SING SINNER SING apparently was remade as a Carole Lombard film A Brief MOMENT and later The Jean Harlow film RECKLESS. I am sure it is not the first time a poverty row production was picked up by the majors and re churned into an A list feature. SING SINNER SING is an extremely well made and at times quite lavish film from tiny indie Majestic Pictures, one of the many small outfits who produced above their weight in the early 30s. Often a company like this was just an office without a studio. What they created well was a plan to hire sets and costumes from big budget films which were just wrapped; Majestic would hire the standing sets and available costumes and shoot either at night or the week the bigger film finished and while the sets still stood. As a result they got to use studio facilities they could never afford to own but could hire and make their own film allowing for a veneer of quality. Many of these films were made at RKO Pathe Studios (or at TIFFANY after they stopped production) in 1933, TIFFANY were very well equipped but ceased production in 1932, and RKO was in dire financial need in late '32, so there was plenty of great sets costumes and fittings and furniture available for a tiny production outfit to make a lavish film without owning a stick of wood. SING SINNER SING moves from gambling ship to a mansion on shore and into high society. It is all about an irresponsible playboy and his torch singer bride and how his parents sneer at her as being too lowly for him. However he does love her and fights their snobbery. A terrific subplot involves a rich benefactor and an amazing murder trial. There is robbery, drunken parties, sneering ermine clad parents, and a court case with a jawdropper of a revelation. SING SINNER SING also has a song exactly like the Fanny Brice hit MY MAN. SING SINNER SING is a hard film to find and the print on the DVD that I saw was very lumpy. However for a no budget film it pulls off the very creative feat of an almost A level film that clearly was good enough to be copied by the majors twice over.
5 Reviews
Well Done Poverty Row Offering
boblipton20 December 2019
Leila Hyams is the leading act on Paul Lukas' gambling ship. She's also his live-in girlfriend. Rich, perpetually drunk Don Dillaway proposes marriage, and Leila accepts; pal Ruth Donnelly keeps adding onto the alimony, but Leila cares for the guy, until....
It's a startlingly well-cast movie from Larry Darmour productions, with one-time director Howard Christie allowing cinematographer Ira Morgan free rein with a moving camera and process shots for the first half. Although this production clearly spends little money on sets, and is just two steps above an exploitation movie, it's clear that Darmour was using the major studios' cast-off talent to make his big move into the big-time. It didn't work; 1933 was another disastrous year for the movie industry. This movie was soon forgotten, and MGM recycled the idea, based on the suspicious death of tobacco heir Zachary Smith Reynolds into RECKLESS for William Powell & Jean Harlow.
As indicated above, Christie never directed another movie. Instead, he became a producer for Universal. He worked on Abbott & Costello movies, westerns, whatever came his way. Eventually he was appointed a vice-president in charge of television. He retired in 1970 and died in 1992, age 79.
It's a startlingly well-cast movie from Larry Darmour productions, with one-time director Howard Christie allowing cinematographer Ira Morgan free rein with a moving camera and process shots for the first half. Although this production clearly spends little money on sets, and is just two steps above an exploitation movie, it's clear that Darmour was using the major studios' cast-off talent to make his big move into the big-time. It didn't work; 1933 was another disastrous year for the movie industry. This movie was soon forgotten, and MGM recycled the idea, based on the suspicious death of tobacco heir Zachary Smith Reynolds into RECKLESS for William Powell & Jean Harlow.
As indicated above, Christie never directed another movie. Instead, he became a producer for Universal. He worked on Abbott & Costello movies, westerns, whatever came his way. Eventually he was appointed a vice-president in charge of television. He retired in 1970 and died in 1992, age 79.
Pretty poor stuff....but entertaining.
planktonrules21 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
In 1932, singer Libby Holman's rich husband was found shot dead. At first, it was thought to be a suicide but later it was seen as murder--and Libby was blamed for this. However, there didn't seem to be enough evidence to convict her--and it was quite the scandal at the time. So, to capitalize on this case, this cheap film, "Sing, Sinner, Sing" was created--with just enough changes to they could claim it was not based on the Holman case--though EVERYONE knew that it was. Interestingly, a short time later, Jean Harlow's husband died in very similar circumstance and MGM decided to combine the Holman and Harlow stories in the trashy movie "Reckless"--and even had Harlow playing, essentially, herself! Both films are pretty bad--but also sickly entertaining.
The leading lady (Leila Hyams) is a singer (but she's NOT Holman, wink, wink). A gambler (Paul Lukas) is in love with her but instead she marries an alcoholic playboy. Instead of reforming him, he continues on his drunken binges and eventually he kills himself--and she is blamed for killing him for his fortune (but it's NOT the Holman case, wink, wink). Now what happens to save her is probably one of the most wildly improbably scenes in films of the day--and you really have to see it to believe it! Overall, while a lower-budget film, it helped that Ruth Donnelly was on hand to provide some comic relief--otherwise it would have been pretty dreadful. Not a good film, but oddly, it might be a bit better than "Reckless"---even though "Reckless" had a bigger budget, bigger stars and the biggest studio behind it. Why? Well, seeing and hearing Jean Harlow supposedly singing is a travesty you have to witness yourself to believe!!
