I cannot believe how mean-spirited so many of the comments are on this delightful piece of froth. It is a Rom-Com, a fun way for a war-weary people to loosen up and forget about their troubles. Betty Hutton does yell. And how. Her sense of rhythm, quick gestures and dance moves are extremely well-honed, and she nails these songs with a precision and joie-de-vivre that is a lesson to anyone in show business. The story is implausible. Good! That's what makes it so fun and such good escapist value. Look at Rom-Coms today and they're not that much more plausible... The set design is fabulous, the gowns are gorgeous, the girls vivacious, and the band excellent. The songs aren't amongst the forty best tunes of the century, but they're memorable enough that I'm humming one of them right now. Can't say fairer than that.
31 Reviews
She's just a square in the social circle..."anyone wanna shoot pool?"
moonspinner5515 September 2009
Betty Hutton works overtime at being indefatigable playing a hat-check girl/band singer who saves a bum's life, not knowing he's really a multimillionaire; he becomes her secret benefactor, much to the dismay of her jealous orchestra-leader boyfriend. Overwritten comedy from B.G. DeSylva and John McGowan is mercilessly talky and comically complicated, with bosses, lovers, husbands and wives all trying to fool one another into happiness. Hutton is remarkable, however; she's terribly aware of the camera and keeps playing to the collective funny bone, yet she radiates chummy charm and her musical numbers are memorably spirited. The excellent supporting cast includes Barry Fitzgerald, Robert Benchley, Don DeFore, and the wisecracking Iris Adrian, a stitch as Hutton's gal-pal. **1/2 from ****
Where The Real Elite Met
bkoganbing18 September 2009
After the days of Prohibition where Sherman Billingsley made his money, he founded The Stork Club which was in New York what the Cocoanut Grove was in Los Angeles, where the elite meet to eat as Duffy's Tavern used to advertise. It was only natural that sooner or later one of the studios would make a film centered on the famous night spot and Paramount was the one that finally did it.
The nightclub serves as a backdrop for the story of one of the hatcheck girls in this case Betty Hutton. When she sees Barry Fitzgerald falling in a lake and starting to drown, Betty remembers her Girl Scout training and jumps in and saves him. Barry doesn't tell her, but he's a multimillionaire who then becomes her secret benefactor, much like Magwitch was to Pip in Great Expectations. Of course it all turns out a lot happier in the end for this cast.
Barry's presence leads returning serviceman boyfriend Don DeFore to suspect the worst that Betty's found herself a rich sugar daddy. It doesn't sit too well with Mrs. Fitzgerald played by Mary Young.
Fitzgerald was in the publicity gathered by his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Going My Way. For the next few years Barry received more screen time and in this case, co-star billing with Betty Hutton.
As for Betty she and the cast get songs from a variety of sources. The best known number is the famous Hoagy Carmichael-Paul Francis Webster song, Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief which Hutton sings with her usual gusto. Betty's fine, but the really primo version of this song was done by it's composer who was a pretty fair entertainer as well.
Owner Sherman Billingsley was played by actor/radio announcer Bill Goodwin. In real life Billingsley was hardly as genial a person as Goodwin plays him.
Still the film is a must for Betty Hutton fans and for those who want to celebrate the past era of gaudy, yet tasteful nightspots.
The nightclub serves as a backdrop for the story of one of the hatcheck girls in this case Betty Hutton. When she sees Barry Fitzgerald falling in a lake and starting to drown, Betty remembers her Girl Scout training and jumps in and saves him. Barry doesn't tell her, but he's a multimillionaire who then becomes her secret benefactor, much like Magwitch was to Pip in Great Expectations. Of course it all turns out a lot happier in the end for this cast.
Barry's presence leads returning serviceman boyfriend Don DeFore to suspect the worst that Betty's found herself a rich sugar daddy. It doesn't sit too well with Mrs. Fitzgerald played by Mary Young.
Fitzgerald was in the publicity gathered by his Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Going My Way. For the next few years Barry received more screen time and in this case, co-star billing with Betty Hutton.
As for Betty she and the cast get songs from a variety of sources. The best known number is the famous Hoagy Carmichael-Paul Francis Webster song, Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief which Hutton sings with her usual gusto. Betty's fine, but the really primo version of this song was done by it's composer who was a pretty fair entertainer as well.
Owner Sherman Billingsley was played by actor/radio announcer Bill Goodwin. In real life Billingsley was hardly as genial a person as Goodwin plays him.
Still the film is a must for Betty Hutton fans and for those who want to celebrate the past era of gaudy, yet tasteful nightspots.
Solid Vehicle For Betty Hutton That Gets a Big Boost From Barry Fitzgerald
Snow Leopard17 February 2006
This is a solid vehicle for Betty Hutton that gives her plenty of opportunities to use her singing ability as well as her upbeat, energetic acting style. It's far from flawless, but it gets a big boost from Barry Fitzgerald, and the sharp contrast between the two stars and their characters also lends some substance to the enjoyable but rather fluffy plot.
