TIN PAN ALLEY (20th Century-Fox, 1940), directed by Walter Lang, is a highly entertaining musical based on a story by Pamela Harris dealing with song pluggers and a sister act in New York City from 1915 to 1918. Being the first pairing of Alice Faye and John Payne (fourth billed in the cast), it also marked Faye's only role opposite the up and rising Betty Grable, whose first starring role for the studio, DOWN ARGENTINE WAY (1940) proved successful enough to elevate her as star material. Pairing Faye with Grable was enough to elevate both Grable and film to major heights, even though Grable is actually a secondary character. Although initially said to become a reunion of Faye's earlier co-stars of Tyrone Power and Don Ameche from both IN OLD CHICAGO (1937) and ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND (1938), replacing them with John Payne and Jack Oakie simply made TIN PAN ALLEY even better than anticipated.
Opening in New York City in 1915, the story deals with Francis Aloyisus "Skeets" Harrigan (John Payne) and his partner, Harry Calhoun (Jack Oakie) struggling song pluggers getting their tunes published by publishers with offices on the west side of Manhattan, better known as "Tin Pan Alley." Earning extra money fighting in the ring to prevent from getting evicted for non-payment of rent, it's Harry who comes up with a solution by having his old friends, Katie (Alice Faye) and Lily Blane (Betty Grable), a sister act, promote their songs while performing on stage. The plan not only works, but a successful union between Skeets and Katie develops. With success comes some disappointments, the biggest one for Skeets as Katie breaks their union for her disapproval of his method to success. Featuring Allen Jenkins (Casey); Esther Ralston (Nora Bayes); John Loder (Captain Reginald Carstairs); Elisha Cook Jr. (Joe Codd); with specialty acts performed by the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold); The Brian Sisters and Billy Gilbert amusingly the title character in the "Sheik of Araby" number.
Songs include: "Dixie," later reprised as "Hawaii," "You Say the Sweetest Things, Baby," "You Say the Sweetest Things, Baby" (reprise); "On Moonlight Bay," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Moonlight and Roses," "America, I Love You," "Goodbye Broadway Hello France," "Arabian Dance," "The Sheik of Araby" and "K-K-K Katie."
In a documentary titled "Hidden Treasures: From the Vaults of 20th Century-Fox," once presented on American Movie Classics cable channel around 1997, there was a segment involving a cut number from TIN PAN ALLEY titled "Get Out and Get Under" featuring a segment leading to the song with Payne, Oakie, Faye and William Demarest. A pity that number got deleted from all final prints considering how well staged and highly entertaining it was. Fortunately "America, I Love You," does remain, one of the film's musical highlights. Considering the fact the movie takes place before and during the World War, at least the costume department and hair stylists were accurately correct. Of the old nostalgic tunes, only "You Say the Sweetest Things, Baby" is an original composed for the movie, and a good tune, too.
Regardless of cuts and rewrites, TIN PAN ALLEY is prime 20th Century-Fox musical with great tunes and tightly edited story for its 93 minutes to hold interest. Performances are satisfactory, especially by Jack Oakie, whom Grable says, "Same old Calhoun, anything for a laugh." She's right, and his character does not disappointment in the comedy department.
Formerly shown on American Movie Classics (1994-2001) and Fox Movie Channel, TIN PAN ALLEY is also available on video cassette and DVD format, both featuring an extra bonus cut number of "Get Out and Get Under." (***1/2)
Opening in New York City in 1915, the story deals with Francis Aloyisus "Skeets" Harrigan (John Payne) and his partner, Harry Calhoun (Jack Oakie) struggling song pluggers getting their tunes published by publishers with offices on the west side of Manhattan, better known as "Tin Pan Alley." Earning extra money fighting in the ring to prevent from getting evicted for non-payment of rent, it's Harry who comes up with a solution by having his old friends, Katie (Alice Faye) and Lily Blane (Betty Grable), a sister act, promote their songs while performing on stage. The plan not only works, but a successful union between Skeets and Katie develops. With success comes some disappointments, the biggest one for Skeets as Katie breaks their union for her disapproval of his method to success. Featuring Allen Jenkins (Casey); Esther Ralston (Nora Bayes); John Loder (Captain Reginald Carstairs); Elisha Cook Jr. (Joe Codd); with specialty acts performed by the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold); The Brian Sisters and Billy Gilbert amusingly the title character in the "Sheik of Araby" number.
Songs include: "Dixie," later reprised as "Hawaii," "You Say the Sweetest Things, Baby," "You Say the Sweetest Things, Baby" (reprise); "On Moonlight Bay," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Moonlight and Roses," "America, I Love You," "Goodbye Broadway Hello France," "Arabian Dance," "The Sheik of Araby" and "K-K-K Katie."
In a documentary titled "Hidden Treasures: From the Vaults of 20th Century-Fox," once presented on American Movie Classics cable channel around 1997, there was a segment involving a cut number from TIN PAN ALLEY titled "Get Out and Get Under" featuring a segment leading to the song with Payne, Oakie, Faye and William Demarest. A pity that number got deleted from all final prints considering how well staged and highly entertaining it was. Fortunately "America, I Love You," does remain, one of the film's musical highlights. Considering the fact the movie takes place before and during the World War, at least the costume department and hair stylists were accurately correct. Of the old nostalgic tunes, only "You Say the Sweetest Things, Baby" is an original composed for the movie, and a good tune, too.
Regardless of cuts and rewrites, TIN PAN ALLEY is prime 20th Century-Fox musical with great tunes and tightly edited story for its 93 minutes to hold interest. Performances are satisfactory, especially by Jack Oakie, whom Grable says, "Same old Calhoun, anything for a laugh." She's right, and his character does not disappointment in the comedy department.
Formerly shown on American Movie Classics (1994-2001) and Fox Movie Channel, TIN PAN ALLEY is also available on video cassette and DVD format, both featuring an extra bonus cut number of "Get Out and Get Under." (***1/2)