Casanova in Burlesque

Synopsis: Musical comedy. A Shakespeare professor secretly works as a burlesque comedian during the summer. He maintains his secret until a stripper shows up and threatens to tell his secret unless he gives her a starring role in his production of Romeo and Juliet. He agrees but her performance is so bad that the cast walks out. At the last minute the professor’s burlesque company stage a swing version of The Taming of the Shrew’ to great audience satisfaction. Sections of both plays are performed as well as a couple of Shakespearean numbers ‘Willie the Shake’ and ‘The Taming of the Shrew’.
Language: English
Country: United States
Medium: Film
Technical information: Black-and-white / Sound
Year of release: 1944
Duration: 74 mins; 6633 feet

Director

Leslie Goodwins

Producer

Cinematographer

Screenplay

Music

Costume

Art Direction

Cast

Joe E. Brown	Joseph L. Kelly Jr. ‘Casanova Brown’
John Sheehan	Shakespearean actor (uncredited)
June Havoc	Lillian Colman
Kendall Bryson	Shakespearean actor (uncredited)

Notes: UCLA holds preservation material (nitrate negatives) only, no viewing copy (3/2007).
General: Adapted from a story by John Wales.

British Universities Film & Video Council