Hutton and Fitzgerald are certainly an intriguing pairing, with seemingly nothing in common. The story setup has Fitzgerald as a cranky, friendless millionaire whom Hutton's character rescues from drowning. The millionaire's determination to help the good-hearted hat check girl gets tangled up with her own misunderstandings and difficulties, creating an implausible but entertaining story. The setting in the popular Stork Club provides a suitable backdrop to the plot.
Hutton just has to be natural in the role, and she fits into the part well. Fitzgerald played this kind of role as well as any other character actor, past or present, and his style usually makes even the blandest lines of dialogue worth listening to. The cast also includes Robert Benchley, who adds his dry humor in the role of the millionaire's lawyer. Benchley is always amusing, and he gets some fine moments even though he is not on-screen all that often. The stolid Don Defore is well cast as Hutton's earnest but unimaginative boyfriend, and he serves as a good straight man for the others.
This probably would have been improved with a tighter script and a crisper pace. Its deliberately improbable story is fun to watch, but it's the kind of story that works best when the dialogue and action both move along briskly. With some of the slow stretches removed or shortened, this might be quite a good movie. But even as it stands, it's enjoyable enough as very light entertainment.
Hutton and Fitzgerald are certainly an intriguing pairing, with seemingly nothing in common. The story setup has Fitzgerald as a cranky, friendless millionaire whom Hutton's character rescues from drowning. The millionaire's determination to help the good-hearted hat check girl gets tangled up with her own misunderstandings and difficulties, creating an implausible but entertaining story. The setting in the popular Stork Club provides a suitable backdrop to the plot.
Hutton just has to be natural in the role, and she fits into the part well. Fitzgerald played this kind of role as well as any other character actor, past or present, and his style usually makes even the blandest lines of dialogue worth listening to. The cast also includes Robert Benchley, who adds his dry humor in the role of the millionaire's lawyer. Benchley is always amusing, and he gets some fine moments even though he is not on-screen all that often. The stolid Don Defore is well cast as Hutton's earnest but unimaginative boyfriend, and he serves as a good straight man for the others.
This probably would have been improved with a tighter script and a crisper pace. Its deliberately improbable story is fun to watch, but it's the kind of story that works best when the dialogue and action both move along briskly. With some of the slow stretches removed or shortened, this might be quite a good movie. But even as it stands, it's enjoyable enough as very light entertainment.
Betty Hutton and Barry Fitzgerald make a good team in The Stork Club
tavm17 July 2015
About 20 years after first watching this on a VHS tape, I rewatched The Stork Club just now on YouTube. In this one, Betty Hutton saves Barry Fitzgerald from drowning. She thinks he's poor but he's actually rich and decides to give her an account initially without her knowledge. This eventually creates complications, most of which are pretty funny...except when her former soldier/current bandleader boyfriend Don Defore confronts her about them. The dialogue between him and Betty are deadly most of the time. Her with Fitzgerald, however, are often highlights. Ms. Hutton is much more subdued this time-compared to many of her other films I've seen-even during her performance of "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree"-at least after Barry initially criticizes her jive version-to good effect. There's much more to the plot but I'll now say I highly recommend The Stork Club if you're a die-hard Betty Hutton fan like I am!
WWII-era B Movie entertains in a brainless way
lschrupp21 July 2001
So, this beautiful blonde saves a rich old man from drowning, see? But she doesn't realize he's rich, see? And she tries to get him a job at the Stork Club, where she works, see? And he decides to secretly make her rich for being so nice to him, see?
A totally predictable feel-good movie, worth watching if you like Betty Hutton and WWII vintage studio potboilers with fun stories and a couple of good musical numbers.
A totally predictable feel-good movie, worth watching if you like Betty Hutton and WWII vintage studio potboilers with fun stories and a couple of good musical numbers.
A movie for dieters!
tommythek29 October 2001
Why is this a movie for dieters? Because it is so lightweight! Try to control your hysterical laughter at my most amusing joke. But seriously, folks, I wanna tellya .....
For those movie viewers who like to think about what they're watching while they're watching it, this movie is not for you. For those movie viewers who want to simply forget about what ails the world and who have no better way to pass about 1¾ hours, this movie is for you. Oh! To halfway enjoy this movie, it also helps if you like old movies, now-dead movie stars and mostly forgettable music which has long since been forgotten.
The main beneficiary of this movie was none other than Sherman Billingsley. He was the owner and proprietor of New York City's famous Stork Club. Not only did he get to have a movie named for his popular nightclub, but he's also a main character in the movie. Talk about your free publicity! Unfortunately for Shermie, he did not get to play himself in the movie. That task fell to Bill Goodwin, George and Gracie's renowned radio announcer. But the real stars of this piece of fluff are the effervescent Betty Hutton and the movies' favorite persnickety Irishman, Barry Fitzgerald. The plot revolves around romantic mixups involving Betty, Barry and Bill -- the three B's? -- as well as Don DeFore and the inimitable humorist, Robert Benchley. It's the type of contrived plot that tests the credulity of even the most tolerant viewer, so you can imagine how the intolerant are likely to react.
