| New Faces of 1937 | |
| Director: | Leigh Jason James Anderson (assistant) |
| Producer: | Edward Small |
| Starring: | Joe Penner Milton Berle Parkyakarkus Harriet Hilliard William Brady Jerome Cowan Thelma Leeds |
| Music: | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography: | J. Roy Hunt |
| Editing: | George Crone |
| Studio: | Edward Small Productions for RKO Radio Pictures |
| Distributor: | RKO Radio Pictures (1937) (USA) (theatrical) C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV) RKO Home Video (USA) (video) (laserdisc) |
| Runtime: | 100 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | $728,000[1] |
| Gross: | $775,000 |
New Faces of 1937 is a 1937 American musical film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Joe Penner, Milton Berle and Harriet Hilliard. Its plot is similar to The Producers (1968). Intended as the first film of an annual RKO Pictures revue series, poor reception ended plans for future productions.
A crooked theatrical producer deliberately sets about creating an unsuccessful show after selling more than 100% of it to investors.
An alternate title for this film, which was in production from late March to mid-May 1937, had been listed as Young People. Singer Rene Stone, who appears in the film, was discovered by Edward Small singing while cleaning dishes in a Manhattan restaurant.[2]
(1937)
Music and Lyrics by Charles Henderson
Played during the opening credits
Sung and danced by showgirls (including The Brian Sisters) and showboys to open the final show
Danced by Ann Miller
Sung by Harriet Hilliard and showgirls
(1937)
Music by Harold Spina
Lyrics by Walter Bullock
Sung by Thelma Leeds and showgirls at rehearsal
Played and danced by unidentified children, probably The Loria Brothers
(1937)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Lew Brown
Played on piano by Harriet Hilliard and sung by her and William Brady
(1937)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Lew Brown
Played and sung by Eddie Rio and Brothers
Danced by Lowe, Hite and Stanley act, with Lorraine Krueger
(1937)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Lew Brown
Sung by Harriet Hilliard and William Brady
(1937)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Lew Brown
Sung by William Brady and danced by Harriet Hilliard and male chorus
(1937)
Written by Joe Penner and Hal Raynor
Sung and danced by Joe Penner in the show
(1936)
Music and Lyrics by Ben Pollack and Harry James
Additional lyrics by Eddie Cherkose (1937)
Sung and danced by The Three Chocolateers, The Four Playboys and chorus in the big finale in the show
(uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Music by Richard Wagner
Swing version in the song "Peckin'"
(uncredited)
from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Swing version in the song "Peckin'"
The film recorded a loss of $258,000.[1] Reviews were mixed.[3] [4]
The film was meant to be the first in a series of musical revues designed to introduce new RKO talent, but this did not eventuate. Film writers Richard B. Jewell and Vernon Harbin wrote that:
Containing not a single memorable musical number or inspired comedy routine, this tedious mish-mash caused the studio embarrassment a-plenty. Theatre owners and audiences displayed such hostility towards the Edward Small production in general, and Penner and Parkyakaras in particular, that RKO cancelled plans to make a New Faces of 1938.[5]