...I never knew that!!
With the popularity of "42nd Street" Fox announced plans to dust off
another "Fox Movietone Follies" in mid 1933 which then became "Fox
Follies" and finally evolved to "Stand Up and Cheer". The studio had big
plans with Will Rogers (who also wrote the story) to play the Minister of
Amusement and a cast that looked like one of those all star studio
revues with names bandied about like Spencer Tracy, Lilian Harvey,
Lew Ayres, Clara Bow, Janet Gaynor etc. When Rogers bowed out the
"all star" was scrapped and Warner Baxter (who was so good as Julian
Marsh in "42nd Street") cast as over worked and over stressed Lawrence
Cromwell who is thrust into the role of Minister for Amusement as the
President desperately strives to help the public overcome the depression
blues. The always beautiful Madge Evans (in fact there's a scene between
them, where he insists she is beautiful but she is just as adamant that
she isn't) plays his assistant.
Sylvia Froos is in grand voice and so photogenic but her songs were lack lustre - "Broadway's Gone Hillbilly" featured her atop a city skyline but soon gave over to some special effects photography as show girls were suddenly transported to wide open spaces, at the end to be roped by a cowboy atop a skyscraper. She was also used at the end for a love duet with John Boles - "This is Our Last Night Together" but by then the public had seen Shirley Temple and James Dunn in the dazzling "Baby Take a Bow" and all else was forgotten. Shirley was a knockout in her song and dance with Dunn and the song was catchy. It was easy to see the pair had a real rapport and it showed in Dunn's face as they went through their dance - he couldn't wipe the smile from his face!! She sang the song and did the intricate tap dance, keeping up with Dunn. Their verve and sparkle put all the other numbers in the shade and the film needed all the help it could get. Sammy Lee (who was a dance director for the early MGM musicals) tried but the "We're Out of the Red" number while very catchy, with it's manic marching was just too busy!!
Once the movie was in production Fox knew it had a charismatic newcomer in Shirley Temple and the build up began. Fox spread the word that Temple was the reason to see the film so when it opened she was given the most attention and the timing couldn't have been more perfect for Fox. As the pre-code era was ushered out and the search was now on for more wholesome movie material, Shirley soon had her name over the title and had it for many years to come!!
Sylvia Froos is in grand voice and so photogenic but her songs were lack lustre - "Broadway's Gone Hillbilly" featured her atop a city skyline but soon gave over to some special effects photography as show girls were suddenly transported to wide open spaces, at the end to be roped by a cowboy atop a skyscraper. She was also used at the end for a love duet with John Boles - "This is Our Last Night Together" but by then the public had seen Shirley Temple and James Dunn in the dazzling "Baby Take a Bow" and all else was forgotten. Shirley was a knockout in her song and dance with Dunn and the song was catchy. It was easy to see the pair had a real rapport and it showed in Dunn's face as they went through their dance - he couldn't wipe the smile from his face!! She sang the song and did the intricate tap dance, keeping up with Dunn. Their verve and sparkle put all the other numbers in the shade and the film needed all the help it could get. Sammy Lee (who was a dance director for the early MGM musicals) tried but the "We're Out of the Red" number while very catchy, with it's manic marching was just too busy!!
Once the movie was in production Fox knew it had a charismatic newcomer in Shirley Temple and the build up began. Fox spread the word that Temple was the reason to see the film so when it opened she was given the most attention and the timing couldn't have been more perfect for Fox. As the pre-code era was ushered out and the search was now on for more wholesome movie material, Shirley soon had her name over the title and had it for many years to come!!