For me, the movie's most disappointing aspect was its music. And that's the main reason I had opted to watch it! This movie employed some of the top songwriters of the 1940s (as well as of other decades) -- Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans -- the best and most famous of the group employed. The movie was even co-written and co-produced by Buddy DeSylva, a pretty fair country songwriter in his own right from the 1920s and 1930s. Out of that entire group, the best and only worthwhile song they were able to come up with was Hoagy and Paul Francis' "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief." Although this song helped put Betty on the map and was quite popular in its day, when one thinks back to the memorable songs of that era, "D, L, I C" is not one that will pop readily into anyone's mind. And it stands out head and shoulders above all other songs in this movie!
One person who lost out by this movie's musical dearth was Andy Russell. Andy was one of the better crooners of the 1940s and, in my book, much underrated. He made his musical debut in this movie and that great roster of songwriters gave him NOTHING worthwhile to sing. It was the musical equivalent of, let's say, Lawrence Olivier making his movie debut with all of his dialogue being written by ..... ME!!!
So, any of you folks needing to shed a few pounds, you can't do better than to start with "The Stork Club." It's lightweight, low-calorie and, in 1¾ hours, will take two inches off that ole tum-tum. Guaranteed! If not, your money cheerfully refunded ..... in full!
For those movie viewers who like to think about what they're watching while they're watching it, this movie is not for you. For those movie viewers who want to simply forget about what ails the world and who have no better way to pass about 1¾ hours, this movie is for you. Oh! To halfway enjoy this movie, it also helps if you like old movies, now-dead movie stars and mostly forgettable music which has long since been forgotten.
The main beneficiary of this movie was none other than Sherman Billingsley. He was the owner and proprietor of New York City's famous Stork Club. Not only did he get to have a movie named for his popular nightclub, but he's also a main character in the movie. Talk about your free publicity! Unfortunately for Shermie, he did not get to play himself in the movie. That task fell to Bill Goodwin, George and Gracie's renowned radio announcer. But the real stars of this piece of fluff are the effervescent Betty Hutton and the movies' favorite persnickety Irishman, Barry Fitzgerald. The plot revolves around romantic mixups involving Betty, Barry and Bill -- the three B's? -- as well as Don DeFore and the inimitable humorist, Robert Benchley. It's the type of contrived plot that tests the credulity of even the most tolerant viewer, so you can imagine how the intolerant are likely to react.
For me, the movie's most disappointing aspect was its music. And that's the main reason I had opted to watch it! This movie employed some of the top songwriters of the 1940s (as well as of other decades) -- Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans -- the best and most famous of the group employed. The movie was even co-written and co-produced by Buddy DeSylva, a pretty fair country songwriter in his own right from the 1920s and 1930s. Out of that entire group, the best and only worthwhile song they were able to come up with was Hoagy and Paul Francis' "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief." Although this song helped put Betty on the map and was quite popular in its day, when one thinks back to the memorable songs of that era, "D, L, I C" is not one that will pop readily into anyone's mind. And it stands out head and shoulders above all other songs in this movie!
One person who lost out by this movie's musical dearth was Andy Russell. Andy was one of the better crooners of the 1940s and, in my book, much underrated. He made his musical debut in this movie and that great roster of songwriters gave him NOTHING worthwhile to sing. It was the musical equivalent of, let's say, Lawrence Olivier making his movie debut with all of his dialogue being written by ..... ME!!!
So, any of you folks needing to shed a few pounds, you can't do better than to start with "The Stork Club." It's lightweight, low-calorie and, in 1¾ hours, will take two inches off that ole tum-tum. Guaranteed! If not, your money cheerfully refunded ..... in full!
"Classic" is in the eye of the beholder
hotfriend17 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Although I don't consider The Stork Club a classic, it's the kind of escapist fluff the Hollywood studio "system" cranked out like an assembly line. The millionaire referred to in the other user's comments was Barry Fitzgerald, a fine Irish character actor. He is best remembered for roles in memorable films such as "How Green was My Valley," and "The Naked City," as well as "Going My Way," for which he was nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor (win) for the same role, the only actor ever so recognized. He is also part of an exclusive group nominated for both lead and supporting Oscars in the same year(although for different films). But he is best remembered as the delightful Michaleen, the matchmaker with the mischievous leprechaun-like charm in "The Quiet Man."
Although not a conventional beauty, star Betty Hutton wasn't a major talent but she had an infectiously vivacious quality and innocence that made her appealing. "The Stork Club" is worth viewing if only for Hutton's all-stops-out rendition of Hoagy Carmichael's "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief," which she belts out with irresistible enthusiasm.
That aside, the film is historically memorable for supposedly using a set that was an exact replica of the long-defunct Stork Club, a notoriously exclusive New York institution for decades. The so-called "sanctum sanctorum" of the real Stork Club was the Cub Room, which only admitted celebrities and other big names, and their guests. In the great "All About Eve," the Cub Room is the celebrity watering hole that Bette Davis refers to as the place where "the elite meet."
A harmless confection and curio from a bygone age that is worth a look for the nostalgic value of a now-unimaginably innocent time.
Although not a conventional beauty, star Betty Hutton wasn't a major talent but she had an infectiously vivacious quality and innocence that made her appealing. "The Stork Club" is worth viewing if only for Hutton's all-stops-out rendition of Hoagy Carmichael's "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief," which she belts out with irresistible enthusiasm.
