The Hollywood Revue of 1929
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The Hollywood Revue of 1929: One of the earliest ventures into the new talkie format of motion pictures, this film, directed by Charles Riesner for MGM, brought together some top acts in a two-hour vaudeville show hosted by Jack Benny. Called an “All-Star Musical Extravaganza,” the film includes performances by once and future stars, including Joan Crawford singing and dancing on stage (she later remarked, "Revue was one of those Let's-throw-everyone-on-the-lot-into-a musical things, but I did a good song-and-dance number."[[Citing sources citation needed]]). Other acts feature Lionel Barrymore, Marion Davies, John Gilbert, Buster Keaton, Marie Dressler, Anita Page and Norma Shearer. Highlights of the film are musical performances (including the debut of Singing In The Rain) by Cliff Edwards ("Ukelele Ike") and a comedy routine starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as a team of inept magicians.
For showings in major cities, portions of the film were originally in the early 2-strip Technicolor process, including a star-studded finale performance of "Singin' in the Rain".
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 is notable for sparking the decline of John Gilbert who revealed a speaking voice here that did not match his silent screen image -- and for a glimpse at the early careers of some of the major figures of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The film was popular with audiences and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
See also
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