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IMDbPro

Step Lively

  • 1944
  • Passed
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
607
YOUR RATING
Frank Sinatra, Gloria DeHaven, Adolphe Menjou, George Murphy, Eugene Pallette, and Walter Slezak in Step Lively (1944)
Gordon Miller is rehearsing a musical comedy in the penthouse suite of Gribble's hotel...on credit. The mounting bill is driving Gribble frantic. Chaos increases when playwright Glen Russell, whose dramatic play he thinks Miller is producing, arrives. But it turns out Russell can sing like Sinatra, and Miller has leading lady Christine turn on the charm. Can Miller's crazed machinations save the show?
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
4 Photos
ComedyMusicRomance

Gordon Miller is rehearsing a musical comedy in the penthouse suite of Gribble's hotel...on credit. The mounting bill is driving Gribble frantic. Chaos increases when playwright Glen Russell... Read allGordon Miller is rehearsing a musical comedy in the penthouse suite of Gribble's hotel...on credit. The mounting bill is driving Gribble frantic. Chaos increases when playwright Glen Russell, whose dramatic play he thinks Miller is producing, arrives. But it turns out Russell can... Read allGordon Miller is rehearsing a musical comedy in the penthouse suite of Gribble's hotel...on credit. The mounting bill is driving Gribble frantic. Chaos increases when playwright Glen Russell, whose dramatic play he thinks Miller is producing, arrives. But it turns out Russell can sing like Sinatra, and Miller has leading lady Christine turn on the charm. Can Miller's ... Read all

  • Director
    • Tim Whelan
  • Writers
    • Warren Duff
    • Peter Milne
    • John Murray
  • Stars
    • Adolphe Menjou
    • George Murphy
    • Frank Sinatra
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    607
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tim Whelan
    • Writers
      • Warren Duff
      • Peter Milne
      • John Murray
    • Stars
      • Adolphe Menjou
      • George Murphy
      • Frank Sinatra
    • 17User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:06
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos

    Frank Sinatra, Gloria DeHaven, Wally Brown, Alan Carney, Anne Jeffreys, and George Murphy in Step Lively (1944)
    Gloria DeHaven in Step Lively (1944)
    Frank Sinatra and Gloria DeHaven in Step Lively (1944)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Adolphe Menjou
    Adolphe Menjou
    • Wagner
    George Murphy
    George Murphy
    • Gordon Miller
    Frank Sinatra
    Frank Sinatra
    • Glenn Russell
    Gloria DeHaven
    Gloria DeHaven
    • Christine Marlowe
    Walter Slezak
    Walter Slezak
    • Joe Gribble
    Eugene Pallette
    Eugene Pallette
    • Simon Jenkins
    Wally Brown
    Wally Brown
    • Binion
    Alan Carney
    Alan Carney
    • Harry
    Grant Mitchell
    Grant Mitchell
    • Dr. Gibbs
    Anne Jeffreys
    Anne Jeffreys
    • Miss Abbott
    Robert Andersen
    Robert Andersen
    • Band Leader
    • (uncredited)
    Elaine Anderson
    • Minor Role
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Ash
    Sam Ash
    • Western Union Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Joan Barclay
    Joan Barclay
    • Western Union Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Hubert Bland
    • Everett
    • (uncredited)
    Sammy Blum
    Sammy Blum
    • Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    Iris Bocignon
    • Showgirl
    • (uncredited)
    Patti Brill
    • Telephone Operator
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Tim Whelan
    • Writers
      • Warren Duff
      • Peter Milne
      • John Murray
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film is a musical rendering of the Broadway play, 'Room Service' which was also filmed and, later, performed on television. The play opened on May 19, 1937 at the Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St. and ran for 500 performances. An unsuccessful revival in 1953 ran for 16 performances.
    • Goofs
      In the finale, Wagner and Gribble are shown at the back of the theater in a close shot with Wagner on the left; it cuts to a long shot, and their positions are reversed.
    • Quotes

      Joe Gribble: They're not human beings! They're... actors!

    • Connections
      Featured in Kisses (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      WHERE DOES LOVE BEGIN?
      Music by Jule Styne

      Lyrics by Sammy Cahn

      Performed by Gloria DeHaven, George Murphy, and chorus

      Reprised by Frank Sinatra and Anne Jeffreys

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Musical Remake of Room Service
    Step Lively is simply Room Service with a musical score by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. It was Frank Sinatra's second feature film role and it marked the first time he worked with that team of songwriters. There would be others, especially with Cahn who has the distinction of putting more words in Frank Sinatra's mouth than any other lyricist.

    The original Room Service took place in the hotel suite of Gordon Miller, fast talking producer/conman and was originated by Sam Levene on stage and Groucho Marx on screen. George Murphy is certainly a lighter, gentler version of both of them. But he's passable enough in the part because we wouldn't want too much attention taken from Frank Sinatra.

    Sinatra's role as the naive singer/playwright from Oswego was built up considerably from the original play. It was because of him that this film version was taken out of the one room setting of the original. His role was first played by Eddie Albert on Broadway and Frank Albertson with the Marx Brothers.

    One song stands out in the score, As Long As There's Music which Sinatra really aces. Yet while Step Lively was being filmed at RKO and while it was out the recording industry was being struck by the musicians union. Additionally shellac which was needed to make those 78 RPMS was in short supply because of World War II. Sinatra never recorded the songs from Step Lively even after the strike was over. Yet As Long AS There's Music still became a hit. I have a version by Eddie Fisher on one of my record albums. Yet it's never identified with Sinatra.

    Playing the roles that Chico and Harpo did are the comedy team of Wally Brown and Alan Carney, RKO's attempted answer to Abbott and Costello. RKO also got Adolphe Menjou and Walter Slezak to play the exasperated hotel managers and Eugene Palette had a memorable bit as the representative of Murphy's secret show backer who wants discretion in all things.

    The female roles are from a pair of lovely RKO starlets who had substantial careers, Gloria DeHaven and Anne Jeffreys. So you can't say they didn't do all right by Old Blue Eyes.

    On the strength of this film which did very well at the box office, MGM bought half of Sinatra's contract from RKO and he went on to make some great musicals in the Forties with them. But that's coming very soon.

    Step Lively is both funny and contains some great singing by The Voice.
    helpful•14
    0
    • bkoganbing
    • Sep 23, 2006

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 22, 1945 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Manhattan Serenade
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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