Delicious appetizer comedy short shot in absolutely exquisite Technicolor at Warner Bros to showcase both the studio and new 1938 films. Made to co-incide with their first Technicolor feature THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, we are also treated to snippets of the Jezebel set, Warner Gangster back-lot, and others by a jive/swing Teenage guide who leads and sings his tour group across the sound-stages. It is the color and a few stars mainly on show that are the focus, and you will be repeat viewing for several days once you discover where it is: part of a clever new Warner Bros Night At The Movies DVD release, this short is to be found with ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES in the support program as if you are at the local cinema in 1938. It is a great idea and a perfect way to bundle appropriate items from the treasure trove of studio vault wonders freshly re-minted for DVD. The musical stage set the tour group visits is a delight of Deco silver blue and pink...and the hilarious antics of Fritz Feld as manic Euro director Nitvitch is supposed to be a razzing of Michael Curtiz. The swing dance number is a hoot and offers the 2006 viewer one of the first times ever we are able to see - in glorious 1930s color - the sight of a real Hollywood chorus line in silver hot-pants blonde wigs and top hats (looking very like Madonna) - all tap-dancing away to the tune of "She'd rather dance than love'. It's the real thing and it's the first I know of in proper Technicolour..as if a Busby Berkley number was shot that way. Of course it was Bobby Connolly who is the choreographer here...soon to be at Monogram with skate star Belita in her mega big band musical LADY LETS DANCE in 1942. Find this DVD of ANGELS and run through the entire program with your family. Congrats to WB for at last offering insightful marketing for us all to enjoy these delights from the studio vaults. Thanks! The Technicolor 1937 UA release GOLDWYN FOLLIES is a close feature length counterpart (which probably inspired this short at WB) It too is set in a studio making a new musical and features The Ritz Brothers (singing a risqué swing song "Here pussy pussy pussy pussy") along with the hideous and strange Kenny Baker. Now if we can only get someone to release VOGUES OF 1938 which is a fashion musical made in real 3 strip Technicolour (just like these films) as a restored DVD, the world would be a rainbow of 30s delights....along with the Selznick STAR IS BORN and GARDEN OF ALLAH both from 1936. RAMONA anyone? ...while we're at it.
Review of Out Where the Stars Begin
