| Fanny Foley Herself | |
| Director: | Melville W. Brown |
| Producer: | John E. Burch (supervisor)[1] |
| Starring: | Edna May Oliver Helen Chandler John Darrow |
| Music: | Max Steiner |
| Cinematography: | Ray Rennahan |
| Studio: | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Distributor: | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Runtime: | 73 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Fanny Foley Herself is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy-drama film shot entirely in Technicolor. The film was the second feature to be filmed using a new Technicolor process, which removed grain and resulted in improved color. It was released under the title Top of the Bill in Britain. It survives in a complete Technicolor copy under that title at the BFI.
Edna May Oliver plays a widowed woman with two daughters (Helen Chandler, Rochelle Hudson) who attempts to revive her career as a vaudeville performer. Her wealthy father-in-law, who believes that a vaudeville performer is not fit to bring up children properly, forces her to choose between her daughters or her career. In the end, all is forgiven and the father-in-law asks Fanny to sing one of her songs.
(cast list as per AFI database)[2]
In October 1931, The New York Times said, "There are greenish skies, steel-tinted nights, amber lights, frocks and gowns of pastel shades, most of this prismatic work being quite well done. But whether it is, on the whole, more effective than black and white is a matter of opinion."[2]
A complete copy of the film (with the British title) survives in the BFI archive.[4] A trailer of 200 ft also survives.