That aside, the film is historically memorable for supposedly using a set that was an exact replica of the long-defunct Stork Club, a notoriously exclusive New York institution for decades. The so-called "sanctum sanctorum" of the real Stork Club was the Cub Room, which only admitted celebrities and other big names, and their guests. In the great "All About Eve," the Cub Room is the celebrity watering hole that Bette Davis refers to as the place where "the elite meet."
A harmless confection and curio from a bygone age that is worth a look for the nostalgic value of a now-unimaginably innocent time.
i agree to most reviews
fmgrant12 April 2006
Unfortunately,the story about the people who worked at the Stork Club could have made the premise much more believable if the could have been included in the story. Cugat is there but Walter Winchell and possible cameos by regular movie stars could have perked some interest.The adamant Fred Armour at the velvet rope,admitting only those who passed Billingsleys' OK and Jack Spooner,a hilarious bartender who had a quip for every famous face that he saw. My observations are first hand because I was employed from October 1942 to January 1943 when I left to go into service. Sometimes the most obvious stories seem to escape movie makers in quest of their buck.
Move, Danny, Move, Do Something
jayraskin111 February 2010
The first forty minutes of the movie is delightful with Barry Fitzgerald playing a millionaire in disguise who turns hatcheck girl Betty Hutton's life upside down. The last ten minutes are also fine with a cute and satisfying ending. Its the forty-five minutes in-between that gets bogged down. The biggest problem is the subplot with Don Defore. Defore plays an ex-marine returned from the war and the leader of an orchestra looking for a job. He is passionless and dull in both roles. He rejects long time girl friend Judy (Hutton) because he finds her in a wealthy apartment wearing rich clothes and assumes (incorrectly) that she got the goodies by whoring around. This might have made him noble in 1945, but now he seems like a "holier than thou" male chauvinist. One feels like telling the distraught Judy that she was lucky to get rid of the creep. Unfortunately, she has to feel guilty for having had good fortune without the help of her "man". She spends the rest of the movie trying to win him back.
The other problem is that Betty sings just four musical numbers and only two ("Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" and "Square in a Social Circle") are in her inimitable jitterbug-swing style. These two numbers are the highlights in the film. Andy Russell, a rather lifeless Bing Crosby/Frank Sinatra type crooner is given three numbers, including a duet with Hutton, which just slows the film down.
In sum, the delightful performance of Barry Fitzgerald and the comical energy and singing talent of Betty Hutton start the movie in a glowing fashion and eventually get us over the finish line, but the middle part is dated and a bit wearisome.
I think the movie is worth seeing for two scenes - Hutton's dynamic delivery of "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" and her jarring scene where she welcomes her soldier boyfriend back from the war, saying "Move, Danny, Move, Do Something," I think at that moment she captured some of the extraordinary happiness that people felt about the war ending at that time.
The other problem is that Betty sings just four musical numbers and only two ("Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" and "Square in a Social Circle") are in her inimitable jitterbug-swing style. These two numbers are the highlights in the film. Andy Russell, a rather lifeless Bing Crosby/Frank Sinatra type crooner is given three numbers, including a duet with Hutton, which just slows the film down.
In sum, the delightful performance of Barry Fitzgerald and the comical energy and singing talent of Betty Hutton start the movie in a glowing fashion and eventually get us over the finish line, but the middle part is dated and a bit wearisome.
I think the movie is worth seeing for two scenes - Hutton's dynamic delivery of "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" and her jarring scene where she welcomes her soldier boyfriend back from the war, saying "Move, Danny, Move, Do Something," I think at that moment she captured some of the extraordinary happiness that people felt about the war ending at that time.
Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief
wes-connors13 July 2010
Mistakenly thinking the old man is committing suicide, two-piece bathing-suited Betty Hutton (as Judy Peabody) jumps in and saves eccentrically wealthy Barry Fitzgerald (as Jerry "Pop" Bates) from drowning. He decides to reward Ms. Hutton, who is barely making ends meet as a hat-check girl at "The Stork Club" in New York City. Mr. Fitzgerald becomes Hutton's mysterious benefactor, giving her an all-expenses paid apartment and a luxurious line of credit.
Suddenly rich, Hutton decides to help poor Fitzgerald, unaware he is behind her wealth. Complicating matters, Hutton's boyfriend Don DeFore (as Danny Wilton) thinks she's become Fitzgerald's high-paid mistress.
This is light, sentimental comedy infused by the personalities of its stars. The film really jumps to life when Hutton sings "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" which entered the record charts just before the film's release, and stuck around through the spring of 1946, going to #1 for two weeks. The song, which features a great Hutton vocal and infectious chorus, was her biggest chart hit, beating down competing versions from Les Brown and Hoagy Carmichael (who wrote the music).
***** The Stork Club (12/19/45) Hal Walker ~ Betty Hutton, Barry Fitzgerald, Don DeFore, Robert Benchley
Suddenly rich, Hutton decides to help poor Fitzgerald, unaware he is behind her wealth. Complicating matters, Hutton's boyfriend Don DeFore (as Danny Wilton) thinks she's become Fitzgerald's high-paid mistress.