The leading lady (Leila Hyams) is a singer (but she's NOT Holman, wink, wink). A gambler (Paul Lukas) is in love with her but instead she marries an alcoholic playboy. Instead of reforming him, he continues on his drunken binges and eventually he kills himself--and she is blamed for killing him for his fortune (but it's NOT the Holman case, wink, wink). Now what happens to save her is probably one of the most wildly improbably scenes in films of the day--and you really have to see it to believe it! Overall, while a lower-budget film, it helped that Ruth Donnelly was on hand to provide some comic relief--otherwise it would have been pretty dreadful. Not a good film, but oddly, it might be a bit better than "Reckless"---even though "Reckless" had a bigger budget, bigger stars and the biggest studio behind it. Why? Well, seeing and hearing Jean Harlow supposedly singing is a travesty you have to witness yourself to believe!!
Hollywood was Obsessed with Sin
view_and_review2 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Hollywood was obsessed with sin in the 30's. Among the titles I've seen are: "They Call it Sin" (1932), "Sin Takes a Holiday" (1930), "My Sin" (1931), "Laughing Sinners" (1931), "The Sin of Nora Moran" (1933), "The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), "The Virtuous Sin" (1930), and "Sinners in the Sun" (1932). Either it was something they pined for or something they engaged in.
"Sing Sinner Sing" starred Paul Lukas, Leila Hyams, and Don Dillaway. Paul Lukas played Phil Carida, the proprietor of an illegal gambling ship. He was a ladies' man that had his pick of any of the women that worked for him, and Lela Larson (Leila Hyams) was one of those women.
Lela was a singer on Phil's ship, so I guess that would make her the sinner in this movie (again a woman is labeled with "sinner" by the title and she was the most virtuous of the characters). When Lela walked in on Phil getting fresh with another woman she decided she'd had enough. Phil, however, wasn't willing to let Lela go.
In comes Ted Rendon (Don Dillaway), a wealthy drunkard who'd proposed to Lela several times before. After her falling out with Phil Lela promised to marry Ted if he'd take her away. I seem to remember Barbara Stanwyck also marrying a guy just to get away in "The Purchase Price" (1932).
What's important, and what happened to define this movie was the ending.
The set up:
Ted was an alcoholic and was having one of his noisy parties at his home. Lela pulled Ted away because he was in an even worse state than normal. All of the partiers were downstairs while Ted and Lela were upstairs in a bedroom then Ted pulled out a gun and threatened to kill Lela and himself. Lela locked herself in a bathroom.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Phil (Paul Lukas) entered the home looking to reclaim Lela by force if necessary. He made his way to the same bedroom. While the camera was on Lela in the bathroom a shot was heard. Ted shot himself. After the shot was fired Lela came out of the bathroom and fainted (naturally).
Shortly after Ted killed himself the partiers broke down the door and found Ted dead and Lela lying unconscious with a gun in her hand. The only way the gun could've gotten in her hand is if Phil had placed it there, and the only reason he'd do that is to frame her because he was upset she left him.
Now, fast-forwarding to the end.
Lela was tried and the jury found her guilty of first degree murder even though she was innocent. How oh how would she be saved?
As soon as the jury read the verdict Phil barged into the courtroom threatening to kill her like, as he said, he killed her husband. And like that, Lela was saved. They had Phil's confession which they evidently believed. It was so dumb and unimaginative. Per Lela's explanation to her friend Margaret (Ruth Donnelly), he did it to save her (perhaps out of guilt or a feeling of love). Whatever the reason, it was wholly unnecessary. He could've just as easily came forward as a witness and told the jury that he saw Ted kill himself and he put the gun in her hand to frame her. Instead he did something far zanier and put himself into the electric chair. He was a deus ex machina if I ever saw one, and a bad one at that.
Free on YouTube.
"Sing Sinner Sing" starred Paul Lukas, Leila Hyams, and Don Dillaway. Paul Lukas played Phil Carida, the proprietor of an illegal gambling ship. He was a ladies' man that had his pick of any of the women that worked for him, and Lela Larson (Leila Hyams) was one of those women.
Lela was a singer on Phil's ship, so I guess that would make her the sinner in this movie (again a woman is labeled with "sinner" by the title and she was the most virtuous of the characters). When Lela walked in on Phil getting fresh with another woman she decided she'd had enough. Phil, however, wasn't willing to let Lela go.
In comes Ted Rendon (Don Dillaway), a wealthy drunkard who'd proposed to Lela several times before. After her falling out with Phil Lela promised to marry Ted if he'd take her away. I seem to remember Barbara Stanwyck also marrying a guy just to get away in "The Purchase Price" (1932).
What's important, and what happened to define this movie was the ending.
The set up:
Ted was an alcoholic and was having one of his noisy parties at his home. Lela pulled Ted away because he was in an even worse state than normal. All of the partiers were downstairs while Ted and Lela were upstairs in a bedroom then Ted pulled out a gun and threatened to kill Lela and himself. Lela locked herself in a bathroom.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Phil (Paul Lukas) entered the home looking to reclaim Lela by force if necessary. He made his way to the same bedroom. While the camera was on Lela in the bathroom a shot was heard. Ted shot himself. After the shot was fired Lela came out of the bathroom and fainted (naturally).
