Helen Twelvetrees wasn't a terrible actress, but in this film she seems out of place. Her hair has been dyed platinum blonde and is highly reminiscent of Harpo Marx in this film. The film begins with her in Panama dancing a provocative dance and singing. The problem is that Miss Twelvetrees was far from a vampish sort of woman and seeing her moving her hips and acting sexy seemed a bit...well...creepy or comical. I honestly mean no insult--she just wasn't the type for this role. Fortunately, her performance after this is much more subdued and believable.
After this performance is seen by a big-time producer (Victor Jory), Twelvetrees and her husband (Wallace Ford) come to the States to make it big. They assume that Jory will give her a job, though they have trouble getting past his employees to see him. In the meantime, it starts to become apparent that Ford is a bit of an albatross to Twelvetrees--foolishly spending their money and acting more like an overgrown kid than a husband.
When Twelvetrees eventually is able to get to see Jory again, he remembers her well and is eager to see her. It's very obvious early on that he's very smitten with her. So, on one hand, she has a man who takes her for granted and a bit of a loser and on the other, a very important man is falling for her--and he can also make her famous.
During the middle of the film, there is a segment where you see people trying out to be on the radio. Look closely and you'll see Charles Lane (who was ubiquitous on TV in the 50s and 60s and only recently died at age 102) playing a rather funny agent as well as Walter Brennan when he was only a bit player (and with a very different voice).
Up until the middle of the film, I saw the film as a very predictable sort of affair. I expected it would be like "A Star is Born"--where a lady makes it big but is held back by a has-been husband. However, I was quite surprised where it went next--and I like to be surprised. Twelvetrees is able to convince Jory to give Ford a shot on the radio. She tells him that he's a great vaudevillian and his stand-up act is a natural to succeed. Surprisingly, she's absolutely right--and he vaults to stardom. However, in the process his head grows about three sizes! And, he also becomes rather insufferable--and drives Twelvetrees crazy. She longs for the old man he used to be, not the "Good Time Charlie" who's been ruined by success. Jory warns him to stop drinking and believing his own press, but Ford is adamant that he knows exactly what he's doing! You just know that sooner or later, he'll crash and burn. Things only get worse when he starts running around with a spoiled society dame--who seems determined to ruin him. Where it goes next is a lot of fun to watch as Ford destroys himself and opens the door wide for Jory and Twelvetrees--who, at this point, the audience is rooting for to get together by the end of the movie.
Overall, an interesting film despite the silly opening number. It's different enough that it stands out from the average film of the day. The only negative is that Twelvetrees is simply too long-suffering and her patience with the rat of a husband seems limitless--it's hard to imagine any wife THAT patient with a no-good man. Fortunately, by the time the film ends, there is FINALLY the happy ending, as Ford has divorced HER!
After this performance is seen by a big-time producer (Victor Jory), Twelvetrees and her husband (Wallace Ford) come to the States to make it big. They assume that Jory will give her a job, though they have trouble getting past his employees to see him. In the meantime, it starts to become apparent that Ford is a bit of an albatross to Twelvetrees--foolishly spending their money and acting more like an overgrown kid than a husband.
When Twelvetrees eventually is able to get to see Jory again, he remembers her well and is eager to see her. It's very obvious early on that he's very smitten with her. So, on one hand, she has a man who takes her for granted and a bit of a loser and on the other, a very important man is falling for her--and he can also make her famous.
During the middle of the film, there is a segment where you see people trying out to be on the radio. Look closely and you'll see Charles Lane (who was ubiquitous on TV in the 50s and 60s and only recently died at age 102) playing a rather funny agent as well as Walter Brennan when he was only a bit player (and with a very different voice).
Up until the middle of the film, I saw the film as a very predictable sort of affair. I expected it would be like "A Star is Born"--where a lady makes it big but is held back by a has-been husband. However, I was quite surprised where it went next--and I like to be surprised. Twelvetrees is able to convince Jory to give Ford a shot on the radio. She tells him that he's a great vaudevillian and his stand-up act is a natural to succeed. Surprisingly, she's absolutely right--and he vaults to stardom. However, in the process his head grows about three sizes! And, he also becomes rather insufferable--and drives Twelvetrees crazy. She longs for the old man he used to be, not the "Good Time Charlie" who's been ruined by success. Jory warns him to stop drinking and believing his own press, but Ford is adamant that he knows exactly what he's doing! You just know that sooner or later, he'll crash and burn. Things only get worse when he starts running around with a spoiled society dame--who seems determined to ruin him. Where it goes next is a lot of fun to watch as Ford destroys himself and opens the door wide for Jory and Twelvetrees--who, at this point, the audience is rooting for to get together by the end of the movie.
Overall, an interesting film despite the silly opening number. It's different enough that it stands out from the average film of the day. The only negative is that Twelvetrees is simply too long-suffering and her patience with the rat of a husband seems limitless--it's hard to imagine any wife THAT patient with a no-good man. Fortunately, by the time the film ends, there is FINALLY the happy ending, as Ford has divorced HER!