This is light, sentimental comedy infused by the personalities of its stars. The film really jumps to life when Hutton sings "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" which entered the record charts just before the film's release, and stuck around through the spring of 1946, going to #1 for two weeks. The song, which features a great Hutton vocal and infectious chorus, was her biggest chart hit, beating down competing versions from Les Brown and Hoagy Carmichael (who wrote the music).
***** The Stork Club (12/19/45) Hal Walker ~ Betty Hutton, Barry Fitzgerald, Don DeFore, Robert Benchley
The Forties was the high watermark of Hollywood
nenms1119 December 2021
Nobody is more frantic than a singing Betty!
mark.waltz22 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Plied with mostly forgettable songs, Betty Hutton seems only out to upstage herself in this amusing but noisy musical comedy. She is a hatcheck girl at the Stork Club who saves the life of hobo Barry Fitzgerald who is really rich and ends up becoming a head liner there. Having money and success however is not always the key to happiness which she realizes because of boyfriend Don't DeFore's jealousy. Robert Benchley adds acerbic humor while character performers like Bill Goodwin, Iris Adrian and Grady Sutton add light-hearted humor.
Betty was at the height of her popularity at this time and leaves no stone unturned to beg for the audiences love. She can tone it down when necessary but at times seems like a blonde version of Virginia O'Brien. Her best jazzy song is "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" which is probably her greatest hit. The supporting players do their best to try to not fade behind her but it is difficult. The always lovable Fitzgerald manages to not be relegated to the background. While she is definitely an acquired taste, it is certainty difficult to ignore her. Unfortunately, her temperament and ego soon took hold and even as Paramount's top leading lady, she quickly burned out her welcome.
Betty was at the height of her popularity at this time and leaves no stone unturned to beg for the audiences love. She can tone it down when necessary but at times seems like a blonde version of Virginia O'Brien. Her best jazzy song is "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" which is probably her greatest hit. The supporting players do their best to try to not fade behind her but it is difficult. The always lovable Fitzgerald manages to not be relegated to the background. While she is definitely an acquired taste, it is certainty difficult to ignore her. Unfortunately, her temperament and ego soon took hold and even as Paramount's top leading lady, she quickly burned out her welcome.
A Spirited Betty Hutton
marthawilcox183117 July 2014
Betty Hutton really puts her heart and soul into this film. Although she may come across as bonkers in a lot of her films, she is definitely a talented actress with a lot of energy and spirit. Here she takes pity on an old man by trying to get him a job. This is an endearing quality, and makes you connect with her character from the early stages. Eventually, she realises that this man is carrying a torch for a woman who left him. Although you may not necessarily connect with the man, you connect with the writing that has drawn the character. In other words, it is a good script which is sensitively played by Hutton. You see her eyes in conversation with her boyfriend whilst she is singing, and you can't help feeling for her on her journey through this film. Definitely one of her better performances with a good script to take you through the film.
Not a Good Hutton Showcase
dougdoepke28 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A lowly hatcheck girl at the Stork Club saves a wealthy old guy from drowning. Grateful, he sets up big expense accounts for her, anonymously. As a result, she can only guess at her benefactor, which she and her jealous boyfriend usually get really wrong. And if that's not enough, she and her boyfriend are trying to make it in musical show business.
It's like the production is trying to crowd in too much plot and the parts fail to blend into a satisfying whole. That leaves us with a few stellar parts (the amusing expense accounts stampede) amid too much meandering talk and plot shenanigans. Hutton generally lights up the screen, especially with her scintillating "Doctor, Lawyer " But her numbers are few and far between. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald was a star and so gets a lot of screen time as the sly old Croesus, who follows Judy (Hutton) around giving advice. Unfortunately, for we curious provincials, there's not enough of the Stork Club or its sophisticates despite the title. There is, however, an edifying look at styles and hip lingo, circa 1945. Then too, I'm guessing that the notoriously sassy Iris Adrian had to tone down her usual act so as not to interfere with Hutton.
Add too much dawdling direction from Hal Walker, an underused Robert Benchley (Curtis), plus an oddly wooden Don DeFore (Danny) conducting his band with all the verve of a sleepwalker, and the overall result is a disappointing 100-minutes. For sure, it's not the best showcase for fans of that human dynamo, Betty Hutton.
It's like the production is trying to crowd in too much plot and the parts fail to blend into a satisfying whole. That leaves us with a few stellar parts (the amusing expense accounts stampede) amid too much meandering talk and plot shenanigans. Hutton generally lights up the screen, especially with her scintillating "Doctor, Lawyer " But her numbers are few and far between. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald was a star and so gets a lot of screen time as the sly old Croesus, who follows Judy (Hutton) around giving advice. Unfortunately, for we curious provincials, there's not enough of the Stork Club or its sophisticates despite the title. There is, however, an edifying look at styles and hip lingo, circa 1945. Then too, I'm guessing that the notoriously sassy Iris Adrian had to tone down her usual act so as not to interfere with Hutton.
