In 1913 New York City a prop man from Hollywood named Michael Connors (Don Ameche) convinces talented stage actress Molly Adair (Alice Faye) to come to Hollywood to become a star. She does and hits it big in silent comedies with Buster Keaton and the Keystone Cops (all appearing as themselves). She also falls in love with ridiculously handsome Nicky Hayden (Alan Curtis). Connors loves her too...but can't say it.
Faye's first color film and she gives a good performance and looks great. Also there are black & white sequences of her doing comedy with Keaton and the cops--and they're actually pretty funny! Who knew Faye could do slapstick? The story is unbelievable from the start but it's breezy and cheerful with Faye, incredibly handsome Curtis and suave Ameche giving their all. There are also quite a few in jokes for silent film fans (I love it when Ameche casually says "Hi Roscoe"). SPOILER!!! Unfortunately it takes a sharp detour at the end where if becomes VERY melodramatic and somber including having a main character die (I have to admit I didn't see that coming). Still it's fun through most of its running time.
I never even HEARD of this film until FOX played it recently. It's good that they're showing good old unknown films. BTW--this needs serious restoration. The b&w sequences look great but the color is badly faded (Faye's face looks pure white a few times!) and needs to be fixed.
Faye's first color film and she gives a good performance and looks great. Also there are black & white sequences of her doing comedy with Keaton and the cops--and they're actually pretty funny! Who knew Faye could do slapstick? The story is unbelievable from the start but it's breezy and cheerful with Faye, incredibly handsome Curtis and suave Ameche giving their all. There are also quite a few in jokes for silent film fans (I love it when Ameche casually says "Hi Roscoe"). SPOILER!!! Unfortunately it takes a sharp detour at the end where if becomes VERY melodramatic and somber including having a main character die (I have to admit I didn't see that coming). Still it's fun through most of its running time.
I never even HEARD of this film until FOX played it recently. It's good that they're showing good old unknown films. BTW--this needs serious restoration. The b&w sequences look great but the color is badly faded (Faye's face looks pure white a few times!) and needs to be fixed.