Shortly after Ted killed himself the partiers broke down the door and found Ted dead and Lela lying unconscious with a gun in her hand. The only way the gun could've gotten in her hand is if Phil had placed it there, and the only reason he'd do that is to frame her because he was upset she left him.
Now, fast-forwarding to the end.
Lela was tried and the jury found her guilty of first degree murder even though she was innocent. How oh how would she be saved?
As soon as the jury read the verdict Phil barged into the courtroom threatening to kill her like, as he said, he killed her husband. And like that, Lela was saved. They had Phil's confession which they evidently believed. It was so dumb and unimaginative. Per Lela's explanation to her friend Margaret (Ruth Donnelly), he did it to save her (perhaps out of guilt or a feeling of love). Whatever the reason, it was wholly unnecessary. He could've just as easily came forward as a witness and told the jury that he saw Ted kill himself and he put the gun in her hand to frame her. Instead he did something far zanier and put himself into the electric chair. He was a deus ex machina if I ever saw one, and a bad one at that.
Free on YouTube.
Ripped From the Headlines!!
kidboots2 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This may have been one of the first films to bring the Libby Holman/ Smith Reynolds bizarre murder/suicide? to the screen. In 1931 the sensational event made front page news. Libby Holman, a sultry singer who made "Body and Soul" and "Moanin' Low" song standards, succumbed to a stage door johnny, the erratic and unstable Smith Reynolds, heir to the Camel cigarettes empire, and in 1931 married him. Six months later he was found dead in odd circumstances, at the height of a weekend long party of drinking and revelry. People were divided - some thought he committed suicide (apparently he often spoke of it) but others (newspapers and the public) thought there was a cover up to protect Libby who was having an affair with a reporter at the time. The crime scene was not secured and by the time the police arrived it was clear people had been there before hand and removed evidence.
Leila Hyams, lately of MGM, was given the role of song bird Lela Larson who marries alcoholic millionaire playboy Ted Rendon (Donald Dillaway) to escape the lurid attentions of crooked manager Phil (Paul Lukas) who shows within a few minutes how "faithful" and "steady" he is. You even get a chance to see Ruth Donnelly sing, worth watching the movie for. As usual she is great fun as Lela's pal Maggie who tells her she should grab Ted with a grip of iron - and Lela does but Ted has serious problems. He fears insanity runs in the family and treats every night like New Year's Eve, celebrating with a different girl!! Maggie encourages her to sue for divorce and with his family getting involved it promises to be the scandal of the century. Lela also can't count on Phil for support as he is busy planning his own revenge on her for walking out on him at a critical time. As in real life events reach a climax at a riotous party where the crowd refuses to go home. Phil decides, on that particular night, for a showdown but as the real Holman/Smith court case was still rambling through the papers the film ended with a "draw your own conclusion"!! Ted becomes ill through an alcoholic stupor but recovers enough to contemplate suicide as he also suffers from uncontrollable rages and has already threatened Lela with murder. Lela hovers, barricaded in the bathroom, a shot rings out, the audience already knows that Phil is in the darkened room but it is Lela, smeared as a gold digger in the press, who goes on trial for her life.
The film ended satisfactorily but showing that truth is often stranger than fiction, the Holman trial dragged on until 1935 because of question marks over whether her child was really Reynold's and whether he deserved to be labelled "the richest baby in America"!!!
Leila Hyams, lately of MGM, was given the role of song bird Lela Larson who marries alcoholic millionaire playboy Ted Rendon (Donald Dillaway) to escape the lurid attentions of crooked manager Phil (Paul Lukas) who shows within a few minutes how "faithful" and "steady" he is. You even get a chance to see Ruth Donnelly sing, worth watching the movie for. As usual she is great fun as Lela's pal Maggie who tells her she should grab Ted with a grip of iron - and Lela does but Ted has serious problems. He fears insanity runs in the family and treats every night like New Year's Eve, celebrating with a different girl!! Maggie encourages her to sue for divorce and with his family getting involved it promises to be the scandal of the century. Lela also can't count on Phil for support as he is busy planning his own revenge on her for walking out on him at a critical time. As in real life events reach a climax at a riotous party where the crowd refuses to go home. Phil decides, on that particular night, for a showdown but as the real Holman/Smith court case was still rambling through the papers the film ended with a "draw your own conclusion"!! Ted becomes ill through an alcoholic stupor but recovers enough to contemplate suicide as he also suffers from uncontrollable rages and has already threatened Lela with murder. Lela hovers, barricaded in the bathroom, a shot rings out, the audience already knows that Phil is in the darkened room but it is Lela, smeared as a gold digger in the press, who goes on trial for her life.
The film ended satisfactorily but showing that truth is often stranger than fiction, the Holman trial dragged on until 1935 because of question marks over whether her child was really Reynold's and whether he deserved to be labelled "the richest baby in America"!!!
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