Add too much dawdling direction from Hal Walker, an underused Robert Benchley (Curtis), plus an oddly wooden Don DeFore (Danny) conducting his band with all the verve of a sleepwalker, and the overall result is a disappointing 100-minutes. For sure, it's not the best showcase for fans of that human dynamo, Betty Hutton.
Enjoyable fluff.
planktonrules10 June 2016
"The Stork Club" is an old film that has somehow fallen into the public domain. Because of this, you can find it at the biggest repository for such films, archive.org. I wouldn't rush to do this, as the film is far from perfect, but it is enjoyable and fun.
When the film begins, Jerry Bates (Barry Fitzgerald) falls into the water and nearly drowns. However, a quick-thinking Judy (Betty Hutton) jumps in and saves his life. She assumes he was trying to kill himself and she doesn't realize that it was an accident and this man in shabby clothes is in fact mega-rich. Bates decides to reward her for her kindness and has his lawyer set her up with a fancy apartment and big expense account...with the stipulation that she never know her benefactor. However, when her boyfriend (Don DeFore) returns from his stint overseas, he assumes that his girlfriend MUST be up to some hanky-panky....and that is why she is living the high life. So it's up to Bates and Judy to somehow work all this out...as well as work out Bates' own relationship problems.
The film is enjoyable fluff. The film has two flaws, however. First, there are about one or two songs too many (especially the second one which Hutton practically screams) and the whole mess very easily could have been worked out and explained. In fact, the lawyer (Robert Benchly) even says "It's all very simple..."...too simple. But somehow they made it all needlessly complicated to pad out the story. Still, Hutton and Fitzgerald are very likable...hence my score of 6.
When the film begins, Jerry Bates (Barry Fitzgerald) falls into the water and nearly drowns. However, a quick-thinking Judy (Betty Hutton) jumps in and saves his life. She assumes he was trying to kill himself and she doesn't realize that it was an accident and this man in shabby clothes is in fact mega-rich. Bates decides to reward her for her kindness and has his lawyer set her up with a fancy apartment and big expense account...with the stipulation that she never know her benefactor. However, when her boyfriend (Don DeFore) returns from his stint overseas, he assumes that his girlfriend MUST be up to some hanky-panky....and that is why she is living the high life. So it's up to Bates and Judy to somehow work all this out...as well as work out Bates' own relationship problems.
The film is enjoyable fluff. The film has two flaws, however. First, there are about one or two songs too many (especially the second one which Hutton practically screams) and the whole mess very easily could have been worked out and explained. In fact, the lawyer (Robert Benchly) even says "It's all very simple..."...too simple. But somehow they made it all needlessly complicated to pad out the story. Still, Hutton and Fitzgerald are very likable...hence my score of 6.
Lazy film making???
raskimono24 September 2003
SO-so boring film with premise for fun comedy but lazily and boorishly done. I didn't really like any of the leads and Defore who plays the romantic interest is an oak tree. Lazy Betty Hutton vehicle that made a lot of money. Wonder why?
Silly movie with some solid performers
cherold16 June 2011
This trifle stars Betty Hutton as a hat check girl who saves the life of a millionaire who decides to reward her anonymously with everything she's ever wanted. Sounds like a good deal to me, but of course everything winds up a mess.
The main thing this movie has going for it is Barry Fitgerald, who is quite funny as the cantankerous millionaire, and Betty Hutton, whose brash energy and comical singing are always appealing. There's also a solid performance by the guy who plays the manager of the Stork Club. Unfortunately Betty only sings a few songs, of varying quality, and the story is piffle. Still, it's fun if you turn off your brain.
The main thing this movie has going for it is Barry Fitgerald, who is quite funny as the cantankerous millionaire, and Betty Hutton, whose brash energy and comical singing are always appealing. There's also a solid performance by the guy who plays the manager of the Stork Club. Unfortunately Betty only sings a few songs, of varying quality, and the story is piffle. Still, it's fun if you turn off your brain.
The incendiary blond sings, mugs and cries yet again, as a Stork Club performer.
weezeralfalfa25 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Too often, Betty Hutton had to carry her, mostly B, films by herself(If anyone could, she could!). This film is a prime example. She should have often been teamed with a major comedic and/or musical film performer, as part of a team such as MGM's Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, or Universal's Don O'Connor and Peggy Ryan. Bob Hope, who was also contracted with Paramount, would seem the perfect partner for her. They only did one earlier film together. I realize that Bob was spending much time on tour with troops during this time. Why didn't Betty replace Dorothy Lamour in some of 'The Road Series'? Barry Fitzgerald may have been a recognizable supporting dramatic actor, but he's deadly dull, for the most part, in his leading role in this film. Perhaps "Cuddles" Sakal, as an older gentleman benefactor for Betty, could have breathed some life into this role.
Latino Andy Russel is supposed to provide a little musical diversion and support for Betty in his first(of only a few) Hollywood film appearance. I suppose he was chosen because of his recent hit "Besame Mucho" and presumably cheap price. He only had a little screen time, mostly devoted to the ballad "Love Me" and backing up Betty in the weepy ballad "If I Had a Dozen Hearts". Unfortunately, he had no charisma and no chemistry with Betty. The former ballad is actually a decent, if not very imaginative, love song, and his crooning-style performance was OK, if not overpowering. The latter ballad didn't come off well. But, Betty's encore, as she and boyfriend Danny (Don Defore) are making up in the finale, sounds much better.
