Hollywood Hotel

Director: Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley

Overview

This was Warner Brother's last major 1930s musical. Directed by Busby Berkeley and featuring numerous cameos from the Warners stable, the title was gleaned from a popular CBS radio talent show. Dick Powell stars as sax player Ronnie Bowers who comes to Tinsel Town after winning a talent contest. He believes that his prize is a date with the gorgeous Rosemary Lane, so when he ends up with her double, he's miffed. Later he appears on Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parson's radio show and becomes a star. Songs include: "Hooray for Hollywood," "Let That Be A Lesson To You," "Sing, You Son Of A Gun," "I've Hitched My Wagon To A Star," "Silhouetted In The Moonlight," and "I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/25/2017
UPC:	0888574487829
Original Release:	1937
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	48,173

Special Features

Technicolor Historical Short The Romance of Robert Burns; Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Comedy Short Double Talk; Classic Cartoon Porky's Five & Ten; Theatrical Trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Rosemary Lane	Virginia Stanton,Mona Marshall
Dick Powell	Henry Bowers
Johnnie Davis	Georgia
Hugh Herbert	Chester Marshall
Ted Healy	Fuzzy
Glenda Farrell	Jonesey
Frances Langford	Alice
Alan Mowbray	Alexander Dupre
William Clogston	Mr. Movies
Mabel Todd	Dot Marshall
Allyn Joslyn	Bernie Walton
Grant Mitchell	B.L. Faulken
Edgar Kennedy	Callaghan
Fritz Feld	The Russian
Curt Bois	Dress Designer
Eddie Acuff	Cameraman
Sarah Edwards	Mrs. Marshall
William B. Davidson	Director Kelton
Wally Maher	Assistant Director Drew
Paul Irving	Bragwell
Libby Taylor	Cleo
Joseph Romantini	Headwaiter
Jerry Fletcher	Bellboy
Perc Westmore	Perc Westmore
Clinton Rosemond	Colored Man
Louella Parsons	Herself
Ken Niles	Himself
Georgia Cooper	Seamstress,Himself
Duane Thompson	Himself
Jeffrey Sayre	Co-pilot
Jack Mower	Airport Guard
John Ridgely	Desk Clerk
Jean Maddox	Hotel Maid
Frances Morris	Casting Assistant
Sidney Perlman	Casting Assistant
Patsy Kane	Casting Assistant
Carole Landis	Hat Check Girl
Betty Farrington	Woman Onlooker
Jean Perry	Restaurant Manager
Robert E. Homans	Hollywood Bowl Watchman
Benny Goodman	Benny Goodman
Janet Shaw	Girl
Don Barclay	Friend
Susan Hayward	Starlet at Table
Ronald Reagan	Radio Announcer
Harry James	Harry James
Gene Krupa	Gene Krupa
David Newell	Actor
Raymond Paige	Raymond Paige
Johnny Mercer	Musician
Richard Whiting	Musician
Teddy Wilson	Teddy Wilson

Technical Credits

Busby Berkeley	Director
Samuel Bischoff	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Hollywood Hotel is a silly film, but it's the fizzy kind of silly and thus comes out as a slightly more-than-middling musical. In other words, you can have fun with Hotel while never once thinking you're seeing a really good film. Busby Berkeley directed it, which is both obvious and curious: obvious because it has a nice amount of razzle dazzle to it, curious because there are none of the famous Berkeley geometric dance routines, and really not much dance to speak of. There's movement, however, with Berkeley running his camera every which way, especially during the opening number. That number is a corker, the immortal "Hooray for Hollywood," with its delightful Johnny Mercer lyrics and effervescent Richard Whiting music. The tunesmiths provide a number of other catchy numbers, and Benny Goodman is on hand to add a rousing, glorious "Sing, Sing Sing" as well. Dick Powell is fine as the protagonist and Rosemary Lane and Lola Lane are enjoyable as the women around him, but the best performances come from supporting players like Ted Healy, Hugh Herbert and Alan Mowbray, and from vocal contributions from Johnnie Davis and Frances Langford. The script is so much nonsense, and there's some uncomfortable blackface humor, but otherwise Hotel is a genial way to waste some time.