Hollywood Party

I don't often laugh out loud at movies but I found myself chuckling at several spots in this corny old film. It's one of those feel-good depression era flicks where they jammed lots of stars and production numbers together, without much of a plot, except for the fact that Jimmy Durante's having a party and everyone's invited.

But...who cares? Durante is hilarious, especially in the faux movie trailer for 'Schnarzan.' In a few of his scenes he comes across almost like Groucho in terms of lines and attitude. Lupe Velez is a hoot, especially when she gets excited and starts reaming people out in Spanish. And where else can you find the (uncredited) Three Stooges (with Ted Healy) and Laurel & Hardy under the same roof? With Mickey Mouse? And there's a very surreal color Disney cartoon right in the middle, with an odd song by Brown/Freed.

Use your fast-forward button to get through some of the tedious musical numbers, but make sure to catch the wild set with the orchestra members each on his own mini-balcony (and four pianists). There are some interesting special effects here and there, along with a heavy usage of "swipes" between scenes.

Robert Young and Arthur Treacher are in here, along with many others whom I suppose I would have recognized if I had been a moviegoer in the 30s. And there are a number of lines that must have slipped right past the censors, like Velez saying something about someone's "cook being goosed" or the closing barb by Durante's wife. He asks if he looks like a horse's head (based on an earlier dream sequence). She says, "No, not like a horse's HEAD" (very knowingly).

It's a hairbrained, silly plot but worth it just to watch all the stars go by.