach to music-making. Helen Mack is very appealing as the female lead, with Charlie Ruggles fun to watch as he bumbles his way through the film. Fans of Phil Harris from his Disney cartoon voices('The Jungle Book', 'Robin Hood') will find him an attractive leading man. All in all, an oddity in the musical-comedy vein, but worth a viewing.

Charlie cheating again

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 21 March 2019]

In this RKO musical Charlie Ruggles was brought over from Paramount but he's playing his usual role of a cheating playboy who has written an indiscreet letter and wants it back before wife Marjorie Gateson sees it. She's in Europe and Charlie is on a delightful cruise to California through the Panama Canal with cuties June Brewster and Shirley Chambers.

Along for the ride is Ruggles's pal Phil Harris who finds some true love on the cruise with Helen Mack. Some forgettable songs are in Melody Cruise save for its main theme Isn't This A Night For Love repeated throughout and best used as an ice ballet when the ship docks in California and Phil and Helen are in Squaw Valley. I have to say Busby Berkeley could not have done better over at Warner Brothers given the bigger budgets he had than what RKO did here.

What's hard to believe here is that Phil Harris was ever that young for those of us who remember him as Jack Benny's brash bandleader and in only a few more years. Handles his end of the singing nicely.

One only wishes that RKO had borrowed Mary Boland as well as Ruggles from Paramount. Ruggles always did his best work with her though no complaints about Gateson.

Nice ending for Ruggles when he knows the jig is up.

So this ... is Harris.

[pronker · 7/10 · 13 April 2019]

So This Is Harris, a wildly entertaining short, is also directed by Sandrich and he knocks out another cheery, flippant story in Melody Cruise with Harris as lothario; personally, I think Harris is cute enough and seems to have panache enough to be considered a playboy. He has one song to sing and his camaraderie with Ruggles is believable. Ruggles and Mack made the movie for me because they played their roles with conviction, with Harris a happy boy running away from marriage to anyone. Ruggles is married and wants more than Mrs. Ruggles, whose wise and knowing look at the denouement shows she knows the content of the incriminating letter even before she reads it aloud to her husband.

Mack portrayed a down to earth girl slowly reeled in by Harris in fits and starts, and I liked her here as much as in Son of Kong. The party girls, one of whom is Shirley Chambers who was delightful in The Half-Naked Truth, played with their dialogue and fit the parts well. Chick Chandler as a steward was perky and a fine physical comic; he resembles William Haines more than somewhat and had me fooled for a while! All in all, if you watch Melody Cruise for the fun story, interesting visual wipes and for Mack, you'll be entertained. I give this 7 stars for the wipes, Harris who played in few films so it was fun to see him here since I mainly know him from radio, and for Mack, very cute personality with a calmer center than many performers.

The interest is in the editing of the musical numbers

[richard-1787 · 6/10 · 19 January 2017]

The plot, characters, and acting in this movie are undistinguished and easily forgettable.

What I found different and interesting was the editing in some of the (few) musical numbers. In particular the opening of the movie, which cuts from one example to the next of people dealing with the cold in New York City. In a minor way, it was reminiscent of the opening Song of Paris number in Rouben Mamoulian's very clever Maurice Chevalier/Jeanette MacDonald movie *Love Me Tonight*, which had been released the year before by Paramount.

There is also a love duet, of sorts, on the ocean liner that cuts from Phil Harris singing (sort of) the melody to German and Italian immigrants singing (much better) the same tune to different words.

In between those few moments, there's a lot of clichéd drivel. The fact that it is a pre-code movie only means that we get to see two women in their lingerie more often than in dresses. Not much to titillate you, I'm afraid.

Phil Harris doesn't sing well in this movie - you'd never guess this was the voice of Balou in The Jungle Book - and doesn't make a convincing leading man.

In short, a mostly forgettable movie with some interesting editing.

Fortunately, not a movie about Tom's mother.

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 10 December 2014]

This is a wacky comedy/musical about the goings on aboard a steam ship, particularly the two young "nieces" of "uncle" Charlie Ruggles and the romantic issues which arise because of others aboard. This was right before the code came in, so "sugar daddies" could be presented with a bit of a code of their own so they weren't obviously too dirty, but the obviousness is still there. Phil Harris may have been an expert comic actor, but he has no business being a romantic leading man, singing the film's main love song ("Isn't This a Night for Love") with such deep tones that you think that the recording is on the wrong speed. When the song is utilized later on for a winter sports scene, it is aided considerably by the presence of Busby Berkley over-head shots. An opening number, "He's Not the Marrying Kind", reminds me of the patter lyrics utilized in some of the Maurice Chevalier/Jeanette MacDonald musicals, particularly "Love Me Tonight". It follows a unique musical interlude where people going about their daily routines (work, play, shop) do so in an almost choreographic like state. Helen Mack and Greta Niessen are the pretty romantic heroines with June Brewster and Shirley Chambers notable as Ruggles' friends. A great job of direction by Mark Sandrich takes this above the normal pattern of pre-code musicals and makes it, while not quite up there with Warner Brothers' Busby Berkley classics, one that is worthy of re-discovery, and especially one that really tested the patience of those watching how far Hollywood was going to avoid the rules of good taste in the movies. Looking at musicals a little over a year later may have showed some higher standards of taste, but they weren't nearly as fun.

