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Released January 15, 1938
Featuring Ted Healy (Solo)
Warner Bros.
109.5 min. (Feature Film)

Busby Berkeley Hollywood success story, with performances by Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton, Harry James, Frances Langford, and the music and lyrics of Dick Whiting and Jerome Kern. Ronald Reagan's first film role... and Ted Healy's last.

Benny Goodman's saxophonist and singer Ronnie Bowers (Dick Powell) wins a ten-week studio contract as part of a publicity gimmick. The studio's prima donna star Mona Marshall (Lola Lane) refuses to attend the Graumann's premiere of her latest picture, so look-alike waitress Virginia Stanton (Rosemary Lane) is hired to stand in for her, and Ronnie's first job is to be her escort. As always happens in Hollywood, they fall in love. Mona and her leading man, Alexander Dupre, have Bowers' contract cancelled when they learn of the deception.

Ronnie hires paparazzi photographer Fuzzy (Ted Healy) as his manager, and the two try to take Hollywood the hard way, by taking part-time jobs at Callaghan's (Edgar Kennedy) Drive-In where they specialize in breaking dishes. Bowers finally gets a small break as a singing voiceover in Dupre's new picture, and Fuzzy, Virginia and Mona's scatter-brained father (Hugh Herbert) cook up a scheme to make Ronnie a star.

View the original theatrical trailer at TCM.com

In spite of having a featured, costarring role, Ted Healy does not appear in the film's trailer. Variety (Jan. 19, 1938) reported a request by Warner Bros. that his name be eliminated from preview programs. Apparently there was some effort to disassociate the tragedy of Ted's death from the movie's promotional campaign.

Trade paper notices in late July and early August 1937 reported that "replacement" stooges Paul 'Mousie' Garner, Dick Hakins and Sammy Wolfe were to appear in HOLLYWOOD HOTEL scenes with Ted Healy. But, they do not appear in the final release version of the film.

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Avg. Rating: [8.00/10]
 
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL on IMDb

Dick Powell
Ronnie Bowers

Rosemary Lane
Virginia Stanton

Hugh Herbert
Chester Marshall

Lola Lane
Mona Marshall

Alan Mowbray
Alexander Dupre

Mabel Todd
Dot Marshall

Billy Wayne
Fuzzy's assistant

Allyn Joslyn
Bernie Walton

Grant Mitchell
B. L. Faulken

Gene Krupa
Himself

Frances Langford
Alice Craine

Ken Niles
Himself

Duane Thompson
Hotel switchboard operator

Eddie Acuff
Cameraman

Jack Mower
Airport guard

Paul Irving
Mr. Bramwell, Hollywood Hotel manager

John Ridgely
Desk clerk

Dale Van Sickel
Man at Hollywood Hotel desk

Ronald R. Rondell
Man in Hollywood Hotel lobby

Spec O'Donnell
Boy in lobby

Alan Davis
Mona's assistant

Curt Bois
Butch, dress designer

Georgie Cooper
Seamstress

Harry Fox
Shoe salesman

Sarah Edwards
Mrs. Marshall

Jean Maddox
Hotel maid

Rosella Towne
Secretary

Eddie Graham
Louella Parson's escort

Ronald Reagan
Movie premiere radio announcer

James Conaty
Man at premiere

Barry Norton
Man at premiere

William Worthington
Man at premiere

Harold Miller
Man at premiere

Frank McLure
Man at premiere

Ralph T. Brooks
Man at premiere

Joan Valerie
Girl at premiere

Janet Shaw
Girl at premiere

Helen Dickson
Onlooker at premiere

Betty Farrington
Onlooker at premiere

George Guhl
Police officer

Symona Boniface
Woman in movie theatre

Al Lloyd
Man in movie theatre

Leo White
Autograph seeker

Joseph Romantini
Orchid Room headwaiter

Jerry Mandy
Orchid Room waiter

Bert Moorhouse
Guest in Orchid Room

Jack Curtis
Guest in Orchid Room

Dan Wolheim
Guest in Orchid Room

Bert Stevens
Guest in Orchid Room

Carole Landis
Orchid Room hat check girl

John Sheehan
Orchid Room guest with missing coat

Demetris Emanuel
Room service waiter

Jean Perry
Frenchy, restaurant headwaiter

Fritz Feld
Russian

Dina Smirnova
Russian woman

Robert Homans
Hollywood Bowl watchman

Al Herman
Casting man

Lester Dorr
Casting assistant

Patsy 'Babe' Kane
Casting assistant

George O'Hanlon
Casting assistant

Allan Conrad
Casting assistant

David Newell
Casting assistant

Frances Morris
Casting assistant

Bobby Watson
Casting assistant

Owen King
Casting assistant

Allen Fox
Casting assistant

Bill Seckler
Singer at Callahan's

Howard Hudson
Singer at Callahan's

Marvin Bailey
Singer at Callahan's

Vince Degen
Singer at Callahan's

Harrison Greene
Father at Callahan's

Sonny Bupp
Boy at Callahan's

David Leo Tillotson
Boy at Callahan's

Constantine Romanoff
Man at Callahan's with ice cream cone

William B. Davidson
Walter Kelton

Wally Maher
Drew, assistant director

Clinton Rosemond
Actor, 'Tom'

Pearl Adams
Actress, 'Mammy'

Leonard Carey
Dupre's butler

Marianne Edwards
Little girl

John Harron
Radio representative

Susan Hayward
Starlet at table

Milton Kibbee
Chauffeur

William Mansell
Dot's partner

Poppy Wilde
Chorus girl

Al Shean
Pawnbroker, scene deleted

Sammy Wolfe
scene deleted

Dick Hakins
scene deleted


Maurice Leo
Story and Screenplay

Jerry Wald
Story and Screenplay

Charles Rosher
Photography

George Barnes
Musical Numbers Photography

George Amy
Film Editor

Robert Haas
Art Director

Leo F. Forbstein
Musical Director

Ray Heindorf
Orchestrator

Richard Whiting
Music and Lyrics

Buddy G. DeSylva
Music and Lyrics

Heinz Roemheld
Music and Lyrics

Johnny Mercer
Music and Lyrics

Orry-Kelly
Costume Design

Gene Lewis
Dialogue Director


















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