Garden of the Moon

This little known musical comedy, very minor league in every department, gave JOHN PAYNE the kind of break that led to a seven-year contract at Fox after they saw him as the brash band leader/singer in this modest programmer.

The band sequences are directed with a certain flair and flourish, thanks to director Busby Berkeley, despite the fact that this time there's no fancy choreography for him to work into the routines. And among the musicians is comic JERRY COLONNA, better known later on as Bob Hope's favorite comic foil.

But PAT O'BRIEN is the star and he overacts his blustery, fast-talking nightclub manager, chewing on a cigar, in the fashion that most Warner comedies of the period thought was stylish. He plays it in broad, farcical style but gets a little overbearing for my taste, while Payne seems almost low-key by comparison. MARGARET LINDSAY is the pretty lady serving as Payne's romantic interest and is more animated than usual.

It's not a bad little musical, but most of the songs are high forgettable items except for the "Whirling Dervish" number and serve only to give the story more bounce than it normally would have.

Passes the time pleasantly enough, but is nothing anyone should go out of their way to see. At least JOHN PAYNE's fans get a glimpse of why he got signed to a Fox contract.

CURT BOIS adds an amusing touch as a phony Maharahjah whom MELVILLE COOPER realizes is a waiter who had trouble with champagne corks and used to pinch a pocket or two in his old job as a waiter. Amusing fluff.

Trivia note: JIMMY FIDLER, famous Hollywood columnist of the period, makes a brisk appearance in a supporting role and isn't bad at all.