Hoopla [Hoop-La] ** (1933, Clara Bow, Preston Foster, Richard Cromwell, Minna Gombell) – Classic Movie Review 11,046

‘SHE KNEW MEN LIKE A BOOK-SHE THOUGHT SHE DID… UNTIL A ROMANTIC YOUNGSTER OPENED HER EYES TO A PAGE OF GENUINE ROMANCE!’

Director Frank Lloyd’s 1933 American pre-Code romantic drama film Hoopla [Hoop-La] stars Clara Bow in her final film role, along with Preston Foster, Richard Cromwell and Minna Gombell. The film is based on the play The Barker by Kenyon Nicholson, which was previously filmed in 1928 as the part-talkie The Barker (with Dorothy Mackaill).

Scandal-torn ‘It Girl’ Bow (plumper here than in the 1920s) bows out from the movies on this fairly low note as worldly hoochie coochie dancer Lou, a tough travelling carnival gal who is persuaded to seduce the boss’s educated young son, Chris Miller (Richard Cromwell).

Preston Foster plays Nifty Miller, manager of the travelling circus, while Minna Gombell plays Nifty’s paramour Carrie. Also billed are Herbert Mundin as Hap Spissel, James Gleason as Jerry, Roger Imhof as Colonel Gowdy and Florence Roberts as Ma Benson.

The film moves to its intriguing conclusion at the World’s Fair that year in Chicago, where Lou dances and Chris works in a law office, falling on hard times.

Weak though the film is, and the supporting performances are largely feeble, it is still just worth a peep for Bow, who shows that she has still got what It takes.

Released on November 30, 1933.

The film is based on Kenyon Nicholson’s Broadway play The Barker, which opened at the Biltmore Theatre January 18, 1927 and ran until July 1927 for 221 performances. In the stage production Walter Huston was Nifty and a relatively unknown Claudette Colbert was Lou.

The film was a box office disappointment for Fox Film Corporation.

A version restored by the Museum of Modern Art was shown at the 2011 Classic Film Festival in Hollywood.

The same story was remade in 1945 as the musical Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe, starring Betty Grable.

The hoochie coochie is a term to describe several sexually provocative belly dance-like dances from the mid-to late 1800s.

Uncredited role are taken by Erville Alderson as The Sheriff, Bob Burns as Barker, Dick Dickinson as Carnival Spectator, Ethel Loreen Greer as Fat Lady, Chuck Hamilton as Side-Show Troublemaker, Otis Harlan as Town Councilman, Side Show Customer, John Irwin as Roustabout, William Le Maire as Tall Gum-chewing spectator, Frank Mills as Barker, Frank Moran as Side Show Craps Player, George Offerman Jr as Billy, Harvey Parry as Roustabout, Charles Sellon as The Colonel, Billy’s Father, Harry Wilson as Roustabout and Harry Woods as Side Show Troublemaker.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,046

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