Girl Crazy (1932 film) explained

Girl Crazy
Director:William A. Seiter
Producer:William LeBaron
Based On:Based on Girl Crazy
1930 musical by
Guy Bolton (book)
Jack McGowan (book)
George Gershwin (music)
Ira Gershwin (lyrcs)
Starring:Bert Wheeler
Robert Woolsey
Dorothy Lee
Music:Max Steiner
Cinematography:J. Roy Hunt
Editing:Arthur Roberts
Distributor:RKO Pictures
Runtime:75 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$532,000[1]
Gross:$555,000

Girl Crazy is a 1932 American pre-Code musical film adaptation of the 1930 stage play of the same name. The film was very unlike the stage play except for its score. It was tailored for the comic talents of Wheeler & Woolsey, a popular comedy team of the time. Three songs written by George and Ira Gershwin for the play were retained: "Bidin' My Time", "I Got Rhythm", and "But Not for Me". According to RKO records, the film lost $150,000.[1] Lon Chaney Jr. appears in the film (uncredited) as a dancer in the chorus.[2]

Plot

N.Y. playboy Danny Churchill (Eddie Quillan) is relocated to a small Arizona town to keep him from getting entangled with women. He decides to open a dude ranch with the aid of his gambler friend "Slick" (Robert Woolsey) and Slick's wife Kate (Kitty Kelly). The local bully is running for sheriff and wants to shut down Danny's ranch. Danny prompts his friend Jimmy (a cab driver) to run against the heavy for sheriff. Jimmy (Bert Wheeler) is elected sheriff. Meanwhile, Danny falls in love with a young woman named Molly (Arline Judge), but Molly heads down to Mexico accompanied by a NY conman. Danny, Jimmy, Slick and their friends all head down to Mexico to persuade Molly to come back so Danny can propose to her. Meanwhile the local bully and his friend follow them.

Cast

Soundtrack

Music by George Gershwin

Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Sung by male quartet

Music by George Gershwin

Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Performed by Kitty Kelly and chorus

Music by George Gershwin

Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Sung by Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee

Danced by Bert Wheeler, Dorothy Lee and Mitzi Green

Music by George Gershwin

Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Sung by Eddie Quillan and Arline Judge

Also sung by Mitzi Green

Notes and References

  1. Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931-1951', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1 (1994), p. 39
  2. Smith, Don G. (1996). "Lon Chaney Jr.". McFarland & Co. Inc. Pg. 201. ISBN 0-7864-0120-6.