It's hard to describe this movie because it's so many things at the same time. It's a comedy, it's a musical, it's sexy, groundbreaking and different.

[rlymzv · 10/10 · 11 December 2022]

What a joy it is for a movie collector like me to find a movie I've never seen before that is so darn good. It's hard to describe this movie because it's so many things at the same time. It's a comedy, it's a musical, it's sexy, groundbreaking and different.

Most of the dialogue is spoken rhythmically, a device that might have been tiresome in lesser hands. Zoe and Vera, are two interesting characters in this film. They are "party-goers", stranded in a stateroom. To keep the women safely in his cabin, Pete bribes steward Hickey to steal their clothes. They escape anyway.

The most fun elements of the film are both technical and sub-story-wise. The technical are the creative dissolves from scene to scene. They don't just fade; they are patterned in truly artistic ways. The film contains many highly entertaining special effects created by Vern Walker and Lyn Dunn. Decorated with lots of pretty girls, punctuated with melodic interludes, its strong points are a very pretty ice-skating ballet and the work of Charles Ruggles.

Melody Cruise is mixture of nonsense and music which makes for an excellent show. It's not the singing or the clowning that makes this a smart piece of work, but the imaginative direction of Mark Sandrich, who is alert in seizing ANY opportunity for cinematic stunts. From the viewpoint of direction this production is quite an achievement. I'm very happy to have this excellent film in my 3,000 DVD/Blu-ray collection.

A movie that is as fresh today as it was in 1933!

[Daryl17 · 10/10 · 27 September 2003]

From start to finish, this film never slows down. There are so many great one-liners, sexual innuendos, and great moments, that it is just a fun film to watch. Helen Mack is quick witted and a very natural actor. Her abilities are showcased well - no wonder they chose her for this part. The musical score is great! It borders on being a musical, especially with all the great choreography. It has the look and feel of the wonderful musicals of the '40s and '50s. The characters are memorable and the comedic timing is perfect. I give this move four stars!

Still fresh after all the years

[Filmclipper · 9/10 · 31 March 2020]

What a fun and bouncy few reels of musical fun we have here! Music is everywhere, even in the shoveling of snow and the steam of a locomotive. As mentioned by others, the wipes, transitions, and segues are novel and creative, still fresh, really, after going-on 90 years. Charlie Ruggles is as delightful as ever. And who knew Phil Harris was ever this good-looking and could play the chief love interest in any kind of film? But he was and he did. And this wasn't just any kind of film. Creative photography is a just a little over-the-top in a way keeps that keeps your eyes on the screen. It's all a little surreal and funny and fine.

Wonderful and Surprising Little Light-hearted Gem

[jayraskin · 9/10 · 20 March 2022]

This was director Mark Sandwich's first talking feature film. Sandwich only did 17 in his short 10 year feature directing career, but they included 5 of the 10 Astaire-Rogers films including "Top Hat" arguably their best, 3 excellent Jack Benny films, 2 of Wheeler/Woolsey's best, and the classic "Holiday Inn." His future talents as a director are on display here, as clever editing enhance and sweep along good performances by all the lead actors.

Charlie Ruggles, who stars, was all over television from 1960 to 1966 when I started serious watching. He was in his 70s then, but still was delightful in everything he was in. I didn't know that he had starring roles 30 years earlier. He was always humorously nervous in his television roles, and that is how he is here, trying to stop his wife from finding out about his numerous past flirtations.

Like Director Sandwich, Helen Mack had a short career, that ended about the same time as Sanwich's, 1945. (he died at age 44, but she lived 40 more years). She also did some notable great films - "Son of Kong," "She," The Milky Way," and a short, but great role as Mollie Malloy in "His Girl Friday." She was excellent as the innocent and vulnerable object of co-star Phil Harris' (band leader from the Jack Benny radio show) affection. She is very earnest in this film. I am going to have to binge watch her other films as well as Charlie Ruggles now.

If you're depressed about the world, this movie will definitely cheer you up and bring a big smile to your face. Its a definite watch if you enjoy Astaire-Rogers.

A nifty film.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 28 September 2021]

Pete and Alan (Charlie Ruggles and Phil Harris) are going on a cruise from New York to California and plan on living it up and chasing women. Pete is married, so he passes off the girls he's with as his 'nieces'. As for Alan, he's single and vows never to marry. What's more....he makes Alan promise to stop him if he ever gets serious about a woman! Not surprisingly, Pete meets a lovely lady on the trip and asks her to marry him...and Alan steps into action! What's next? And, what about Alan's wife?

The best thing about this comedy is the style. It's pretty amazing to watch and the dialog and music are so well put together...like a giant puzzle. It's enjoyable and fun....and worth seeing. Nothing brilliant here...just a bit of silly fun.