The title role in King of Burlesque is played by Warner Baxter who is the impresario of burlesque down on East 14 Street and Irving Place. But he aspires to higher things and won't be satisfied until he's a monarch on Broadway.
For that he's willing to marry up with Mona Barrie an impoverished society girl and leave the faithful Alice Faye behind. Of course this is not a permanent situation.
Probably the biggest fault with King of Burlesque is that Warner Baxter does not come over like the hero/heel that Tyrone Power and later John Payne would be in dealing with Alice Faye. He's just too nice for the role.
But the film is a real treat for Alice Faye's legion of fans. She gets to sing I'm Shooting High and Spreading Rhythm Around. And I really did like the number she did with British comic actor Herbert Mundin, I Love To Ride The Horses On The Merry Go Round.
Radio singer Kenny Baker gets into this film with Lovely Lady for which I have a Bing Crosby recording. Baker had a nice pleasing tenor voice who made his best mark on radio. Around this time he was a regular on Jack Benny's radio program.
And King of Burlesque gives fans of Dixieland jazz a real treat in one of the few film appearances of the legendary pianist Fats Waller. Waller plays an elevator operator who Baxter finally gives a break to in his new show and he plays and sings I've Got My Fingers Crossed.
Jimmy McHugh and Ted Koehler did the score for King of Burlesque and the numbers are fine. Elements of the plot were done in Alice Faye's later film, Hello Frisco Hello. That one was better, but this one is not bad other than Baxter's miscasting.
For that he's willing to marry up with Mona Barrie an impoverished society girl and leave the faithful Alice Faye behind. Of course this is not a permanent situation.
Probably the biggest fault with King of Burlesque is that Warner Baxter does not come over like the hero/heel that Tyrone Power and later John Payne would be in dealing with Alice Faye. He's just too nice for the role.
But the film is a real treat for Alice Faye's legion of fans. She gets to sing I'm Shooting High and Spreading Rhythm Around. And I really did like the number she did with British comic actor Herbert Mundin, I Love To Ride The Horses On The Merry Go Round.
Radio singer Kenny Baker gets into this film with Lovely Lady for which I have a Bing Crosby recording. Baker had a nice pleasing tenor voice who made his best mark on radio. Around this time he was a regular on Jack Benny's radio program.
And King of Burlesque gives fans of Dixieland jazz a real treat in one of the few film appearances of the legendary pianist Fats Waller. Waller plays an elevator operator who Baxter finally gives a break to in his new show and he plays and sings I've Got My Fingers Crossed.
Jimmy McHugh and Ted Koehler did the score for King of Burlesque and the numbers are fine. Elements of the plot were done in Alice Faye's later film, Hello Frisco Hello. That one was better, but this one is not bad other than Baxter's miscasting.