Why "Soitenly," You're the Best DAD
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Featuring Ted Healy (Solo)
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.
Dick Powell
Ronnie Bowers
Rosemary Lane
Virginia Stanton
Ted Healy
Fuzzy
Hugh Herbert
Chester Marshall
Glenda Farrell
Jonesie
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
Edgar Kennedy
Callahan
Louella Parsons
Herself
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
Themselves
Lionel Hampton
Himself
Gene Krupa
Himself
Teddy Wilson
Himself
Harry James
Himself
Frances Langford
Alice Craine
Johnnie 'Scat' Davis
Georgie
Ken Niles
Himself
Raymond Paige Orchestra
Themselves
Jerry Cooper
Himself
Duane Thompson
Hotel switchboard operator
Eddie Acuff
Cameraman
Jack Mower
Airport guard
Paul Irving
Mr. Bramwell, Hollywood Hotel manager
John Ridgely
Desk clerk
Jerry Fletcher
Bellboy
Dale Van Sickel
Man at Hollywood Hotel desk
George Offerman Jr.
Elevator boy
Jackie Morrow
Page
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
Libby Taylor
Cleo
Jean Maddox
Hotel maid
Rosella Towne
Secretary
Perc Westmore
Himself
Sid Grauman
Himself
Eddie Graham
Louella Parson's escort
Ronald Reagan
Movie premiere radio announcer
James Conaty
Man at premiere
William Worthington
Man at premiere
Barry Norton
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
Don Barclay
Friend
Marianne Edwards
Little girl
John Harron
Radio representative
Susan Hayward
Starlet at table
Milton Kibbee
Chauffeur
William Mansell
Dot's partner
Jeffrey Sayre
Co-pilot
Poppy Wilde
Chorus girl
Ethelreda Leopold
Chorus girl
Al Shean
Pawnbroker, scene deleted
Paul 'Mousie' Garner
scene deleted
Sammy Wolfe
scene deleted
Dick Hakins
scene deleted
Jack L. Warner
Producer
Busby Berkeley
Director
Maurice Leo
Story and Screenplay
Jerry Wald
Story and Screenplay
Richard Macaulay
Screenplay
Charles Rosher
Photography
George Barnes
Musical Numbers Photography
George Amy
Film Editor
Robert Haas
Art Director
Oliver S. Garretson
Sound
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
Phil Baxter
Lyrics
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design
Gene Lewis
Dialogue Director
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