| Calling All Stars | |
| Director: | Herbert Smith |
| Producer: | Herbert Smith S.W. Smith |
| Music: | Carroll Gibbons |
| Cinematography: | George Stretton |
| Editing: | Brereton Porter |
| Studio: | British Lion Film Corporation |
| Distributor: | British Lion Film Corporation |
| Runtime: | 79 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
Calling All Stars is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed and written by Herbert Smith and starring Arthur Askey, Evelyn Dall and Max Bacon.[1] The film is a revue, featuring a number of musical acts playing themselves. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios for release as a quota quickie.[2] The film's art direction was by Norman G. Arnold.[3]
After a set of master discs is dropped and destroyed, the recording artists are gathered together to re-record their contributions.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Cutting is rather spasmodic and the continual appearances of Flotsam and Jetsam demanded better material; as it is, they are apt to pall. ... The story is undiscernible, but the stars are the attraction."[4]
Variety wrote: "With but the flimsiest excuse to envelope the aggregation, this production is practically a photographed version of the acts offered by a number of pop stars of vaude and radio ... fans of each particular act will lap it up. With so many of the names natives of the U.S., there's no reason why it shouldn't register there, too. But with the general run of picturegoers the lack of a story will militate against its success."[5]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Spasmodically entertaining review."[6]