For a few years I had been watching the "Collegiate Wedding" routine from "Harold Teen" on youtube and marvelling at the dancing dexterity of Hal Le Roy. A wild, eccentric tap dance, the camera barely left his feet for two whole minutes - now that's what I call dancing!! There was also a Warner's short that introduces new young hopefuls Patricia Ellis and Hal Le Roy, as well as a couple of songs from the "new musical sensation - Harold Teen". I know it's not up there with "Footlight Parade" but I was still excited to see it!!!
Hal Le Roy was perfectly cast as the bumbling news reporter Harold Teen which probably explains why he didn't set Hollywood on fire. His dancing was dazzling but he was a goofy looking guy. Part of the plot dealt with his awkwardness on the dance floor which has him taking dance lessons by correspondence school with breath taking results. I know Le Roy's talents were not really utilised in this movie but I am giving it a 10 for the "Collegiate Wedding" finale.
Harold Teen loves the lovely Lillums Lovewell (gorgeous Rochelle Hudson) who is also beloved by Harold's hated rival, the overbearing Lilacs (Chick Chandler). All the college kids hang out at the Sugar Bowl and Lilacs tries to romance Lillums with "How Do I Know It's Sunday" which concludes with all the gang whistling it, singing it and clinking it out with spoons - with plenty of banana splits and ice cream sundaes on display.
Harold doesn't fare much better at the graduation dance - ridiculed because of his two left feet, the song sung here is "Simple and Sweet" (sung by composer Sammy Fain). Then along comes Mr. Snatcher (Douglas Dumbrille) bank president and yet another worshipper at the shrine of Lillums. His daughter, the ultra sophisticated Mimi (Patricia Ellis) arrives from New York and instantly starts organising the Junior set of Covina to produce the "Covina Junior Gaieties", to be directed by Ed Rathburn (Hugh Herbert) the mastermind of Broadway and the man who is teaching Harold to dance.
At just over an hour there is no time for characterizations, there are no villains. A few well chosen words from Mimi regarding her dad's infatuation ("Dad, she's younger than me"!!) brings Dad to his senses and after a very catchy song "Like Two Little Flies on a Lump of Sugar" which I thought deserved a better, longer production, everyone was on hand to marvel at Harold's dancing skill on "Collegiate Wedding". Carl Ed's comic strip "Harold Teen" had been filmed before in 1928 with Arthur Lake as Harold and Mary Brian as Lillums but I don't think this 1934 cast could be improved upon. Le Roy was a real find and Rochelle Hudson was lovely and sweet, just a perfect Lillums but both had their talents under used by the studios.
Highly Recommended.
Hal Le Roy was perfectly cast as the bumbling news reporter Harold Teen which probably explains why he didn't set Hollywood on fire. His dancing was dazzling but he was a goofy looking guy. Part of the plot dealt with his awkwardness on the dance floor which has him taking dance lessons by correspondence school with breath taking results. I know Le Roy's talents were not really utilised in this movie but I am giving it a 10 for the "Collegiate Wedding" finale.
Harold Teen loves the lovely Lillums Lovewell (gorgeous Rochelle Hudson) who is also beloved by Harold's hated rival, the overbearing Lilacs (Chick Chandler). All the college kids hang out at the Sugar Bowl and Lilacs tries to romance Lillums with "How Do I Know It's Sunday" which concludes with all the gang whistling it, singing it and clinking it out with spoons - with plenty of banana splits and ice cream sundaes on display.
Harold doesn't fare much better at the graduation dance - ridiculed because of his two left feet, the song sung here is "Simple and Sweet" (sung by composer Sammy Fain). Then along comes Mr. Snatcher (Douglas Dumbrille) bank president and yet another worshipper at the shrine of Lillums. His daughter, the ultra sophisticated Mimi (Patricia Ellis) arrives from New York and instantly starts organising the Junior set of Covina to produce the "Covina Junior Gaieties", to be directed by Ed Rathburn (Hugh Herbert) the mastermind of Broadway and the man who is teaching Harold to dance.
At just over an hour there is no time for characterizations, there are no villains. A few well chosen words from Mimi regarding her dad's infatuation ("Dad, she's younger than me"!!) brings Dad to his senses and after a very catchy song "Like Two Little Flies on a Lump of Sugar" which I thought deserved a better, longer production, everyone was on hand to marvel at Harold's dancing skill on "Collegiate Wedding". Carl Ed's comic strip "Harold Teen" had been filmed before in 1928 with Arthur Lake as Harold and Mary Brian as Lillums but I don't think this 1934 cast could be improved upon. Le Roy was a real find and Rochelle Hudson was lovely and sweet, just a perfect Lillums but both had their talents under used by the studios.
Highly Recommended.