Grand National, that very modern but mismanaged Hollywood mini major from just 1935-38, looked like they just might give Republic and Universal and Columbia a serious run for their place in the mid thirties. Lucky enough to score James Cagey for a few films: GREAT GUY and SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT, this funny lively well made musical ....a bit like WHOOPEE and pre-empting GIRL CRAZY showed they meant box office business in all forms of films..from tough guy pix to westerns and musical combos of both. HATS OFF is a modern day musical about publicity, a female reporter spying on a rival town's major business and manufacturing show... and falling for the architect played by a very young and handsome John Payne. It sort of loses the thread of the story about 2/3 of the way through but it is a very likable film with terrific sets and costumes especially in the nightclub musical scenes.
Sadly they went broke by overspending on their Cagney musical SOMETHING (above) and lost $800k. they never recovered and went out of the biz in 1939. Their studio became PRC. Had Grand National survived, they would have lasted well into the TV era and produced a lot of solidly made films. Check that logo! one of the best and most exciting ever on the front of any film!
Sadly they went broke by overspending on their Cagney musical SOMETHING (above) and lost $800k. they never recovered and went out of the biz in 1939. Their studio became PRC. Had Grand National survived, they would have lasted well into the TV era and produced a lot of solidly made films. Check that logo! one of the best and most exciting ever on the front of any film!