GLORIFYING THE AMERICAN GIRL

Glorifying the American Girl
Monta Bell - Producer / Long Island Studios /
Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation, Adolph Zukor, Pres.
Paramount, 1929, B/W and Color, 96 minutes, ***
Released December, 1929

A real treat for fans of vintage films! This early talkie Flo Ziegfeld production is a classic example of the "backstage musical," featuring 75 glorified beauties, vintage music (composed by Irving Berlin), wonderful costumes and choreography and a rather thin plot. But who cares about the plot? Performances by Rudy Vallee, Eddie Cantor and the great Helen Morgan. Also glimpses of Ring Larner, Texas Guinan, NY Mayor Jimmy Walker, Noah Beery, Johnny Weissmuller, Flo Ziegfeld and his wife Billie Burke.

Florenz Ziegfeld dreamed of producing the first screen musical with sound, but due to production delays caused largely by technical problems, the film was released several years too late.

Under the Personal Supervision of: Florenz Ziegfeld
Directed by: Millard Webb
From the Story by: J. P. McEvoy and Millard Webb
Music and Lyrics by: Walter Donaldson, Irving Berlin, Dave Stamper and Larry Spier
Revue Finales Designed and Staged by: John W. Harkrider
Ballet Ensembles by: Ted Shawn
Art Director: John W. Harkrider
Costume Design: John W. Harkrider
Photographed by: George Folsey
Color Sequences Photographed by Technicolor Process

Cast: Mary Eaton [Gloria Hughes], Dan Healy ["Miller"], Kaye Renard ["Mooney"], Edward Crandall [Buddy], Olive Shea [Barbara], Sarah Edwards [Mrs. Hughes], Singing and Dancing Chorus of Seventy Five Glorified Beauties Additional Cast: Eddie Cantor, Rudy Vallee and His Orchestra, Florenz Ziegfeld, Mayor James Walker, Ring Lardner, Noah Beery, Sr., Texas Guinan, Johnny Weissmuller, Irving Berlin, Adolph Zukor, Helen Morgan, Charles Dillingham [Guests], Norman Brokenshire [Narrator]

Musical Program: I'm still working on identifying all of the songs in this film...
[0:02] ? / ? / A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody / No Foolin' (Overture medley sung by men's chorus); [0:04] No Foolin' (sung by Mary Eaton at Heimer's Department Store Music Department demonstrating sheet music); [0:05] Baby Face (sung by Mary Eaton with Edward Crandall at the piano); [0:08] Mr. Heimer (like a Heimer's Department Store pep song, sung by guests at Heimer's Department Store picnic); [0:09] Speech by Mr. Heimer; [0:13] I'll Be There (sung by Mary Eaton in canoe); [0:14] Spooning (sung and danced at picnic by Dan Healy and Kaye Renard billed as "Miller and Mooney"); [0:17] Blue Skies (played by band during gymnastic act at picnic); [0:18] Sam, the Old Accordian Man (instrumental danced by Mary Eaton, joined by Dan Healy); [0:32] unidentified instrumental (sung and danced by Mary Eaton and Dan Healy); [0:33] Hot Feet (sung and danced by Mary Eaton and Dan Healy); [0:51] Hot Feet (instrumental number danced by Miller and Mooney); [1:01] Ziegfeld Presents "Glorifying the American Girl" (premiere, many famous people caught on camera); [1:03] unidentified instrumental (danced by Chorus Girls); [1:04] unidentified number (sung by Chorus); [1:06] I'm Just a Vagabond Lover (sung by Rudy Vallee with His Orchestra); [1:08] What Wouldn't I Do for That Man (sung by Helen Morgan accompanied by piano); [1:12] Ballet number (danced by Mary Eaton and Ensemble); [1:16] Comedy skit (Eddie Cantor and Louis Sorin as a pair of Jewish tailors); [1:30] There Must Be Someone Waiting for Me (sung by Mary Eaton and Chorus, paraded by Eaton and Ziegfeld Girls); and: At Sundown; Beautiful Changes; Sam the Old Accordion Man;