Think I can see why this B&W film did well at the box office(especially for women) at the time. Courtesy of Barry's character: "Pop" Bates, Betty and her fellow impoverished hatchecking girlfriend(Gwen) get to buy all sorts of expensive things, a luxury apartment, and even get to order a chauffeur around. To a war-weary public, denied new consumer goods for some years, this was a fantasy come true. Betty, however, has to pay the price that her marine boyfriend, Danny, shows up and, naturally, assumes that she must be sponging off some sugar daddy, and wonders why she is living with 'Pop', thus wants to dump her. Meanwhile, Betty thinks her benefactor probably is her employer, Mr. Billingsley, while 'Pop' pretends he is a dirt poor panhandler. Eventually, Betty learns that 'Pop' is her true benefactor, while Danny finally gets confirmation that 'Pop' is rewarding Betty for saving his life. But Danny doesn't tell Betty right away that he has changed his attitude. So, she concocts a complicated nonsensical story about her grandfather and 'Pop's father and a gold mine(hilarious), which he pretends to fall for. Meanwhile, Betty is at work trying to arrange a reconciliation of "Pop" and his estranged wife. The finale, with Betty singing at the Stork Club, while Danny, as the orchestra conductor, is whispering sarcastic comments in her ear about her concocted story, is quite amusing!
Actually, Don Defore(as Danny) is quite adequate, if lacking charisma, for what he is asked to do. Ditto for cute Iris Adrian, as Betty's girl friend. Iris rather looked like a shorter brunette version of Betty, and plays an Eve Arden-like woman, with a sharp tongue. Although she didn't look it, she was a decade older than Betty, and would appear in many more films than Betty, beginning at the dawn of talkies, usually as a chlorine, low class gold digger or gangster moll, later as a friend of the lead, mostly in B films.
Betty has a couple more songs, none being an elaborate production. At 'Pop's request, she does a soulful rendition of the old chestnut "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree": a top hit in 1905, when 'Pop' was courting his future wife. It reemerges near the finale when Betty is trying to reconcile Pop and his wife. Her spirited novelty song "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with male quartette backup, was the hit of the film and enjoyed a life as a top pop single, although it's not my favorite in this film. Actually, she seems more like typically Betty Grable in this performance than the classic inimitable zany frenetic Betty Hutton showcased in the lively number "I'm a Square in the Social Circle". Her number "Daddy O" was cut from the film, but later recorded by Dinah Shore.
For Betty Hutton fans(which includes me), this is a worthwhile film to check out, despite the major problem of the casting of Barry. The story is mostly fun, if implausible. The songs are decent,and a variety of types, if not obvious 'keepers'. Betty is cute and winsome. There are currently a surprising variety of DVD releases of this film available. I got the one that includes "The Perils of Pauline": one of Betty's best regarded films. It's not the greatest quality B&W, but adequate to get the gist of the film.
Latino Andy Russel is supposed to provide a little musical diversion and support for Betty in his first(of only a few) Hollywood film appearance. I suppose he was chosen because of his recent hit "Besame Mucho" and presumably cheap price. He only had a little screen time, mostly devoted to the ballad "Love Me" and backing up Betty in the weepy ballad "If I Had a Dozen Hearts". Unfortunately, he had no charisma and no chemistry with Betty. The former ballad is actually a decent, if not very imaginative, love song, and his crooning-style performance was OK, if not overpowering. The latter ballad didn't come off well. But, Betty's encore, as she and boyfriend Danny (Don Defore) are making up in the finale, sounds much better.
Think I can see why this B&W film did well at the box office(especially for women) at the time. Courtesy of Barry's character: "Pop" Bates, Betty and her fellow impoverished hatchecking girlfriend(Gwen) get to buy all sorts of expensive things, a luxury apartment, and even get to order a chauffeur around. To a war-weary public, denied new consumer goods for some years, this was a fantasy come true. Betty, however, has to pay the price that her marine boyfriend, Danny, shows up and, naturally, assumes that she must be sponging off some sugar daddy, and wonders why she is living with 'Pop', thus wants to dump her. Meanwhile, Betty thinks her benefactor probably is her employer, Mr. Billingsley, while 'Pop' pretends he is a dirt poor panhandler. Eventually, Betty learns that 'Pop' is her true benefactor, while Danny finally gets confirmation that 'Pop' is rewarding Betty for saving his life. But Danny doesn't tell Betty right away that he has changed his attitude. So, she concocts a complicated nonsensical story about her grandfather and 'Pop's father and a gold mine(hilarious), which he pretends to fall for. Meanwhile, Betty is at work trying to arrange a reconciliation of "Pop" and his estranged wife. The finale, with Betty singing at the Stork Club, while Danny, as the orchestra conductor, is whispering sarcastic comments in her ear about her concocted story, is quite amusing!
