What's Cookin'? Explained

What's Cookin'?
Director:Edward F. Cline
Starring:The Andrews Sisters
Jane Frazee
Robert Paige
Gloria Jean
Cinematography:Jerome Ash
Editing:Arthur Hilton
Distributor:Universal Pictures
Runtime:69 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

What's Cookin'? is a 1942 American musical film directed by Edward F. Cline and starring The Andrews Sisters, Jane Frazee, Robert Paige and Gloria Jean. The film is based on the story Wake Up and Dream written by Edgar Allan Woolf.

Plot

Mrs. Murphy's Theatrical Boarding House is a place where young performers reside. A group of those young people try to escape after finding out they are unable to pay the rent. However they get caught by the landlady and fellow tenant Marvo the Great is forced to sell his clothes to pay the rent. They next set out to the radio network WECA to visit singer Anne Payne. Anne is a former boarding house member who now works at the radio station with the Andrews Sisters and Woody Herman and His Orchestra. When Marvo is later conversing with Anne at her apartment, her wealthy neighbour Sue Courtney drops in their conversation and wonders if she can join the group.

Meanwhile, at the Courtney estate, Sue's uncle and aunt, J.P. and Agatha, meet with their advertising counselor Bob Riley. She complains that the radio station only plays classical songs. Sue offers to help them out by asking her new friends to make swing music for the radio station. They do so and Bob notices Anne, whom he immediately falls in love with. Sue meanwhile falls in love with young performer Tommy.

Cast

Production

The film was known as Wake Up and Dream.[1]

Soundtrack

Reception

The New York Times noticed there is "plenty cookin' in this brisk, breezy Andrews Sisters vehicle". It also called the supporting cast "topheavy".[2] The website Answers.com gave the film one star.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Ruth Warrick, Edmund O'Brien Will Play in 'Angel Face' - New York Times 24 Jan 1942: 13.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20110520083542/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/116454/What-s-Cookin-/overview The New York Times
  3. http://www.answers.com/topic/what-s-cookin-film Answers