Calendar Girl

Overcrowded and generally undistinguished Republic musical. Nonetheless, it does have its moments, like the opening hook with Frazee frazzling the boys, or McLaglen's feisty fireman spicing up the screen. Too bad the rather frantic musical scenes don't reach highlight status; after all, the flick has its hopes as a musical. And what's with the many distracting characters just popping in and out without any set-up -- I wish we got to know some better. Then too, what's the big deal between Boston and New York that takes up too much dialogue time. After all, there are many other states sitting among audiences then and now.

The plot itself turns on which guy Frazee will end up with, Ellison or Marshall. Frazee is aptly lively and sweet, but her two suitors are on the forgettably bland side. (Good thing Ellison went on to matinee cowboy movies.) And get a look at the fully-clothed calendar girl so scandalous for 1900; a Playboy version it ain't, but then styles and mores do change.

Anyway, I think the screenplay could have used a lot of sorting-out and a better musical score, if that were possible given scheduling demands. As is, the flick's overall obscurity is not surprsing. All in all, it's not surprising that Republic specialized in cheap cowboy flicks during this same period. So, "Hi-Yo, Silver"!

Jane Frazee, huh? Well, who'd have thought the Prelinger site would ever get around to some of the neatest little fillers available? Johnny Downes, Jane, Donald O'Connor ( I live in hope)a few of the names that took the sting from the expression B Movies. Okay so the memory plays tricks, all that used to glisten wasn't, etc, me I just sat back and enjoyed the unexpected treat. If there was ever a fault it was the fact that few, if any, of this kind of 'musical' ever featured material likely to have a life outside of the actual movie. Reams of songs which rarely appeared on a disc so that after watching 'Calendar Girl' you probably left the cinema whistling something from 'Show Boat'. Still a treat to see it, though.

Quick note on the print I viewed: not the best picture or sound quality, but apart from a view small cuts, complete. It can be found on Disc 1 of the 50 Movie Pack of Musicals DVD.

The story is so-so, predictable for a musical. A songwriter and a artist share a flat in an artists-friendly establishment. One is in love with the girl next door but the other enjoys stringing her along.

Someone is wealthy but he doesn't like people to know. And the girl next door has a father with a fiery temper.

The songs are rather catchy and pleasant, and singers such as Kenny Baker and Janet Martin move them along. Attempts at comedy come off well as does the (slight) drama as the story unfolds.

'Calendar Girl' is a cheaply-made B picture from Poverty Row but, for all that, it isn't bad, and will keep you entertained.

This is not a well known musical but includes several excellent songs written by Jimmy McHugh. The principal vocalists include Bill Marshall, Jane Frazee, Janet Martin and specially Kenny Baker. The latter's tenor is shown off to good effect and he is capably joined in duets with Janet Martin, one of the several young players under contract to Republic who disappeared with the decline in the studio system. It is a multi-star cast including Victor McLaglen as a Fire Chief, Irene Rich as a Boarding House owner, Gail Patrick as a wealthy Bostononian and James Ellison. The story involves the trials of young hopefuls in the music/dance world, Martin, Frazee, Marshall, etc. and Ellison, a wealthy young artist from Boston. Martin plays a predatory female after Baker a young song plugger while there is a triangular mixup between Frazee and two potential suitors, Marshall and Ellison and Patrick. Highly recommended as a much better than average small musical from Hollywood just before television started to cut into the profits of the movie studios.

I didn't know that Republic Pictures made a musical until I saw "Calendar Girl" as a second feature of a DVD I bought for another movie. And, what a pleasant surprise. This movie is better than the big studio film on the same DVD. I don't know if B studio, Republic, made any more musicals among its more than 1,100 films, but this sure is a good one. I've seen quite a number of Westerns, war films, and dramas and mysteries that Republic made over the years. Some were quite good, and others not so good.

But "Calendar Girl" is an entertaining and fun comedy musical and romance. The plot is familiar - struggling song writers, musicians and artists going to New York to try to become successful and famous. But, the setting is somewhat unusual, and it provides for much of the humor and some of the warmth of the story. It takes place mostly in and around Lulu Varden's Greenwich Village home for hopeful artists and performers. The comedy, music and antics add up to very good entertainment.

