Colleen (1936)

The Ames Company makes every effort to keep Uncle Cedric away from any decisions or work. This is in the best interests for him and the company. Trouble starts when he hires a schemer named... See full summary »

Director:

Alfred E. Green

Writers:

Peter Milne (screen play), F. Hugh Herbert (screen play)

Stars:

Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Jack Oakie

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dick Powell	...	Donald Ames 3rd
Ruby Keeler	...	Colleen Reilly
Jack Oakie	...	Joe Cork
Joan Blondell	...	Minnie Hawkins
Hugh Herbert	...	Cedric Ames
Louise Fazenda	...	Alicia Ames
Paul Draper	...	Paul Gordon
Marie Wilson	...	Mabel
Luis Alberni	...	Carlo
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Noggin
Berton Churchill	...	Logan
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Pop Reilly
Addison Richards	...	Schuyler
Charles Coleman	...	Butler

Storyline

The Ames Company makes every effort to keep Uncle Cedric away from any decisions or work. This is in the best interests for him and the company. Trouble starts when he hires a schemer named Joe as his personal assistant and then a gal named Minnie who loves fashion. He buys Minnie a dress shop where Colleen is the bookkeeper and scandal soon follows. When Donald goes to shut down the shop, he doesn't as he is infatuated by Colleen. Colleen runs the shop and fashion shows and starts to make a profit, but Minnie starts a scandal when Cedric tries to adopt her, but doesn't - much to the horror of Alicia and the amusement of the press. Then Joe sues Donald for the loss of Colleen's affection.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | forename as title | fashion | one word title | slang | 

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Taglines:

DICK POWELL Starts Singing....RUBY KEELER Starts Tapping...

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The running time at a press preview was 100 minutes, but it was cut to 89 minutes before release.

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Quotes

Logan: He's become interested in a Minnie Hawkins, a chocolate dipper! A what? Yes, a chocolate dipper! He's also bought Carlo's bankrupt Dress Shop for $100,000 and put the chocolate dipper in charge.

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Crazy Credits

After the main titles, most of the principals (Powell, Keeler, Oakie, Blondell, Fazenda, Wilson, and Alberni) and introduced and sing about what they're going to do in the picture that follows. The exceptions are Herbert (who giggles) and Draper (who tap dances)

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Connections

Edited into Six Hits and a Miss (1942)

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Soundtracks

You Gotta Know How to Dance
(1936) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Played during the opening photo credits and sung with special lyrics by Dick Powell,
Ruby Keeler, Jack Oakie, Joan Blondell, Hugh Herbert, Louise Fazenda,
, Luis Alberni and Marie Wilson and chorus and tap-danced by Paul Draper and chorus
Sung by Dick Powell, danced by Paul Draper and Ruby Keeler in the finale
Played also as background music

User Reviews

Not that bad

Sorry to have to disagree with the "disaster" rating in the previous "user comments". Just for the record, Dick Powell/Ruby Keeler musical comedies aren't supposed to have thick plots.

This film is supposed to be a light hearted musical comedy for the depression-era audience, and that is just what it is. I'll grant you that the musical numbers aren't as memorable as other Powell/Keeler films(by the way, they were never married - Powell married Joan Blondell that year). I'd also say that Paul Draper's tap dancing is a cut below the flowing moves of Fred Astaire.

However, the film has some redeeming comedic value. Hugh Herbert is a gem of a bumbling business executive, and Joan Blondell was in her element as Jack Oakie's conniving sidekick.

Overall, I found this film to be quite acceptable.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Colleen

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1