Something to Sing About ** (1937, James Cagney, Evelyn Daw, William Frawley, Mona Barrie, Gene Lockhart) – Classic Movie Review 9257

Director Victor Schertzinger’s 1937 Something to Sing About stars James Cagney in a small-studio musical about an American East Coast dancing bandleader, Terry Rooney (Cagney), trying his luck at the movies. But, when a Hollywood studio gives him a contract, he plans to work exactly how he wants. Evelyn Daw plays his girlfriend whom he takes to Hollywood and Gene Lockhart plays the troubled studio boss.

There is nothing very much to sing about music-wise or plot-wise, but Cagney is worth a look for his barnstorming lead turn. The appealing songs and decent story are by the film’s director, Victor Schertzinger. Daw sings ‘Something to Sing About’, ‘Loving You’’ ‘Right or Wrong’ and ‘Out of the Blue’ very nicely. Cagney sings ‘Any Old Love’. It was nominated for one Oscar: Best Music, Score (score by Victor Schertzinger, musical director Constantin Bakaleinikoff)

It is the second of two films Cagney did for the Grand National Pictures studio during his court case against Warner Bros, who were putting him into more films than he was contracted for.

It runs 93 minutes, but there is also an 82-minute version called Battling Hoofer.

Grand National Pictures declared bankruptcy in 1939 and the failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film’s copyright resulted in it falling into public domain.

Also in the cast are Mona Barrie, William Frawley, Gene Lockhart, James Nevill, Philip Ahn, Marek Windheim, Dwight Frye, Johnny Arthur, William B Davidson, Richard Tucker, Kathleen Lockhart, Harry Barris, Cully Richards, Candy Candido, Perc Launders, Paul McLarind, Daisy Buffird, Chick Collins, Duke Green, Kenneth Harlan, Edward Hearn, Eddie Kane, Alphonse Martell, Robert McKenzie, Dottie Messmer, Frank Mills, Joe Niemeyer, Eleanore Prentiss, Herbert Rawlinson, William Ruhl, Larry Steers, Jim Toney, Dolly Waldorf, Elinire Welz and Ernest Wood.

Something to Sing About is directed by Victor Schertzinger, runs 93 minutes, is made by Zion Meyers Productions, is released by Grand National Pictures (1937) (US) and Associated British Film Distributors (1938) (UK), is written by Austin Parker, based on a story by Victor Schertzinger, is shot by John Stumar, is produced by Zion Myers and Victor Schertzinger, is scored by Constantin Bakaleinikoff, with music by Victor Schertzinger, designed by Robert E Lee and Paul Murphy, and choreographed by Angela Blue.

 © Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9257

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