Honolulu (1939 film)

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Honolulu is an American musical film that was released by MGM in 1936. The film stars dancer Eleanor Powell and Robert Young.

Inspired by stories about dopplegangers and identical twins such as The Prince and the Pauper, Honolulu features Young in a dual role as Brooks Mason - a top movie star - and as Hawaii-based businessman George Smith. Mason is tired of being in the public eye, so when he discovers that Smith is close enough to be his twin, he arranges to switch places with Smith temporarily. When Mason steps into Smith's life, he finds himself in a tug-of-war between Smith's fiancee, and a dancer named Dorothy March (Powell), with whom he has fallen in love. Meanwhile, Smith discovers being a famous movie star isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Also appearing in the film are George Burns, Gracie Allen, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Rita Johnson.

Eleanor Powell's dance routines, here given a mostly Hawaiian flavor, are the highlights of this film. One of her routines is performed in black face in tribute to Powell's idol, Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson. The comedy of Burns & Allen is also featured, although the two actors work separately for much of the movie. The film is also notable for offering a somewhat rare cinematic look at pre-World War II Honolulu.

Footage of one of Powell's dance routines would be reused in the later comedy, I Dood It.

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