Learning on ScreenGoldwyn Follies, The
- Synopsis
- Musical with music by George Gershwin and Vernon Duke and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Movie producer Oliver Merlin (Menjou) overhears two women criticising a film he is making. He decided to hire one of them, Hazel (Leeds), to provide him with the popularist view naming her ‘Miss Humanity’. He falls in love with her but she falls in love with Danny (Baker), a hamburger cook turned film star. In one sequence Oliver asks Hazel her opinion of a dance version of Romeo and Juliet which is portrayed as a feud between ballet dancers (Capulets) and jazz tap dancers (Montagues). Hazel replies that she prefers a happy ending where the lovers live and their families are reconciled - this version (choreographed by Balanchine) is shown. In the final scene there is banter about Shakespeare, Charlie making a joke about Shakespeare being boring.
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Film
- Technical information
- Colour / Sound
- Year of release
- 1938
- Duration
- 115 mins
Credits
- Director
- George Marshall; H.C. Potter
- Producer
- Samuel Goldwyn
- Cinematographer
- Gregg Toland
- Writer
- Ira Gershwin
- Screenplay
- Arthur Phillips; Ben Hecht; Sam Perrin
- Music
- George Gershwin; Vernon Duke
- Costume
- Omar Kiam
- Art Direction
- Richard Day (2)
- Choreographer
- George Balanchine
- Cast
Adolphe Menjou Oliver Merlin Andrea Leeds Hazel Davies Charlie McCarthy McCarthy, Charlie Kenny Baker Danny Beecher Vera Zorina Olga Samara
Additional Details
- Production type
- Operas and Musicals
- Plays
- Romeo and Juliet
- Keywords
- dance; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Notes
- Notes
- Available on DVD region 1 only (3/2007).
- General
- Balanchine planned to choreograph a ballet based on Gershwin’s An American in Paris for the film and spent weeks rehearsing the number and planning every camera move. Goldwyn walked out of the first screening announcing that the number was being cut because it was too ‘artistic’ and ‘the miners in Harrisburg wouldn’t understand it.' Balanchine tried to change Goldwyn’s mind, even pointing out that there were no miners in Harrisburg, but to no avail. It would be 13 years before AN AMERICAN IN PARIS would make it to the screen in director Vincente Minnelli’s Oscar-winning film for MGM.
- Awards
- Academy Award nomination for Best Score and Best Interior Decoration.
Production Company
Online Retailer
- Name
amazon.com
- Web
- http://www.amazon.com External site opens in new window
Record Stats
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