I wasn't familiar with any of the lead actors in this film, but the supporting cast showed that Republic could get some very good casts from around Hollywood. Gail Patrick was a prominent supporting actress in dramas and comedy romances. But two very good comedy actors, and a third from that genre, were very prominent supporting players for many films and studios during the early to mid-20th century. Franklin Pangborn plays a stage show producer, Dilly Dillingsworth; and Gus Schilling plays a sort of scatterbrain handyman for Lulu, Ed Gaskin. Charles Arnt is in the film as Capt. Olsen.

The supporting cast also includes an Academy Award winner in Victor McLaglen. The seasoned actor of drama and comedy won his Oscar in 1935 for his role as Gypo Nolan in "The Informer." But, here, he plays a more familiar comedy role as a brash, tough guy and fireman He's the father of the female lead's character, Patricia O'Neill. Jane Frazee plays Patricia and is one of the five leads with whom I wasn't the least familiar before watching this film. The others are William Marshall as Johnny Bennett, Kenny Baker as Byron Jones, James Ellison as Steve Adams, and Irene Rich as Lulu Varden.

Well, they had varying careers in the film and on stage and all were quite good. Marshall sang for Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians before he had his own band for a time. But the big surprise is Kenny Baker, with his grand tenor voice. He got his start on radio with Jack Benny. He too didn't have a long career, but he made several more musicals and then quit acting for a career as a motivational and spiritual speaker. Irene Rich had been a silent movie leading and supporting actress. She transitioned well into sound, and when somewhat older she had many very good motherly and matronly roles, as she does in this film. She also became very popular on radio and had her own show for a decade, called "Dear John," aka, the Irene Rich Show.

The plot is very good, with all kinds of talented artists living in Lulu Varden's large home and the adjoining Greenwich Village lodgings for would-be artists. Some of the tunes are familiar, and those who like musicals should enjoy this film.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Lulu Varden, "Girls may be attractive to boys, but only ladies attract gentlemen, and only gentlemen are rich."

Johnny Bennett, "Hey, you know, you're pretty intelligent." Byron Jones, "Oh, not only that, but I'm smart too."

Steve Adams, on the phone, "You're the most wonderful girl I've ever known." Olivia "Lily" Radford, "I'd rather be the only one."

Matthew O'Neill, "I save lives." Dilly Dillingsworth, "And we, in the theater, save souls."

Steve Adams, "Love to have you along, John boy, but you know the old adage - Two's company and three isn't even a quartet."

Steve Adams, "Why didn't you let me know you were coming?" Lily Radford, "I prefer to steal up on my prey and catch the critter dead to rights." Steve," Whadda you mean, Lily?" Lily, "I think you know what I mean."

Patricia O'Neill, "It was very nice of you to take me instead, though." Johnny Bennett, "Oh, I didn't want to. I fought against the whole thing. Steve, I said, now why should I take out the most beautiful, the most wonderful girl in New York? When I can be alone in the attic playing dominoes? But I finally gave in."

Lily Radford, "Steve, I've changed my mind. We're going to Delmonicos." Steve, "Oh, but we can't just walk out.. on the mayor." Lily, "He isn't the mayor of Boston. Goodnight." Johnny Bennett," Good night, Lily."

Matthew, to Lulu, "Well, you've sprung your trap, and I'm not in it." Lulu, after he leaves, "Then, I'll just have to set my trap again."

Lulu, "Two people can live as cheaply as one, IF they're in love. And, IF they live in my house."

Lulu, "My dear boy, I may not always be right, but I'm never wrong."

Johnny Bennett, to Lulu, "Good night, Cupid." Lulu, glancing at her shoulder, "Darn it. Is that bow and arrow showing again?"

Johnny, "Look, Steve, uh, don't ever do anything to hurt her." Steve Adams, "I never hurt 'em, kid. I just stun 'em."

Lulu, "Women do have legs, you know. And they're very beautiful." Matt O'Neill, "Woman, you're depraved." Lulu, "And you're blind. You don't know beauty when you see it."