Anybody viewing this film is likely to be watching a copy of a decrepit old copy from UCLA, crumbling nitrate and all. The old 2 reel change in the middle shows different quality of the media, typical of film which has been imperfectly stored for generations.
As a result, Rogers' voice - and all the actors' voices - sounds thin and reedy. This was more from the poor quality of the reel than from her actual voice, which she had already been using on vaudeville and Broadway stages for about six years by the time this was filmed and which as a result was capable of filling a hall with a full and powerful sound. That quality seems missing from the pretty atrocious copy available to us.
The plot seems dated today, but after all, it's a 90 year old film. That said, the plot is well developed and humorous. If this had been given the high quality production values of her later films, with great cinematography and direction and splendid supporting casts like she had later - Blore and Horton and Alice Brady - this story could have been polished and used for an Astaire-Rogers film.
Given the poor state of the media, listening carefully is necessary to fully understand the story.
Oakie was a couple years ahead of Rogers in moving into film, and had made a half dozen 'talkies' by the time of 'Sap'. He's able to hold his own with an 18 year old Rogers; by the time she was in high quality films like 'Flying Down to Rio' or 'Gay Divorcee' her star power and assurance would have overwhelmed Jack, who became a very fine supporting actor.
Is this a great film no. But to watch the career of Ginger Rogers as it first takes flight, this one is an absolute essential.
