Swing Fever (1943)

Lowell Blackford (Kay Kyser) is blessed with a gift of music,but also cursed with a hereditary "evil eye" which hypnotizes people,and he is virtually a recluse. He goes in search of a ... See full summary »

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Matt Brooks (story), Joseph Hoffman (story)

Stars:

Kay Kyser, Marilyn Maxwell, William Gargan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kay Kyser	...	Lowell Blackford
Marilyn Maxwell	...	Ginger Gray
William Gargan	...	'Waltzy' Malone
Nat Pendleton	...	'Killer' Kennedy
Lena Horne	...	Lena Horne
Curt Bois	...	Nick Sirocco
Morris Ankrum	...	Dan Conlon
Andrew Tombes	...	Dr. Clyde L. Star
Maxie Rosenbloom	...	'Rags'
Clyde Fillmore	...	Mr. Nagen
Pamela Blake	...	Lois
Lou Nova	...	Kid Mandell
Jack Roper	...	'Sledgehammer'
Harry Babbitt	...	Vocalist with Kay Kyser's Orchestra
Sully Mason	...	Sully

Storyline

Lowell Blackford (Kay Kyser) is blessed with a gift of music,but also cursed with a hereditary "evil eye" which hypnotizes people,and he is virtually a recluse. He goes in search of a Broadway publisher for a symphonietta he has written, and ends up crashing an audition at the Swing Publishing Company, where he meets torch singer Ginger Gray (Marilyn Maxwell) and her fiance and promoter, Waltzy Malone (William Gargan). Ginger accidently walks off with his music and he follows her to a gym where Waltzy's fighter, "Killer" Kennedy (Nat Pendleton), has just been kayoed by his sparring partner. Waltzy learns of Lowell's hypnotic power and believes that Kennedy can win the championship if Lowell uses his power against the champ. He arranges for Lowell to lead the band at the club where Ginger sings. The latter objects to the role she is to play in getting Lowell to use his "evil eye" but Waltzy persuades her to go along by telling Lowell that Kennedy is her brother and it means everything ...

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Plot Keywords:

gym | singer | doctor | kidnapping | juggling | 

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Taglines:

Dance! Sing! It's So JOYOUS!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Right About Face

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The girl dancer in this film, Jean Veloz, appeared on Steve Harvey's TV program, "Little Big Shots- Forever Young" (2016) on June 28, 2017. She performed the number she did in the film with two partners.

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Soundtracks

I Planted a Rose
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Lew Brown and Ralph Freed
Sung by Harry Babbitt
Played by Kay Kyser and His Band

User Reviews

Swing Fever Rarely Gets Beyond Lukewarm

A lackluster plot surrounds some lukewarm musical entertainment in this mid-war production. The best parts of the film are the musical acts in the nightclub, but the producers do their best to sabotage them. As is typical, there are the obligatory salutes to the boys in uniform and a whole lot of hokum, everything from comic acts that are totally unfunny to juggling and faux magic tricks. The movie is called Swing Fever, so you might think the action is hot. It is for those few moments when the band or the swing dancers are allowed to go at it. but most of the "action" is like watching The Lawrence Welk Show, corn and all.

Cameos are jammed in, as was the custom, but they are random and flat. Kay Kyser is his usual cornball self. And of course they include the usual nods to the wartime mythology of soldiers and sailors getting the beautiful canteen girl, who might be a star.

Particularly painful are the "comic" stylings of the band member with bangs who recites "poetry" and otherwise annoys.

The word swing in the title also refers to the boxing plot. A number of real boxers are in the film. We know what great actors they are.