Actually, Don Defore(as Danny) is quite adequate, if lacking charisma, for what he is asked to do. Ditto for cute Iris Adrian, as Betty's girl friend. Iris rather looked like a shorter brunette version of Betty, and plays an Eve Arden-like woman, with a sharp tongue. Although she didn't look it, she was a decade older than Betty, and would appear in many more films than Betty, beginning at the dawn of talkies, usually as a chlorine, low class gold digger or gangster moll, later as a friend of the lead, mostly in B films.
Betty has a couple more songs, none being an elaborate production. At 'Pop's request, she does a soulful rendition of the old chestnut "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree": a top hit in 1905, when 'Pop' was courting his future wife. It reemerges near the finale when Betty is trying to reconcile Pop and his wife. Her spirited novelty song "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief", with male quartette backup, was the hit of the film and enjoyed a life as a top pop single, although it's not my favorite in this film. Actually, she seems more like typically Betty Grable in this performance than the classic inimitable zany frenetic Betty Hutton showcased in the lively number "I'm a Square in the Social Circle". Her number "Daddy O" was cut from the film, but later recorded by Dinah Shore.
For Betty Hutton fans(which includes me), this is a worthwhile film to check out, despite the major problem of the casting of Barry. The story is mostly fun, if implausible. The songs are decent,and a variety of types, if not obvious 'keepers'. Betty is cute and winsome. There are currently a surprising variety of DVD releases of this film available. I got the one that includes "The Perils of Pauline": one of Betty's best regarded films. It's not the greatest quality B&W, but adequate to get the gist of the film.
Enjoyable funny movie
holn2 August 2022
Sit back and enjoy a fun movie. This is what I call a popcorn movie. You're not supposed to over-analyze it. Just tune everything else out and enjoy your popcorn at home with your family. Every performer was at the top of their game. Nobody was trying to out-star anybody else. And the one-liners came quickly. We had a ball.
Make that 6.5
JohnHowardReid1 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
After a promising start, this film nosedives into a ridiculous plot that not only seems to run forever, but even succeeds in smothering some of the music-and-song interludes. With a super-perky performer like Betty Hutton in the lead, you would think that a hard task, but somehow – maybe due to slack direction by Hal Walker (he earned his wings as an assistant director 1932-1942) – the movie manages to out-stay its welcome. Another problem is that the scenario makes little sense. This would not be so bad in itself if it were not pushed into our faces all the time. A wise director would soft- peddle the stupid story and not keep thrusting it into the foreground. In fact, thanks to Mr. Walker, the dopey plot is played out with such vehemence that it even succeeds in smothering some of the musical highlights. One-note Betty Hutton, as we all well-know, doesn't know how to practice restraint, but we expect an actor who lacks charisma – like Don DeFore – to stay in the background and not keep thrusting himself forward. But, I agree, an actor can only obey directions from his director, and if a director doesn't ask him to tone down his performance, he's not going to do it. Fortunately, Barry Fitzgerald not only does his best to even the score but even does his own stuntwork! He's a brave man, that's for sure! I wouldn't do it in a million years, let alone repeat the stunt as Barry does here. Alas, even Fitz is ultimately defeated by the ridiculous, over-wordy and over-plotted script. No, I'm wrong! The script is both over-plotted and under-plotted. It even invades some of the musical numbers. In all, at 98 minutes, the movie runs far too long. Its stupid plot and totally unbelievable characters don't help. At 90 minutes, you might just get away with it, but saddled with over-bouncy Betty, pushy Don and slow-talking Barry – especially scene-hogging Don – no way! Available on a very good 50- Movie-Mega-Pack Comedy Classics DVD.
Average WWII fun movie
train46426 September 2003
Betty Hutton's Stork Club
ebethea24 November 2019
Some bright spots worth seeing.....
ksdilauri31 August 2019
.....here's one example of the kazillions of lesser-known musicals that were cranked out in WWII-era Hollywood. Some were wonderful, a lot were awful, and several fell in between---as does this one. The first 45 minutes are quite good, with Barry Fitzgerald's cranky Irish millionaire playing well off Betty Hutton's hat-check-girl-with-a-heart-of-gold. After that, the plot becomes less believable and needlessly complicated---as with many such stories, the misunderstandings could be explained in less than 30 seconds---and stretching it out for another hour was a mistake. Other minuses include the poorly written role given to Hutton's romantic lead, Don DeFore (his character has the personality of a redwood) and underuse of one of the Golden Era's best wise-cracking second bananas, Iris Adrian---here, she's toned down from 10 to 2, apparently so as not to compete with the already frenetic Betty Hutton. (Adrian's trademark blonde hair is swapped for brunette, as well.) But what stops the film from sinking is the interplay between Hutton and Fitzgerald. While nowhere near the top of the musical heap, you may well find something to like in it, so give it a watch.
Betty Hutton is great
sjanders-8643012 January 2021
Betty Hutton dances and sings. The big band is wonderful. Barry Fitzgerald is saved and makes Betty happy then sad when boyfriend doesn't get it. The Stork Club is fun and worth seeing the singing, dancing and 1940's hair and dress styles. Hall Walker directs and always delivers.
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