Three Stooges, The: Volume 1
HOLLYWOOD HOTEL (1938)
Film Pick of the Day
Saturday, March 29, 2025
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.
Details
Average Rating:  [ 8.00/10 ] 4 votes |
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| Featuring | Ted Healy (Solo) |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Saturday, January 15, 1938 |
| Studio | Warner Bros. |
| Production Type | Feature Film |
| Duration | 109.5 min. |
