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IMDbPro

The Life of the Party

  • 19371937
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 17m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
195
YOUR RATING
Helen Broderick, Harriet Nelson, Victor Moore, Harry Parke, Joe Penner, and Gene Raymond in The Life of the Party (1937)
Dr. Molnac and his musical troupe; Beggs, the manager; Mitzi Martos, a singer; Mitzi's agent Pauline; society scion Barry Saunders and his "keeper" Oliver Goodwin, are en route to Santa Barbara. Barry falls for Mitzi while trying to loosen her slipper caught between two railroad cars, but she mysteriously leaves before he can learn her name. Barry and Oliver take a suite at the Casa Barbara, where they hire the house detective, Parkyakarkus to find the slipper's owner but he bungles the job. Oliver reminds Barry that he will lose his mother's $3,000,000 inheritance if he weds before the age of thirty. Mitzi and Pauline also register at the hotel, hoping to induce Dr. Molnac, performing there, to give Mitzi an audition. Also arriving are Mitzi's mother, Countess Martos and her wealthy friend Mrs. Penner and her son Joe, and the mothers have intentions of Joe marrying Mitzi. Barry finally meets Mitzi, and proposes marriage at a date three years in the future. To break up the romance, Joe and Parky steal Mitzi's shoe wardrobe and she, thinking Barry did it, rushes to his room in her negligee, upbraids him and stalks out. He, in his dressing gown, follows her to her room and they are about to reconcile when Mitzi's mother and Joe and his mother enter. Barry hides in another room and overhears Mitzi's mother blandly suggesting that Mitzi marry Joe. Mitzi, not pleased at this prospect, tells them she is already married and Barry, taking the cue, enters and plays the role of the new husband. Mitzi's mother promptly has them booked into the bridal suite. Pauline and Oliver arrange a wedding party with Dr. Molnac's troupe performing and Pauline, still scheming to get Mitzi an audition, hires Joe and Parky to kidnap Molnac's singer, Susan. Mitzi is a smash hit, and Barry's mother arrives and announces she had lied about his age and he is really thirty, and can get married without losing his inheritance.
Play trailer1:11
1 Video
9 Photos
ComedyMusicalRomance

Dr. Molnac and his musical troupe; Beggs, the manager; Mitzi Martos, a singer; Mitzi's agent Pauline; society scion Barry Saunders and his "keeper" Oliver Goodwin, are en route to Santa Barb... Read allDr. Molnac and his musical troupe; Beggs, the manager; Mitzi Martos, a singer; Mitzi's agent Pauline; society scion Barry Saunders and his "keeper" Oliver Goodwin, are en route to Santa Barbara. Barry falls for Mitzi while trying to loosen her slipper caught between two railroad ... Read allDr. Molnac and his musical troupe; Beggs, the manager; Mitzi Martos, a singer; Mitzi's agent Pauline; society scion Barry Saunders and his "keeper" Oliver Goodwin, are en route to Santa Barbara. Barry falls for Mitzi while trying to loosen her slipper caught between two railroad cars, but she mysteriously leaves before he can learn her name. Barry and Oliver take a su... Read all

IMDb RATING
5.6/10
195
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William A. Seiter
  • Writers
    • Bert Kalmar(screen play)
    • Harry Ruby(screen play)
    • Viola Brothers Shore(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Joe Penner
    • Gene Raymond
    • Harry Parke
  • Director
    • William A. Seiter
  • Writers
    • Bert Kalmar(screen play)
    • Harry Ruby(screen play)
    • Viola Brothers Shore(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Joe Penner
    • Gene Raymond
    • Harry Parke
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:11
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos9

    Victor Moore and Gene Raymond in The Life of the Party (1937)
    Harriet Nelson and Gene Raymond in The Life of the Party (1937)
    Ann Miller in The Life of the Party (1937)
    Harriet Nelson in The Life of the Party (1937)
    Margaret Dumont, Harriet Nelson, Joe Penner, and Ann Shoemaker in The Life of the Party (1937)
    Harriet Nelson and Gene Raymond in The Life of the Party (1937)
    The Life of the Party (1937)
    Helen Broderick, Ann Miller, Victor Moore, Harry Parke, and Joe Penner in The Life of the Party (1937)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe Penner
    Joe Penner
    • Penner
    Gene Raymond
    Gene Raymond
    • Barry Saunders
    Harry Parke
    Harry Parke
    • Parky
    • (as Parkyakarkus)
    Harriet Nelson
    Harriet Nelson
    • Mitzi
    • (as Harriet Hilliard)
    Victor Moore
    Victor Moore
    • Oliver
    Helen Broderick
    Helen Broderick
    • Pauline
    Billy Gilbert
    Billy Gilbert
    • Dr. Molnac
    Ann Miller
    Ann Miller
    • Betty
    Richard Lane
    Richard Lane
    • Hotel Manager
    Franklin Pangborn
    Franklin Pangborn
    • Beggs
    Margaret Dumont
    Margaret Dumont
    • Mrs. Penner
    Ann Shoemaker
    Ann Shoemaker
    • Countess Martos
    Betty Jane Rhodes
    Betty Jane Rhodes
    • Susan
    George Irving
    George Irving
    • Mr. Van Tuyl
    Winifred Harris
    Winifred Harris
    • Mrs. Van Tuyl
    Charles Judels
    Charles Judels
    • Maitre d'Hotel
    Carol Adams
    Carol Adams
    • Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Ben Alexander
    Ben Alexander
    • Orchestra Leader
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William A. Seiter
    • Writers
      • Bert Kalmar(screen play)
      • Harry Ruby(screen play)
      • Viola Brothers Shore(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ann Miller was actually only about 14 years old when she made this.
    • Goofs
      The sound of the tap shoes of the dancer do not match up to the actual tap dancing of Carol Adams during the opening number on the train.
    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits swing in and out from one side, as if they were on door-hinges.
    • Soundtracks
      Chirp a Little Ditty
      (1937)
      Music by Allie Wrubel
      Lyrics by Herb Magidson (as Herbert Magidson)
      Sung by Betty Jane Rhodes (uncredited)
      Danced by Ann Miller (uncredited)
      Reprised by Joe Penner (uncredited) with Harry Parke (uncredited) on piccolo

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Let's Swing
    Here's a piece of fluff that is slim on plot but FILLED with talent. This small movie is all of 70 minutes. Boring? not on your life so be prepared to SWING. Check the talent..heck they were the top of the heap. The last scene has Harriet Hilliard in a stunning gown that was eons away from the Ozzie and Harriet Show..That's not a slam so check out her vocal talent.

    I have not much to contribute except PLEASE be a fan of the simple 1930's and 1940's films that were evidently produced to make one smile and leave their troubles behind. Here is a goody. The fabulous TCM has a habit of showing let alone introducing people to what being memorized through cinema is all about.. The topping about this movie is the music SWINGS...

    OH...I only gave it a rating because I had to...
    helpful•7
    1
    • stoneyburke
    • Oct 20, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 3, 1937 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Capricho galante
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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