The Hollywood Revue of 1929

The Hollywood Revue of 1929 is an American PreCode musical comedy film released by MetroGoldwynMayer. It was the studios second featurelength musical, and one of their earliest sound films. Produced by Harry Rapf and Irving Thalberg and directed by Charles Reisner, it features nearly all of MGMs stars in a twohour revue that includes three segments in Technicolor. The masters of ceremonies are Conrad Nagel and Jack Benny.

Highlights of the film are a comedy routine starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as inept magicians, and a variety of musical performances. One of these is the debut of Singin in the Rain, performed initially by Cliff Edwards as Ukulele Ike, and later performed at the end of the film by the entire cast. This latter allstar color sequence was a lastminute addition to the film, shot late at night on June 10, 1929, just ten days before the premiere at Graumans Chinese Theatre. The only major MGM stars missing from the revue are Greta Garbo, Ramn Novarro, and Lon Chaney, Sr., although Chaney is referred to by name in one of the songs performed and Garbo is spoken of during one of the introductory dialogues. Only one sequence was cut from the film three songs by The Brox Sisters, which was recycled into a short subject, Gems of MGM. Another sequence, a parody of the Albertina Rasch ballets pearl dance by Marie Dressler, was planned but not shot as the films production records reveal. Instead, the number was replaced by one featuring Buster Keaton, though Dressler did pose for stills wearing a Lady Godiva wig.citation needed The film is sometimes cited, as on the DVD release of the 1952 Singin in the Rain, as the movie that led to the downfall of Gilberts career. Gilbert, a popular silent film actor best known for his work opposite Garbo, possessed a pleasant tenor speaking voice which didnt always match his heroic, dashing screen image. In Hollywood Revue he plays the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet with Norma Shearer, first straight, then for laughs with contemporary slang. It is possible, though, that the negative effect of the film on Gilberts career has been overstated, since many contemporary reviews made no criticism of his performance. His problems really began with the next two films he made, His Glorious Night 1929 and Redemption 1930. ........

Source: Wikipedia